Apparatus and method for deploying self-expanding stents

• US 6,673,101 B1
• Filed: 10/09/2002
• Issued: 01/06/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 10/09/2002
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Abbott Vascular Solutions, Inc. (Abbott Laboratories Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: EndoVascular Technologies Incorporated (Boston Scientific Corporation)
• Inventors: Wu, Patrick P., Shuler, James C., Fitzgerald, Keif M.
• Primary Examiner(s): McDermott, Corrine
• Assistant Examiner(s): SWEET, THOMAS
• Application Number:
  US10/267,338
• Time in Patent Office: 454 Days
• Field of Search: 604/161, 608/108, 623/1.11, 623/1.12, 606/108
• US Class Current: 623/1.11
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/95 Instruments specially adapted for placement or removal of stents or stent-grafts
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/9517 handle assemblies therefor

Abstract

An assembly for delivering a stent to an intraluminal location comprising a catheter having an inner member and an outer member, a stent positioned between the inner member and the outer member at the catheter distal end, and a cutter/slider/deployment mechanism slidable secured to the catheter proximal end. A user may vary the length of the catheter by slidably advancing the cutter/slider/deployment mechanism along the catheter, whereby excess portions of the catheter are cut away. When the desired length is achieved, the user can secure the cutter/slider/deployment mechanism to the catheter to prevent further slidable advancement. The user may also vary the configuration of the catheter handle by adding or removing a removable platform from the handle. Upon stent deployment, the stent is released from the outer member, and the stent will expand as desired.

Claims

1. A stent delivery assembly, comprising:

a generally tubular catheter having an inner member and an outer member;

a stent disposed between the outer member and the inner member;

a catheter handle; and

a cutting mechanism slidably secured to the catheter handle, the cutting mechanism positioned in contact with the catheter outer member.

2. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the cutting mechanism comprises a blade.

3. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the cutting mechanism is slidably disposed on the catheter outer member.

4. The assembly of claim 3,

wherein the catheter handle is slidably disposed on the catheter.

5. The assembly of claim 4, further comprising:

a slider mechanism slidably secured to the outer member, the slider mechanism comprising a securing mechanism configured to releasably secure the slider mechanism to the catheter outer member,

wherein the cutting mechanism is secured to the slider mechanism.

6. A stent delivery assembly, comprising:

a generally tubular catheter having an inner member and an outer member;

a stent disposed between the outer member and the inner member;

a cutting mechanism slidably disposed on the catheter, the cutting mechanism positioned in contact with the catheter outer member;

wherein the cutting mechanism is slidably disposed on the catheter outer member;

a catheter handle slidably disposed on the catheter;

a slider mechanism slidably disposed on the outer member, the slider mechanism comprising a securing mechanism configured to releasably secure the slider mechanism to the catheter outer member;

wherein the cutting mechanism is secured to the slider mechanism;

wherein the slider mechanism is slidably positioned within the catheter handle, whereby the slider mechanism may be slid with respect to the catheter handle.

7. The assembly of claim 6, wherein the slider mechanism comprises a catheter handle engaging device that releasably engages the catheter handle to prevent sliding of the slider mechanism with respect to the catheter handle.

8. The assembly of claim 6, wherein the catheter handle comprises an outer member locking mechanism for fixedly securing the handle to the catheter outer member.

9. The assembly of claim 6, wherein the catheter handle comprises an inner member locking mechanism for fixedly securing the handle to the catheter inner member.

10. A catheter assembly comprising:

a generally tubular catheter having an outer member;

a catheter handle slidably disposed on the catheter outer member and including structure that secures the handle to the outer member;

a cutting mechanism slidably disposed on the catheter outer member and slidably secured to the catheter handle.

11. The catheter assembly of claim 10, wherein the cutting mechanism is positioned within the catheter handle.

12. The catheter assembly of claim 10, wherein the cutting mechanism comprises a blade engaging the catheter outer member.