Apparatus and method for deployment release of intraluminal prostheses

• US 6,355,060 B1
• Filed: 10/15/1999
• Issued: 03/12/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 06/08/1994
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Medtronic Ave Incorporated (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Medtronic Ave Incorporated (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Glynn, Brian, Evans, Michael A., Lenker, Jay A., Watanabe, Gwendolyn A., Kim, Steven W.
• Primary Examiner(s): Milano, Michael J.
• Application Number:
  US09/421,202
• Time in Patent Office: 879 Days
• Field of Search: 623/1.34, 623/1.11, 623/1.23, 604/103.1
• US Class Current: 623/1.34
• 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. An improved delivery catheter for placement of a branching, radially compressible prosthesis in a branching body lumen, the catheter of the type having an elongate shaft structure including a proximal end, a distal end, an axis therebetween, and a prosthesis receptacle near the distal end, the improvement comprising:

a rotation marker on the shaft structure adjacent to the prosthesis receptacle, the rotation marker having an asymmetric radiographic image, the image being asymmetric about the axis of the shaft structure.

2. An improved delivery catheter as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a branch axial marker on the shaft structure within the prosthesis receptacle.

3. An improved delivery catheter as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a proximal marker disposed a predetermined distance from the proximal end of the prosthesis receptacle and a distal marker disposed a predetermined distance from the distal end of the prosthesis receptacle, wherein the proximal and distal markers are radiopaque and are movable with the shaft.

4. An improved delivery catheter as claimed in claim 1, wherein the rotation marker includes a radiopaque body having a radiographically clear passage and a radiographically clear notch.

5. An improved prosthesis delivery catheter for placement of a secondary radially compressible prosthesis within a branch of a branching prosthesis, the branching prosthesis placed in a branching body lumen, the catheter of the type having an elongate shaft structure including a proximal end, a distal end, and a prosthesis receptacle near the distal end, the improvement comprising:

a radiopaque safety marker positioned on the distal end of the shaft structure a maximum insertion distance proximal of a distal end of the secondary prosthesis, wherein the maximum insertion distance corresponds to a maximum distance the secondary prosthesis can safely extend into the branch of the branching prosthesis.

6. An expandable tip delivery catheter for placement of a radially compressible prosthesis having a large diameter portion and a small diameter end, the catheter comprising:

an elongate flexible shaft having a proximal end, a distal end, and a prosthesis receptacle near the distal end; and

a cover slidably disposed about the shaft, the cover comprising;

a body portion; and

a resilient structure extending distally from the body portion, the resilient structure having an inherent cross-section which is smaller than the body portion;

wherein the resilient structure expands over the prosthesis receptacle as the cover is withdrawn proximally over the shaft.

7. An expandable tip delivery catheter as claimed in claim 6, wherein the resilient structure comprises a braided expandable mesh tubing and an elastomeric material disposed over the mesh tubing.