Balloon yielded delivery system and endovascular graft design for easy deployment

• US 6,533,806 B1
• Filed: 10/01/1999
• Issued: 03/18/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 10/01/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Scimed Life Systems Incorporated (Boston Scientific Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Scimed Life Systems Incorporated (Boston Scientific Corporation)
• Inventors: Golds, Ellen, Sullivan, Jason, Tseng, David, Boatman, Jeff
• Primary Examiner(s): Milano, Michael J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): HO, TAN-UYEN THI
• Application Number:
  US09/409,620
• Time in Patent Office: 1,264 Days
• Field of Search: 623/1.11, 623/1.13, 623/1.12, 623/1.2, 623/1.23, 623/1.36, 623/1.38
• US Class Current: 623/1.11
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/07 Stent-grafts
• 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 2/97 the outer sleeve being splittable
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/072 Encapsulated stents, e.g. wire or whole stent embedded in lining
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/075 the stent being loosely attached to the graft material, e.g. by stitching
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/9511 the retaining means being filaments or wires
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/9583 Means for holding the stent on the balloon, e.g. using protrusions, adhesives or an outer sleeve
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2210/0004 bioabsorbable
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2230/005 Rosette-shaped, e.g. star-shaped
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2250/0018 differing in elasticity, stiffness or compressibility
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2250/0071 breakable or frangible

Abstract

An endoluminal prosthetic delivery system provides a delivery sheath possessing a yield strength capable of allowing implantation of the prosthesis with increased efficiency. An endoluminal prosthesis is inserted in a body in a radially compressed condition, and expanded at an implantation site, whereby a delivery sheath or the prosthesis itself possesses a yield strength sufficient to allow radial expansion of the prosthesis. A method of implanting an endoluminal prosthesis is also herein provided.

Claims

1. An endoluminal prosthesis delivery system comprising:

a tubular endoluminal prosthesis having a luminal surface and an opposed exterior in surface, said prosthesis being radially expandable from a compressed position under a first radially expansive force and a second radially expansive force greater than said first expansive force; and

a delivery sheath maintaining said prosthesis in said compressed condition, said delivery sheath possessing a yield strength greater than said first expansive force of said prosthesis, and less than said second expansive force, wherein the delivery sheath is a tube having a longitudinal axis and comprising a first polymeric material and a second polymeric material, said first polymeric material comprising longitudinally extending segments intermittently embedded within said second polymeric material and extending parallel to said longitudinal axis.

2. The delivery system according to claim 1 further comprising a balloon catheter having an expandable balloon for supporting said prosthesis, said balloon applying said second radially expansive force to said prosthesis.

3. The delivery system according to claim 1 wherein said prosthesis is self-expanding.

4. The delivery system according to claim 1 wherein said delivery sheath is a thin wall tube comprised of polymeric material.

5. The delivery system according to claim 4 wherein said tube is an extruded tube.

6. The delivery system according to claim 4 wherein said tube is a sheet formed into a tube.

7. The delivery system according to claim 4 wherein said polymeric material is selected from the group consisting of nylon, polyurethane, polytetrafluoroethylene(PTFE), ePTFE, fluorinated ethylene propylene, polyimide, polyether ether ketone, and polybutylene terephthalate.

8. The delivery system according to claim 1 wherein said first polymeric material possesses a first tensile strength and said second polymeric material possesses a second tensile strength greater than said first tensile strength.

9. The delivery system according to claim 1 wherein said first polymeric material possesses a first tensile strength and said second polymeric material possesses a second tensile strength less than said first tensile strength.

10. The delivery system according to claim 1 wherein said prosthesis may be implanted within a human body.

11. The delivery system according to claim 10 wherein said delivery sheath may remain with said prosthesis after implantation within a human body.

12. The delivery system of claim 1 wherein said delivery sheath is bio-absorbable.

13. The delivery system according to claim 1 wherein said endoluminal prosthesis comprises a stent.

14. The delivery system according to claim 13 wherein said delivery sheath is a tubular cover integrally associated with said prosthesis, said tubular cover adhered to itself at selected areas of decreased tensile strength.