Stent delivery system

• US 6,168,617 B1
• Filed: 06/14/1999
• Issued: 01/02/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 06/14/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Boston Scientific Scimed, Inc. (Boston Scientific Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Scimed Life Systems Incorporated (Boston Scientific Corporation)
• Inventors: Blaeser, David J., Mattison, Richard C.
• Primary Examiner(s): Mancene, Gene
• Assistant Examiner(s): Robert, Eduardo C.
• Application Number:
  US09/332,914
• Time in Patent Office: 568 Days
• Field of Search: 606/108, 606/198, 606/194, 623/1.11
• US Class Current: 623/1.11
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/958 Inflatable balloons for placing stents or stent-grafts
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/9583 Means for holding the stent on the balloon, e.g. using protrusions, adhesives or an outer sleeve
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/9665 with additional retaining means
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2250/0029 differing in bending or flexure capacity

Abstract

The present invention provides an apparatus for delivery and deployment of an expandable stent within a vessel. The apparatus comprises a catheter having a proximal end, a distal end and a catheter shaft, an expandable stent coaxially mounted on the catheter near the distal end of the catheter and a securement apparatus coaxially mounted on the catheter near its distal end and over the stent. The securement apparatus comprises a securement sleeve having a proximal end, a distal end, an exterior surface and an interior surface. The securement sleeve is constructed and arranged for proximal advancement along the catheter shaft. The present invention also includes a distal cuff having a proximal end, a distal end, an exterior surface and an interior surface. The distal cuff is mounted near the distal end of the catheter and is constructed and arranged to closely surround the exterior surface of the securement sleeve at the distal end of the securement sleeve until proximal advancement thereof and subsequent deployment of the stent.

Claims

1. An apparatus for delivery and deployment of an expandable stent within a vessel, the apparatus comprising:

a) a catheter having a proximal end, a middle portion, a distal end and a catheter shaft;

b) an expandable means coaxially mounted on the catheter;

c) an expandable stent, expandable from a delivery diameter to a deployment diameter, the stent being coaxially mounted on the catheter over the expandable means such that the expandable means is operably located axially within the stent for expansion thereof;

d) securement means coaxially mounted on the catheter near its distal end, distal the middle portion, and over the expandable means and the stent, said securement means comprising;

I) a securement sheath having a proximal end, a distal end, an exterior surface and an interior surface, said securement sheath being slidably mounted on the catheter shaft and being constructed and arranged for proximal retraction along the catheter shaft to expose the stent, the securement sheath having a plurality of flexibility enhancing elements; and

ii) a distal cuff having a proximal end, a distal end, an exterior surface and an interior surface, said distal cuff being mounted near the distal end of the stent and being constructed and arranged to closely surround the exterior surface of the securement sheath at the distal end of the securement sheath until retraction thereof.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the flexibility enhancing elements comprise a plurality of holes in the securement sheath.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the flexibility enhancing elements comprise a plurality of dimples in the securement sheath.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the flexibility enhancing elements comprise a plurality of radial indentations in the securement sheath.

5. An apparatus for delivery and deployment of an expandable stent within a vessel, the apparatus comprising:

a) a catheter having a proximal end, a distal end and a catheter shaft;

b) an expandable means coaxially mounted on the catheter;

c) an expandable stent, expandable from a delivery diameter to a deployment diameter, the stent being coaxially mounted on the catheter over the expandable means such that the expandable means is operably located axially within the stent for expansion thereof;

d) securement means coaxially mounted on the catheter near its distal end, remote from the proximal end of the catheter, and over the expandable means and the stent, said securement means comprising;

i) a securement sheath slidably sealed on the distal end of the catheter, the securement sheath having a proximal end, a distal end, an exterior surface and an interior surface, said securement sheath being constructed and arranged for proximal retraction along the catheter shaft to expose the stent, wherein the proximal end of the sheath is sealingly attached to the catheter shaft; and

ii) a distal cuff having a proximal end, a distal end, an exterior surface and an interior surface, said distal cuff being mounted near the distal end of the stent and being constructed and arranged to closely surround the exterior surface of the securement sheath at the distal end of the securement sheath until retraction thereof;

e) an hydraulic perfusion port in the catheter shaft located distally of the proximal end of the securement sheath, the securement sheath being constructed and arranged for retraction in response to fluid pressure; and

f) a seal mounted on the catheter shaft, within the sheath and proximal along the catheter shaft to the stent, creating a chamber within the sheath between the seal and the slidable seal created by the proximal end of the sheath and the catheter shaft, whereby fluid or gas may be forced through the perfusion port into the chamber forcing the sheath to slide proximally to release the stent.

6. An apparatus for delivery and deployment of an expandable stent within a vessel, the apparatus comprising:

a) a catheter having a proximal end, a middle portion, a distal end and a catheter shaft;

b) an expandable stent, expandable from a delivery diameter to a deployment diameter, the stent being coaxially mounted on the distal end of the catheter for expansion thereof;

d) securement means coaxially mounted on the catheter near its distal end, distal the middle portion, and over the stent, said securement means comprising;

I) a securement sheath having a proximal end, a distal end, an exterior surface and an interior surface, said securement sheath being slidably mounted on the catheter shaft and being constructed and arranged for proximal retraction along the catheter shaft to expose the stent, the securement sheath having a plurality of flexibility enhancing elements, the plurality of flexibility enhancing elements being dispersed substantially throughout the securement sheath.

7. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the securement means further comprises, a distal cuff having a proximal end, a distal end, an exterior surface and an interior surface, said distal cuff being mounted near the distal end of the stent and being constructed and arranged to closely surround the exterior surface of the securement sheath at the distal end of the securement sheath until retraction thereof.

8. The apparatus of claim 7 herein the flexibility enhancing elements comprise a plurality of holes in the securement sheath.

9. The apparatus of claim 8 wherein the flexibility enhancing elements comprise a plurality of radial indentations in the securement sheath.

10. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein the flexibility enhancing elements comprise a plurality of dimples in the securement sheath.