Catheter tip designs and method of manufacture
First Claim
1. A method for assembling a loaded, self-expanding stent delivery catheter comprising the steps of:
- providing a shaft, a retractable sheath, a self-expanding tubular stent, said shaft, stent, and sheath cooperatively sized so as to allow co-axially receiving said stent between said shaft and said sheath, said shaft having a distal region and a distal end with at least one outward projection in said distal region, said sheath having a distal region and a distal end, said stent having a distal end;
providing a tapered tip having a lumen therethrough, a proximal region, and a proximal end;
positioning said sheath co-axially over said shaft such that said sheath distal end is positioned near said shaft distal region;
positioning said compressed stent proximally co-axially over said shaft such that said stent distal end is disposed near said shaft distal region and said stent is radially constrained by said sheath distal region;
disposing said tip co-axially over said shaft such that said tip proximal end is positioned near said shaft distal region; and
forcing said tip proximal region co-axially over said shaft outward projections such that said tip is caught on said projections and secured to said shaft.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
Methods for making a loaded catheter assembly for delivering a self-expanding stent where the self-expanding stent is carried in a compressed state and the compressed stent has an inside diameter smaller than the outside diameter of the catheter distal tip. The methods can utilize catheter sub-assemblies lacking already attached tips or having partially formed distal tips. A stent can be proximally and co-axially slid over the distal end of the catheter shaft and constrained by a retractable sheath disposed co-axially about the compressed stent. The catheter distal tip can be added or more fully formed after the loading of the stent. Some catheters include a preformed distal conical tip held in position by a heat-shrink film. Other catheters have an elastomeric distal tip waist for slipping over and engaging an outward projection on the catheter shaft distal region. Some catheters are adapted to engage catheter shaft distal threaded regions.
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Citations
15 Claims
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1. A method for assembling a loaded, self-expanding stent delivery catheter comprising the steps of:
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providing a shaft, a retractable sheath, a self-expanding tubular stent, said shaft, stent, and sheath cooperatively sized so as to allow co-axially receiving said stent between said shaft and said sheath, said shaft having a distal region and a distal end with at least one outward projection in said distal region, said sheath having a distal region and a distal end, said stent having a distal end;
providing a tapered tip having a lumen therethrough, a proximal region, and a proximal end;
positioning said sheath co-axially over said shaft such that said sheath distal end is positioned near said shaft distal region;
positioning said compressed stent proximally co-axially over said shaft such that said stent distal end is disposed near said shaft distal region and said stent is radially constrained by said sheath distal region;
disposing said tip co-axially over said shaft such that said tip proximal end is positioned near said shaft distal region; and
forcing said tip proximal region co-axially over said shaft outward projections such that said tip is caught on said projections and secured to said shaft. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A loaded, self-expanding stent delivery catheter assembly comprising:
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a shaft having a distal end, a distal region, and at least one outwardly extending projection in said shaft distal region;
a retractable sheath having a distal region and a distal end disposed axially over said shaft distal region such that said sheath distal end is positioned proximally of said shaft distal end;
a self-expanding tubular stent co-axially disposed over said shaft distal region and disposed co-axially within said sheath distal region, such that said stent is radially constrained by said sheath distal region; and
a distal tip co-axially disposed over said shaft distal region substantially distally of said sheath distal region, said tip secured to said shaft, wherein said tip has a proximal region wall and said tip is secured to said shaft by said projection extending into said tip proximal region wall. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A loaded, self-expanding stent delivery catheter assembly comprising:
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a shaft having a distal end, a distal region, and at least one outwardly extending projection in said shaft distal region;
a retractable sheath having a distal region and a distal end disposed co-axially over said shaft distal region such that said sheath distal end is positioned proximally of said shaft distal end;
a self-expanding tubular stent co-axially disposed over said shaft distal region and disposed co-axially within said sheath distal region, such that said stent is radially constrained by said sheath distal region; and
a distal tip co-axially disposed over said shaft distal region distally of said sheath distal region, said tip secured to said shaft, wherein said tip has a maximum radial extent greater than the inside diameter of said stent in a constrained state. - View Dependent Claims (14)
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15. A catheter comprising:
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an elongate shaft having a distal region, a distal end, and radially outward projections extending from said shaft distal region; and
a distal tip having a body with a lumen therethrough, wherein said distal tip is disposed over said shaft distal region and is secured at least in part to said shaft by said outward projections extending into said tip body.
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Specification