Prosthesis and method for deployment within a body lumen

• US 6,451,025 B1
• Filed: 10/04/1999
• Issued: 09/17/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 04/01/1996
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: General Surgical Innovations Incorporated (Johnson Controls International plc)
• Original Assignee: General Surgical Innovations Incorporated (Johnson Controls International plc)
• Inventors: Jervis, James E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Willse, David H.
• Application Number:
  US09/411,517
• Time in Patent Office: 1,079 Days
• Field of Search: 623/1.18, 623/1.22, 623/1.49, 623/23.7, 623/23.71, 623/1.11, 606/99, 606/108
• US Class Current: 606/108
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/88 the wire-like elements formed as helical or spiral coils forming a net-like or mesh-like structure A61F2/90
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/90 characterised by a net-like or mesh-like structure
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/95 Instruments specially adapted for placement or removal of stents or stent-grafts
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/9505 having retaining means other than an outer sleeve, e.g. male-female connector between stent and instrument
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/9528 for retrieval of stents

Abstract

A stent and catheter for implanting or removing a helical-shaped stent within a body passageway; the catheter having an elongate sheath capable of being secured to one end of the stent at a distal region of the sheath and an inner member extending from the sheath, and capable of being secured to the other end of the stent. The inner member is rotatable relative to the sheath to transmit torque to the stent to permit unwinding of the helical stent as its limiting strain to expand the stent. Also discussed are methods for performing procedures for implanting or removing a helical stent from a body passageway.

Claims

1. A method for removing an implanted prosthesis from within a body passageway using an elongate assembly having proximal and distal regions, and having first and second members disposed in the distal region of the elongate assembly and capable of independent or relative movement, said first member adapted to attach to a first end of said prosthesis, said second member adapted to attach to a second end of said prosthesis, said method comprising the steps of:

positioning the elongate assembly within the body passageway so that said first and second members lie in close proximity to the implanted prosthesis;

engaging the first end of said prosthesis with said first member of the elongate assembly,

engaging the second end of said prosthesis with said second member of the elongate assembly,

rotating said first member relative to said second member to reduce the dimensions of the prosthesis; and

removing the size-reduced prosthesis from the body passageway by withdrawing the elongate assembly and prosthesis.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the prosthesis has a substantially helical shape.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the rotating step includes transmitting torque to the helical prosthesis by rotating said first and said second members in opposite rotational directions relative to one another.