Combination angioplasty balloon/stent deployment device

• US 6,071,286 A
• Filed: 06/23/1997
• Issued: 06/06/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 02/19/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Mrkr L.L.C.
• Original Assignee: Michel E. Mawad
• Inventors: Mawad, Michel E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Dawson, Glenn K.
• Application Number:
  US08/880,591
• Time in Patent Office: 1,079 Days
• Field of Search: 604/96-104, 606/1, 606/159, 606/108, 606/191-200, 623/1, 623/11, 623/12
• US Class Current: 623/1.11
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/958 Inflatable balloons for placing stents or stent-grafts

Abstract

An apparatus for performing balloon angioplasty and stent deployment in a vessel having a narrowed portion, including: a stent deployment member having an inner core and a stent, the inner core having a first lumen therethrough and proximal and distal ends, with the stent being releasably supported on the inner core, and an angioplasty balloon having a sealable distal end and an open proximal end, the proximal end being sealed to the inner core such that the balloon can be inflated by the passage of a fluid through the first lumen. Also disclosed is a method for widening a narrowed portion of a vessel, including: providing a balloon adjacent a stent on a single catheter, introducing a balloon at the narrowed portion, inflating the balloon, deflating the balloon, advancing the balloon beyond the narrowed portion, deploying the stent, and withdrawing the deflated balloon through the deployed stent.

Claims

1. An apparatus for performing balloon angioplasty and stent deployment in a vessel having a narrowed portion, comprising:

a stent deployment member comprising an inner core and a stent, said inner core having a first lumen therethrough and having a proximal end and a distal end and, said stent being releasably supported on said distal end of said inner core;

an outer sheath surrounding said inner core and said stent said outer sheath and said inner core defining an annular lumen therebetween, said stent being housed in said annular lumen and said outer sheath including a port for providing fluid access to said annular lumen;

an angioplasty balloon, said balloon having a sealable distal end and an open proximal end, said proximal end being affixed to said inner core such that said balloon can be inflated by the passage of a fluid through said first lumen; and

a guide wire housed in said first lumen and extending to said distal end of said balloon, said guide wire including a valve mechanism for controlling inflation of said balloon.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said valve mechanism is activated by said guide wire.

3. The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said outer sheath is slidable with respect to said inner core.

4. The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said stent is constrained in a first configuration by said outer sheath and assumes a second configuration when released from said annular lumen by relative sliding of said outer sheath and said inner core.

5. The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said inner core includes a port for providing fluid access to said first lumen.

6. A method for widening a narrowed portion of a vessel, comprising:

(a) providing a single catheter having an inner lumen;

(b) providing a balloon and a stent on said catheter, said balloon having a proximal end adjacent to said stent and an open, sealable distal end;

(c) providing a sheath surrounding the stent, such that an annular lumen is defined between the catheter and the sheath;

(d) providing a port at the proximal end of the catheter, said port being in fluid communication with the annular lumen;

(e) introducing the balloon at the narrowed portion;

(f) sealing the distal balloon end and inflating the balloon;

(g) opening the distal balloon end and deflating the balloon;

(h) advancing the balloon beyond the narrowed portion;

(i) deploying the stent; and

(j) withdrawing the deflated balloon through the deployed stent.

7. The method according to claim 6, further including the step of inflating the balloon between steps (h) and (i).

8. The method according to claim 6, further including the step of partially withdrawing the balloon and inflating the balloon inside of the deployed stent between steps (i) and (j).

9. An apparatus for performing balloon angioplasty and stent deployment in a vessel having a narrowed portion, comprising:

a stent deployment member comprising an inner core, an outer sheath and a stent, said inner core having a first lumen therethrough and having a proximal end and a distal end and, said inner core including a guide wire housed in said first lumen, and said outer sheath surrounding said inner core and defining an annular lumen therewith, said sheath including a port for providing fluid access to said annular lumen and being slidable with respect to said inner core, said stent being releasably supported on said distal end of said inner core in said annular lumen; and

an angioplasty balloon, said balloon having a distal end and an open proximal end, said proximal end being affixed to the distal end of said inner core such that said balloon can be inflated by the passage of a fluid through said first lumen;

wherein said guide wire extends to said distal end of said balloon and includes a valve mechanism for controlling inflation of said balloon.

10. The apparatus according to claim 9 wherein said valve mechanism is activated by said guide wire.

11. The apparatus according to claim 9 wherein said stent is constrained in a first configuration by said outer sheath and assumes a second configuration when released from said annular lumen by relative sliding of said outer sheath and said inner core.

12. The apparatus according to claim 9 wherein said inner core includes a port for providing fluid access to said first lumen.