Bifurcated stent delivery system having retractable sheath

• US 6,802,856 B2
• Filed: 04/16/2002
• Issued: 10/12/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 12/10/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Advanced Cardiovascular Systems Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Advanced Cardiovascular Systems Incorporated
• Inventors: Wilson, W. Stan
• Primary Examiner(s): TRUONG, KEVIN THAO
• Application Number:
  US10/123,488
• Publication Number:
  US 20020111675A1
• Time in Patent Office: 910 Days
• Field of Search: 623/1.11, 623/1.35, 623/1.36, 606/192, 606/194, 606/198, 606/195
• US Class Current: 623/1.11
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/856 Single tubular stent with a side portal passage
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/954 for placing stents or stent-grafts in a bifurcation
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/958 Inflatable balloons for placing stents or stent-grafts
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/065 Y-shaped blood vessels
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2250/006 modular

Abstract

An improved catheter assembly and method are provided for treating bifurcated vessels. The catheter assembly of the present invention includes a tubular sheath for restraining dual balloons normally biased apart. Withdrawal of the sheath allows the balloons to separate and deploy intravascular stents in a bifurcated vessel. The catheter assembly also includes the feature of containing two guide wire lumens in a single catheter designed to track over a single wire prior to arrival at the bifurcation, thus preventing wire wrapping and crossing of the wires.

Claims

1. A stent delivery assembly for treating bifurcated vessels, comprising:

a dual balloon Y-shaped catheter having a proximal end and a distal end, the catheter including a first expandable member having a proximal end and a distal end, the catheter further including a second expandable member having a proximal end and a distal end;

a Y-shaped stent removeably mounted on the first expandable member and the second expandable member;

a first guide wire lumen for receiving a first guide wire, the first guide wire lumen extending through at least a portion of the catheter including the first expandable member;

a second guide wire lumen for receiving a second guide wire, the second guide wire lumen extending through at least a portion of the catheter including the second expandable member;

means for retaining the first and second expandable members and the Y-shaped stent; and

wherein the first expandable member and the second expandable member are normally biased apart, but are restrained and releasably held together by the retaining means to provide a low profile during delivery of the Y-shaped stent.

2. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the retaining means is a retractable sheath.

3. The assembly of claim 2, wherein the sheath is formed of a tubular polymer material taken from the group of polymers consisting of polyethylene, polyurethane, nylon, polyetherketone, polytetrafluoroethylene and polyethylene terephthalate.

4. The assembly of claim 2, wherein the second expandable member is longer than the first expandable member, a distal portion of the second expandable member protruding from the sheath to facilitate tracking.