Endovascular delivery system
First Claim
1. A delivery catheter system for implanting a tubular endoluminal prosthesis within a body lumen of a mammal, said delivery catheter system comprising:
- a) an elongate catheter body having a longitudinal axis projectable therethrough, said catheter body comprising;
i) an outer tube having a proximal end, a distal end and a hollow lumen extending longitudinally therethrough;
ii) an elongate inner member having a proximal end and a distal end, said inner member extending longitudinally through the lumen of said outer tube such that a distal portion of said inner member protrudes out of and extends beyond the distal end of said outer tube;
b) an annular balloon for radially expanding said endoluminal prosthesis, said balloon having a proximal end and a distal end, the proximal end of said balloon being affixed to said outer tube and distal end of said balloon being operatively connected to the distal portion of said inner member;
c) a balloon inflation fluid passageway which extends longitudinally through said catheter body to permit balloon inflation fluid to be infused into and withdrawn from said balloon;
d) at least one of said outer tube and said inner member being moveable relative to the other so as to reduce the radial profile of the balloon when the balloon is deflated; and
e) a tubular endoluminal prosthesis mounted upon said balloon such that said endoluminal prosthesis will become radially expanded by inflation of said balloon.
5 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A system for delivering and implanting a radially expandable endoluminal prosthesis within a body lumen (e.g., blood vessel). The system comprises a) an introducer/dilator assembly, and b) a delivery catheter/loader assembly. The introducer/dilator assembly comprises an elongate tubular introducer sheath which may be provided with a valving assembly mounted on the proximal end thereof. Such valving assembly may incorporate i) a hemostatic valve, ii) a first sealing valve and iii) a second sealing valve, positioned in series, to prevent leakage of body fluid out of the proximal end of the introducer and to permit two or more elongate members (e.g., catheters, guidewires) having differing outer diameters to be inserted through the introducer without leakage of body fluid therefrom. A dilator, which has regionalized differences in stiffness, is initially deployable within the lumen of the introducer to facilitate advancement of the introducer to its desired location within the body. Thereafter, the dilator may be removed from the introducer sheath and the delivery catheter/loader assembly may be attached to the introducer, such that the delivery catheter having the prosthesis mounted thereon may advanced through the introducer, to a desired location within the body. Thereafter, the radial expandable endoluminal prosthesis mounted on the delivery catheter is deployed and implanted by an expansion device (e.g., balloon) formed on the delivery catheter. The delivery catheter may incorporate one or more outflow apertures at specific location(s) to facilitate injection of radiographic contrast medium in a manner which will check for leakage around the endoluminal prosthesis, after the endoluminal prosthesis has been radially expanded and implanted.
748 Citations
45 Claims
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1. A delivery catheter system for implanting a tubular endoluminal prosthesis within a body lumen of a mammal, said delivery catheter system comprising:
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a) an elongate catheter body having a longitudinal axis projectable therethrough, said catheter body comprising; i) an outer tube having a proximal end, a distal end and a hollow lumen extending longitudinally therethrough; ii) an elongate inner member having a proximal end and a distal end, said inner member extending longitudinally through the lumen of said outer tube such that a distal portion of said inner member protrudes out of and extends beyond the distal end of said outer tube; b) an annular balloon for radially expanding said endoluminal prosthesis, said balloon having a proximal end and a distal end, the proximal end of said balloon being affixed to said outer tube and distal end of said balloon being operatively connected to the distal portion of said inner member; c) a balloon inflation fluid passageway which extends longitudinally through said catheter body to permit balloon inflation fluid to be infused into and withdrawn from said balloon; d) at least one of said outer tube and said inner member being moveable relative to the other so as to reduce the radial profile of the balloon when the balloon is deflated; and e) a tubular endoluminal prosthesis mounted upon said balloon such that said endoluminal prosthesis will become radially expanded by inflation of said balloon. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A delivery catheter for implanting a tubular endoluminal prosthesis within a body lumen of a mammal, said delivery catheter comprising:
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a) an elongate, pliable catheter body having a longitudinal axis projectable therethrough, a proximal end and a distal end; b) an annular balloon for radially expanding said endoluminal prosthesis, said balloon having, in its un-inflated state; i) a substantially cylindrical sidewall which is disposed coaxially about the longitudinal axis of said catheter body, said sidewall having a proximal end and a distal end; ii) a proximal end wall which extends from the proximal end of said cylindrical sidewall to the catheter body; and iii) a distal end wall which extends from the distal end of said cylindrical sidewall to the catheter body; iv) said proximal end wall and said distal end wall being disposed at angles which are no more than ten degrees from an axis which is perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the catheter body. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24)
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25. A system for implanting a radially expandable endoluminal prosthesis within a body lumen of a mammal and for checking for endoleaks whereby endogenous fluid flowing through the body lumen may leak outside of the radially expanded and implanted endoluminal prosthesis, said system comprising:
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a) an elongate catheter having a longitudinal axis projectable therethrough, a proximal end, and a distal end; b) a radially expandable endoluminal prosthesis secured to said catheter such that said catheter may be advanced longitudinally to an implantation position whereat said endoluminal prosthesis may be released from said catheter and radially expanded such that the endoluminal prosthesis will be in abutting contact with the body lumen and will remain substantially stationary therewith following removal of the catheter; c) at least one radiographic contrast medium outflow aperture comprising a side port formed in said delivery catheter at a location which is upstream of said endoluminal prosthesis when said delivery catheter is in said implantation position; and
,d) a radiographic contrast medium lumen extending longitudinally through the catheter to said at least one outflow aperture, such that radiographic contrast medium may be injected through said lumen and out of said outflow aperture when said catheter is in said implantation position, and following radial expansion and implantation of said tubular endoluminal prosthesis, to radiographically determine whether any of said endoleaks are present. - View Dependent Claims (26, 27)
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28. A tubular cannula which is insertable into a mammalian body, said cannula comprising:
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a tubular cannula body having a proximal end, a distal end and a hollow lumen extending longitudinally therethrough; and
,a radiopaque marker embedded within said tubular cannula body at a location which will be within the mammalian body when the tubular cannula is inserted thereinto. - View Dependent Claims (29, 30)
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31. A delivery catheter for implanting a tubular endoluminal prosthesis within a body lumen of a mammal, said delivery catheter comprising:
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a) an elongate, pliable catheter body, comprising; i) a longitudinal axis projectable therethrough, a proximal end and a distal end; ii) an outer tube having a proximal end, a distal end, and a hollow lumen extending longitudinally therethrough; iii) an elongate inner member having a proximal end and a distal end, said inner member extending longitudinally through the lumen of said outer tube such that the distal portion of said inner member protrudes out of and extends beyond the distal end of said outer tube; and iv) the proximal end wall being affixed to said outer tube and said distal end wall being affixed to said inner member, with at least one of said outer tube and said inner member being moveable relative to the other so as to cause tightening of the balloon when the balloon is deflated; b) an annular balloon for radially expanding said endoluminal prosthesis, said balloon having; c) a substantially cylindrical sidewall which is disposed coaxially about the longitudinal axis of said catheter body, said sidewall having a proximal end and a distal end; d) a proximal end wall which extends from the proximal end of said cylindrical sidewall to the catheter body; and e) a distal end wall which extends from the distal end of said cylindrical sidewall to the catheter body; f) said proximal end wall and said distal end wall being disposed at angles which are no more than ten degrees from an axis which is perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the catheter body. - View Dependent Claims (32, 33, 34, 35, 36)
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37. A system for implanting a radially expandable endoluminal prosthesis within a body lumen of a mammal and for checking for endoleaks whereby endogenous fluid flowing through the body lumen may leak outside of the radially expanded and implanted endoluminal prosthesis, said system comprising:
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a) an elongate catheter having a longitudinal axis projectable therethrough, a proximal end, and a distal end; b) a radially expandable endoluminal prosthesis secured to said catheter such that said catheter may be advanced longitudinally to an implantation position whereat said endoluminal prosthesis may be released from said catheter and radially expanded such that the endoluminal prosthesis will be in abutting contact with the body lumen and will remain substantially stationary therewith following removal of the catheter; c) a hollow tubular member extending from the proximal end of the catheter through the endoluminal prosthesis and having a distal radiographic contrast medium outflow aperture formed at a location distal with respect to said endoluminal prosthesis, such that radiographic contrast medium may be injected through said hollow tubular member and out of said outflow aperture when said catheter is in said implantation position, and following radial expansion and implantation of said tubular endoluminal prosthesis, to radiographically determine whether any of said endoleaks are present. - View Dependent Claims (38)
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39. A tubular cannula which is insertable into a mammalian body, said cannula comprising:
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a) a tubular cannula body having a proximal end, a distal end and a hollow lumen extending longitudinally therethrough; and
,b) a radiopaque marker embedded within said tubular cannula body at a location which will be within the mammalian body when the tubular cannula is inserted thereinto, wherein said radiopaque marker is embedded within said tubular cannula body by a process which comprises the steps of; i) initially positioning the radiopaque marker on the outer surface of said cannula; ii) causing a portion of said cannula body adjacent said radiopaque marker to become melted, such that molten cannula material will flowably surround said radiopaque marker; and
,iii) allowing the molten cannula material to re-solidify with said radiopaque marker embedded therewithin. - View Dependent Claims (40, 41, 42, 43)
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44. A delivery catheter for implanting a tubular endoluminal prosthesis within a body lumen of a mammal, said delivery catheter comprising:
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a) an elongate catheter body having a longitudinal axis projectable therethrough, said catheter body comprising; b) an outer tube having a proximal end, a distal end and a hollow lumen extending longitudinally therethrough; c) an elongate inner member having a proximal end and a distal end, said inner member extending longitudinally through the lumen of said outer tube such that a distal portion of said inner member protrudes out of and extends beyond the distal end of said outer tube; d) an annular balloon for radially expanding said endoluminal prosthesis, said balloon having a proximal end and a distal end, the proximal end of said balloon being affixed to said outer tube at a location proximal to the distal end of the outer tube so that a distal portion of the outer tube extends within the balloon, and distal end of said balloon being affixed to the distal portion of said inner member; e) a radiopaque marker provided on the distal portion of the outer tube and within the balloon; f) a balloon inflation fluid passageway which extends longitudinally through said catheter body to permit balloon inflation fluid to be infused into and withdrawn from said balloon; and
,at least one of said outer tube and said inner member being moveable relative to the other so as to cause tightening of the balloon when the balloon is deflated. - View Dependent Claims (45)
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Specification