Pull back sleeve system with compression resistant inner shaft

• US 6,342,066 B1
• Filed: 07/28/2000
• Issued: 01/29/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 06/07/1995
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Boston Scientific Scimed (Boston Scientific Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Scimed Life Systems Incorporated (Boston Scientific Corporation)
• Inventors: Peterson, Dean A, Toro, Connie Del, Shoemaker, Susan M.
• Primary Examiner(s): TRUONG, KEVIN THAO
• Application Number:
  US09/629,639
• Time in Patent Office: 550 Days
• Field of Search: 606/108, 606/194, 606/195, 606/198, 606/191, 606/192, 623/1.11, 623/1.12, 623/1.2, 623/1.22, 623/1.23
• US Class Current: 623/1.11
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/95 Instruments specially adapted for placement or removal of stents or stent-grafts

Abstract

A stent delivery system for delivering a stent comprising, a stent disposed on the distal end of the catheter, and an inner core, wherein the inner core is resistant to appreciable compression or accordion. The catheter further comprising a first sheath covering a portion of the inner core, wherein at least a portion of the distal end of the inner core is left uncovered by the first sheath, a retractable sheath which covers at least a portion of the stent and a portion of the distal end of the inner core and a retracting means for retracting the distal sheath to release the stent.

Claims

1. A stent delivery system comprising:

an inner core having proximal and distal ends, the inner core comprising a coil having a pitch such that it is flexible in an uncompressed state, and will become rigid when compressed;

a stent concentrically arranged around the inner core near the distal end;

a retractable distal sheath surrounding at least a portion of the stent, the retractable distal sheath being slidably movable relative to the inner core; and

retracting means connected to the retractable distal sheath for retracting the retractable distal sheath proximally, such that the retracting means moves axially with respect to the inner core,

whereby when the retracting means is retracted the retractable distal sheath is retracted freeing the stent for delivery.

2. The stent delivery system as in claim 1, further comprising an outer sheath having proximal and distal ends and covering at least a portion of the inner core substantially proximal to the distal sheath, wherein the retractable distal sheath and a portion of the distal end of the outer sheath are in contact.

3. The stent delivery system as in claim 2, wherein the retractable distal sheath and the portion of the distal end of the outer sheath overlap.

4. The stent delivery system as in claim 3, wherein the retracting means comprises a pull back wire attached to the retractable distal sheath, the pull back wire being longitudinally moveable.

5. The stent delivery system as in claim 4, further comprising an annular ring, wherein the pull back wire is attached to the annular ring and wherein the retractable distal sheath is adhered to the annular ring allowing the pull back wire to retract the retractable distal sheath.

6. The stent delivery system as in claim 5, further comprising a stopper positioned to prevent the stent from moving proximally as the retractable distal sheath is retracted to expose the stent.

7. The stent delivery system as in claim 6, further comprising a pull back wire lumen which partially encloses the pull back wire and is at least partially covered by the outer sheath.

8. The stent delivery system as in claim 7, further comprising a stiffening wire having proximal and distal ends positioned longitudinally along the inner core.

9. The stent delivery system as in claim 8, wherein the distal end of the stiffening wire and a distal end of the pull back wire lumen are truncated prior to the annular ring.

10. The stent delivery system as in claim 2, wherein the retractable distal sheath comprises a proximal sheath having proximal and distal ends, the proximal end of the proximal sheath being in contact with the distal end of the outer sheath, and a distal sheath having proximal and distal ends, the distal end of the proximal sheath being connected to the proximal end of the distal sheath.

11. The stent delivery system as in claim 10, further comprising a manifold at a proximal end of the stent delivery system, the manifold comprising a sliding member which is connected to the pull back wire and acts to retract said pull back wire.

12. The stent delivery system as in claim 11, further comprising a hydrating luer located on the manifold, a distal tip located at the distal end of the stent delivery system and a communication means between the hydrating luer and the distal tip which allows for hydrating the distal tip from the hydrating luer.

13. The stent delivery system as in claim 2, wherein the outer sheath comprises polyolefinic ionomer material.

14. The stent delivery system as in claim 13, wherein the retractable distal sheath is made of material which comprises tetrafluoroethylene fluorocarbon polymers or fluorinated ethylenepropylene resins.

15. The stent delivery system as in claim 1, wherein the distal sheath comprises a contoured pattern of grooves.

16. A stent delivery system comprising:

an inner core having proximal and distal ends;

a stent concentrically arranged around the inner core near the distal end;

an outer sheath concentrically arranged around the inner core and positioned along the inner core proximal to the stent;

a retractable distal sheath surrounding at least a portion of the stent and being positioned on the inner core at least partially distal to the outer sheath, such that the retractable distal sheath is slidably movable along the inner core and relative to the outer sheath, wherein the retractable distal sheath and a portion of a distal end of the outer sheath are in contact; and

a retracting means connected to the distal sheath for retracting the distal sheath;

whereby when the retracting means is retracted to free the stent for delivery, the distal sheath is retracted.

17. The stent delivery system as in claim 16, wherein the retractable distal sheath comprises a proximal sheath having proximal and distal ends, the proximal end of the proximal sheath being in contact with the distal end of the outer sheath, and a distal sheath having proximal and distal ends, the distal end of the proximal sheath being connected to the proximal end of the distal sheath.

18. The stent delivery system as in claim 16, wherein the inner core comprises a wire coil with a predetermined pitch such that it is flexible in an uncompressed state, and will become rigid when compressed.

19. The stent delivery system as in claim 16, the retracting means extending from the proximal end of the stent delivery system toward a distal end of the stent delivery system within the outer sheath, and being connected to the retractable distal sheath for retracting the retractable distal sheath, such that the retracting means moves axially with respect to the outer sheath.

20. The stent delivery system as in claim 16, wherein the retractable distal sheath and a portion of the distal end of the outer sheath are overlapping.