Rapid exchange stent delivery system and associated components

• US 6,723,071 B2
• Filed: 06/04/2003
• Issued: 04/20/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 03/14/2001
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Scimed Life Systems Incorporated (Boston Scientific Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Scimed Life Systems Incorporated (Boston Scientific Corporation)
• Inventors: Gerdts, Michael, Bronson, Mary, Powell, August
• Primary Examiner(s): HOOK, JAMES F
• Application Number:
  US10/454,269
• Publication Number:
  US 20030199821A1
• Time in Patent Office: 321 Days
• Field of Search: 604/103.04, 604/96, 604/97, 604/98, 604/99, 604/100, 604/101, 606/191, 606/194, 606/195, 623/1.11, 623/1.12
• US Class Current: 604/103.04
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/962 having an outer sleeve
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2025/0183 Rapid exchange or monorail catheters

Abstract

A rapid exchange stent delivery catheter which includes an inner tubular member and an outer tubular member slidably disposed thereon. The inner tubular member and the outer tubular member have rapid exchange type guide wire openings. The guide wire opening of the outer tubular member is preferably shorter in length than the guide wire opening of the inner tubular member to protect the inner workings of the catheter. The outer tubular member may include a guide wire access sleeve having a guide wire ramp extending into the guide wire lumen of the inner tubular member. The guide wire sleeve may be a separate component from the remainder of the outer tubular member to facilitate efficient manufacture.

Claims

1. A rapid-exchange stent delivery catheter, comprising:

an inner tubular member, having a proximal end, a distal end, and a guide wire lumen extending from a proximal guide wire opening disposed distal of the proximal end of the inner tubular member to a distal guide wire opening disposed at the distal end of the inner tubular member;

an outer tubular member disposed about at least a portion of the inner tubular member, having a proximal end, a distal end, and a guide wire opening disposed within the outer tubular member distal of the proximal end of the outer tubular member;

the guide wire opening of the outer tubular member further comprising a guide wire ramp extending into the proximal guide wire opening of the inner tubular member; and

a distal head disposed near the distal end of the inner tubular member, the distal head restricting longitudinal movement of the outer tubular member relative to the inner tubular member.

2. The rapid-exchange stent delivery catheter of claim 1, wherein:

the distal end of the outer tubular has an inside diameter; and

the distal head has at least a portion including a diameter greater than the inside diameter of the outer tubular member.

3. The rapid-exchange stent delivery catheter of claim 2, further comprising:

a stent disposed about a distal portion of the inner tubular member, wherein the stent is located within a distal portion of the outer tubular member in a retracted position and the stent is located distal the distal end of the outer tubular member in an extended position.

4. The rapid-exchange stent delivery catheter of claim 3, wherein the stent is disposed proximal the distal head.

5. The rapid-exchange stent delivery catheter of claim 4, wherein the longitudinal movement in a distal direction of the outer tubular member relative to the inner tubular member while in the retracted position is restricted by the distal head.

6. The rapid-exchange stent delivery catheter in claim 5, wherein the ramp extends into the proximal guide wire opening of the inner tubular member, further wherein the length of the proximal guide wire opening of the inner tubular member is sufficiently long to allow longitudinal motion of the outer tubular member relative to the inner tubular member to deploy the stent.

7. A rapid-exchange stent delivery catheter, comprising:

a catheter shaft including an inner tubular member and an outer tubular member,

the inner tubular member, having a proximal end, a distal end, and a guide wire lumen extending from a proximal guide wire opening disposed distal of the proximal end of the inner tubular member to a distal guide wire opening disposed at the distal end of the inner tubular member, the inner tubular member extending substantially the length of the catheter shaft,

the outer tubular member, having a proximal end, a distal end, and a guide wire opening disposed within the outer tubular member distal of the proximal end of the outer tubular member, the outer tubular member extending substantially the length of the catheter shaft; and

the guide wire opening of the outer tubular member having a guide wire ramp extending into the proximal guide wire opening of the inner tubular member.

8. The rapid-exchange stent delivery catheter of claim 7, wherein the proximal guide wire opening of the inner tubular member is larger than the guide wire opening of the outer tubular member.

9. The rapid-exchange stent delivery catheter of claim 7, wherein at least a portion of the inner tubular member is slidably disposed within at least a portion of the outer tubular member.

10. The rapid-exchange stent delivery catheter of claim 9, further comprising:

a stent disposed about the inner tubular member proximate the distal end of the inner tubular member, wherein in a first position the stent is located within a distal portion of the outer tubular member and in a second position the stent is located distal the distal end of the outer tubular member.

11. The rapid-exchange stent delivery catheter of claim 10, further comprising:

a means for actuating delivery of the stent, wherein the outer tubular member is translated longitudinally relative to the inner tubular member from the first position to the second position, thereby deploying the stent.

12. The rapid-exchange stent delivery catheter of claim 11, wherein the means for actuating delivery of the stent includes a first handle connected to a proximal portion of the inner tubular member and a second handle connected to a proximal portion of the outer tubular member, wherein the stent is deployed by translation of the first handle relative to the second handle.

13. The rapid-exchange stent delivery catheter of claim 11, wherein the proximal guide wire opening of the inner tubular member has a length, wherein the ramp is translated along the length of the proximal guide wire opening of the inner tubular member during translation of the outer tubular member relative to the inner tubular member from the first position to the second position.

14. A rapid-exchange stent delivery catheter, comprising:

an inner tubular member, having a proximal end, a distal end, and a guide wire lumen extending from a proximal guide wire opening disposed distal of the proximal end of the inner tubular member to a distal guide wire opening disposed at the distal end of the inner tubular member,

an outer tubular member slidably disposed about the inner tubular member allowing longitudinal motion, having a proximal portion, a distal portion, and a guide wire sleeve disposed intermediate the proximal and distal portions,

the guide wire sleeve having a proximal portion, a distal portion, a lumen therethrough, and a guide wire opening having a ramp extending into the lumen of the guide wire sleeve; and

a stent disposed about the inner tubular member proximate the distal end of the inner tubular member.

15. The rapid-exchange stent delivery catheter in claim 14, wherein the ramp extends into the proximal guide wire opening of the inner tubular member.

16. The rapid-exchange stent delivery catheter in claim 14, wherein the guide wire sleeve is fixedly attached between the proximal portion of the outer tubular member and the distal portion of the outer tubular member.

17. The rapid-exchange stent delivery catheter in claim 16 wherein the guide wire sleeve is a distinct portion of the outer tubular member.

18. The rapid-exchange stent delivery catheter in claim 14, wherein:

the guide wire opening of the guide wire sleeve has a length; and

the proximal guide wire opening of the inner tubular member has a length greater than the length of the guide wire opening of the guide wire sleeve.