Apparatus and methods for deployment release of intraluminal prostheses

• US 6,024,763 A
• Filed: 05/22/1997
• Issued: 02/15/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 06/08/1994
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Medtronic Ave Incorporated (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Medtronic Incorporated (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Evans, Michael A., Lenker, Jay A., Watanabe, Gwendolyn A., Glynn, Brian, Kim, Steven W.
• Primary Examiner(s): Milano, Michael J.
• Application Number:
  US08/862,085
• Time in Patent Office: 999 Days
• Field of Search: 623/1, 623/11, 623/12, 606/194, 606/195
• US Class Current: 606/191
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/0095 Packages or dispensers for prostheses or other implants for intraocular lenses A61F2/1691; for dental surgery A61C19/02
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/07 Stent-grafts
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/848 having means for fixation to the vessel wall, e.g. barbs
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/89 the wire-like elements comprising two or more adjacent rings flexibly connected by separate members
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/91 made from perforated sheet material or tubes, e.g. perforated by laser cuts or etched holes
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/915 with bands having a meander structure, adjacent bands being connected to each other
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/9517 handle assemblies therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/9522 Means for mounting a stent or stent-graft onto or into a placement instrument
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/954 for placing stents or stent-grafts in a bifurcation
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/97 the outer sleeve being splittable
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/067 modular
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/075 the stent being loosely attached to the graft material, e.g. by stitching
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/826 more than one stent being applied sequentially
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/91541 Adjacent bands are arranged out of phase
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/9511 the retaining means being filaments or wires
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/9534 for repositioning of stents
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/9665 with additional retaining means
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2210/0019 operated at only one temperature whilst inside or touching the human body, e.g. constrained in a non-operative shape during surgery, another temperature only occurring before the operation
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2220/0058 soldered or brazed or welded
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2220/0075 sutured, ligatured or stitched, retained or tied with a rope, string, thread, wire or cable
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2230/0054 : V-shaped
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2240/001 : Designing or manufacturing processes
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2250/0098 : radio-opaque, e.g. radio-opaque markers

Abstract

A delivery catheter for a radially compressible tubular prosthesis comprises an elongate shaft slidably received within a tubular cover. The prosthesis is carried within a plurality of elongate, relatively hard runners, and is restrained in a radially compressed configuration by the cover. After introducing the catheter to a desired target location within a body lumen, the prosthesis may be released by proximally retracting the cover. The runners may optionally remain disposed about the prosthesis to be retracted separately, or, alternatively, the runners retract proximally with the cover as the prosthesis slides over the hard runner surfaces.

Claims

1. A method for placing an asymmetric, radially compressible prosthesis within a body lumen system at a specific rotational orientation, the method comprising:

imaging the body lumen system in real time;

loading the asymmetric prosthesis onto an orientation indicating delivery catheter in alignment with a rotation marker on the catheter, the rotation marker having an asymmetric image;

axially positioning the prosthesis within the body lumen at the target location, while imaging;

rotationally orienting the prosthesis within the body lumen by rotating the catheter, while imaging, so that the asymmetric image of the rotation marker is in alignment with the body lumen system; and

expanding the prosthesis within the body lumen system.

2. A method for placing a branching tubular prosthesis within a body lumen system having a common lumen and first and second branch lumens, the method comprising:

imaging the body lumen system in real time;

loading the branching prosthesis onto a catheter having a radiopaque branch axial marker so that the branch axial marker on the catheter is located a predetermined distance toward a branched end of the prosthesis from a branch of the prosthesis;

axially positioning the catheter within the body lumen system, while imaging, so that the branch lumen end of the prosthesis extends into the first branch of the body lumen system, and the branch axial marker on the catheter is within the common lumen to ensure that the branch of the prosthesis is at least the predetermined distance from the first and second branches of the body lumen system; and

expanding the prosthesis within the body lumen.

3. A method as claimed in claim 2, further comprising rotationally orienting the branch of the branching prosthesis within the body lumen by rotating the catheter, while imaging, so that an asymmetric image of a rotation marker on the catheter is in alignment with the body lumen system.

4. A method as claimed in claim 3, further comprising:

loading a secondary prosthesis onto a secondary catheter having a safety marker so that the safety marker is a maximum insertion distance from one end of the secondary prosthesis;

maneuvering the secondary catheter within the body lumen system, while imaging, so that the one end is within the branch of the branching prosthesis and the secondary prosthesis extends into the second branch lumen;

axially positioning the safety marker outside of the branch of the branching prosthesis; and

expanding the second prosthesis within the body lumen system.

5. A method for placing a radially compressible prosthesis having a large portion and a small end within a body lumen system having larger lumen and smaller lumen regions, the method comprising:

loading the prosthesis within a catheter cover having a body portion and a distal resilient structure, the small end of the prosthesis being compressed by the distal resilient structure to a smaller cross-section than the body portion;

positioning the catheter within the body lumen system with the resilient structure extending into the smaller lumen region; and

withdrawing the cover proximally, the expanding structure expanding to pass the large portion of the prosthesis within the larger lumen region of the body lumen system.