Method for deployment of a low profile delivery system
First Claim
1. A method for endoluminally deploying a stent and overlying biocompatible graft cover in a distal deployment location inside a lumen from a proximal access location, said lumen defining an interior space therein, the method comprising the steps of:
- a) compressing the stent and graft and loading the compressed stent and compressed graft into a delivery system, the delivery system comprising a stent sheath having a distal end located upstream relative to a flow direction of intraluminal fluid in the lumen, the compressed stent underlying the stent sheath and having a distal end, and the compressed graft overlying the stent sheath along the length of the stent and releasably retained in a compressed state surrounding said sheath, said graft having a distal end attached to the stent at or proximal the stent distal end and an outer surface exposed to the interior space of said lumen during deployment;
b) inserting the delivery system into a lumen and navigating said delivery system through said lumen so that said stent is at a desired deployment location;
c) proximally displacing the stent sheath relative to the distal end of the stent, allowing the stent distal end to expand, and allowing endoluminal fluid to flow between the stent sheath and the graft so that the graft becomes radially distanced from the stent sheath; and
d) completing deployment of the stent so that it biases the graft against the body lumen.
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0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A delivery system for endoluminal deployment of a stent inside of a biocompatible graft cover minimizes obstruction of endoluminal fluid flow during deployment. The delivery system comprises a stent sheath, a compressed stent underlying the stent sheath, and a graft overlying the stent sheath and releasably retained in a compressed state surrounding the sheath. The graft distal end is attached to the stent at or proximal the stent distal end, and the graft outer surface is exposed to the interior space of the lumen during deployment. The proximal end of the graft may be attached to the stent sheath by a releasable attachment adapted for release during deployment of the stent, or may be otherwise constrained, such as by heat deformation, to remain adjacent the outer circumference of the stent prior to deployment. The releasable attachment may be a suture that is severed by a pusher having a cutter therein. The delivery system may further include an inner core underlying the stent and connected to a tip sheath that overlies the stent distal end. One method of deploying the stent and overlying graft comprises advancing the tip sheath to allow the stent distal end to expand, retracting the stent sheath to cause the suture to be severed by the pusher cutter therefore allowing endoluminal fluid to flow between the graft and the sheath, and then completing deployment of the stent to urge the graft against the lumen wall.
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Citations
18 Claims
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1. A method for endoluminally deploying a stent and overlying biocompatible graft cover in a distal deployment location inside a lumen from a proximal access location, said lumen defining an interior space therein, the method comprising the steps of:
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a) compressing the stent and graft and loading the compressed stent and compressed graft into a delivery system, the delivery system comprising a stent sheath having a distal end located upstream relative to a flow direction of intraluminal fluid in the lumen, the compressed stent underlying the stent sheath and having a distal end, and the compressed graft overlying the stent sheath along the length of the stent and releasably retained in a compressed state surrounding said sheath, said graft having a distal end attached to the stent at or proximal the stent distal end and an outer surface exposed to the interior space of said lumen during deployment;
b) inserting the delivery system into a lumen and navigating said delivery system through said lumen so that said stent is at a desired deployment location;
c) proximally displacing the stent sheath relative to the distal end of the stent, allowing the stent distal end to expand, and allowing endoluminal fluid to flow between the stent sheath and the graft so that the graft becomes radially distanced from the stent sheath; and
d) completing deployment of the stent so that it biases the graft against the body lumen. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
i) anchoring a first end of the suture at the suture connection point, ii) extending the suture along the stent sheath;
iii) piercing the graft one or more times with the suture;
iv) extending the suture along the stent sheath;
v) entering the stent sheath radially through one of the through-holes, extending the suture through the pusher window, and exiting the stent sheath through the opposite through-hole;
vi) extending the suture along the stent sheath;
vii) piercing the graft one or more times with the suture;
viii) extending the suture semi-circumferentially around the sheath; and
ix) anchoring a second end of the suture at the suture connection point or to the first end of the suture.
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15. The method of claim 14 wherein the steps are carried out in sequential order from (i) to (ix), and steps (ii) and (vi) comprise extending the suture distally and step (iv) comprises extending the suture proximally.
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16. The method of claim 14 wherein the steps are carried out in reverse sequential order from (ix) to (i), and steps (ii) and (vi) comprise extending the suture proximally and step (iv) comprises extending the suture distally.
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17. The method of claim 1 further comprising the steps of:
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e) preparing the delivery system for withdrawal, and f) withdrawing the delivery system.
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18. The method of claim 1 further comprising the steps of:
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e) preparing the delivery system for withdrawal by i) advancing the pusher into the tip sheath; and
ii) advancing the stent sheath until a distal end of the stent sheath is adjacent to a proximal end of the tip sheath, and f) withdrawing the delivery system.
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Specification