Controlled deployment of a medical device
First Claim
1. A prosthesis delivery system comprising:
- a catheter having an inflatable balloon on its exterior, a first portion of the balloon being initially partially constrained against inflation by a unitary elastomeric element surrounding the first portion of the balloon; and
an expandable prosthesis disposed over at least the first portion of the balloon and over the elastomeric element.
3 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A prosthesis delivery system having a balloon catheter with an inflatable balloon on its exterior. The balloon is inflatable by injection of fluid through a lumen in the catheter and the balloon is initially partially constrained against inflation by a constraint. A tubular prosthesis is disposed on the catheter over at least a portion of the balloon and a portion of the constraint. The tubular prosthesis has a contracted condition and an expanded condition. The tubular prosthesis is initially disposed on the catheter in the contracted condition. Further, a balloon catheter includes a constraint so that the balloon may be sequentially inflated for dilatation purposes such as in a valvuloplasty operation.
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Citations
25 Claims
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1. A prosthesis delivery system comprising:
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a catheter having an inflatable balloon on its exterior, a first portion of the balloon being initially partially constrained against inflation by a unitary elastomeric element surrounding the first portion of the balloon; and
an expandable prosthesis disposed over at least the first portion of the balloon and over the elastomeric element. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24)
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25. A method of expanding a prosthesis with a balloon catheter, comprising:
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providing a catheter having an inflatable balloon on its exterior, a first portion of the balloon being initially partially constrained against inflation by a unitary elastomeric element surrounding the first portion of the balloon, a second portion of the balloon not being constrained by the unitary elastomeric element; and
an expandable prosthesis disposed over the first portion of the balloon, the elastomeric element and a second portion of the balloon which is not constrained by the unitary elastic element;
inflating the balloon such that an unconstrained portion of the balloon first and causes a portion of the prosthesis disposed over the second portion of the balloon to expand, and progressively inflating the balloon causing a portion of the prosthesis disposed over the first portion of the balloon to be progressively incrementally expanded.
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Specification