Method of recapturing a stent

• US 6,881,220 B2
• Filed: 08/08/2003
• Issued: 04/19/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 09/30/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Bard Peripheral Vascular Incorporated (Becton, Dickinson & Co)
• Original Assignee: Bard Peripheral Vascular Incorporated (Becton, Dickinson & Co)
• Inventors: Banas, Christopher E., Edwin, Tarun J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Stewart, Alvin
• Application Number:
  US10/638,182
• Publication Number:
  US 20040044394A1
• Time in Patent Office: 620 Days
• Field of Search: 623/1.11, 623/1.19, 623/1.2, 606/108, 606/192, 606/194
• US Class Current: 623/1.11
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/82 Devices providing patency to, or preventing collapsing of, tubular structures of the body, e.g. stents stent-grafts for tubular structures of the body other than blood vessels A61F2/04; stent-grafts for blood vessels A61F2/07; instruments specially adapted for placement or removal of stents or stent-grafts A61F2/95; for closing wounds, or holding wounds closed A61B17/04 - A61B17/115; dilators A61M29/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/88 the wire-like elements formed as helical or spiral coils forming a net-like or mesh-like structure A61F2/90
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2210/0042 using a fluid, e.g. circulating
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2250/0067 Means for introducing or releasing pharmaceutical products into the body

Abstract

An endoluminal stent contains a hollow passageway for the circulation of heated and/or cryogenic fluids to recapture a previously implanted shape memory stent. The hollow passageway stent can have one or a plurality of passageways and is configured in a tubular shape with numerous coils, providing an empty tubular lumen through the center of the stent to allow blood flow. The stent is connected to a removable catheter that conducts fluid to the stent. Fluid flow may be regulated by valves incorporated in either the stent and/or the catheter.

Claims

1. A method of recapturing a shape memory stent that has been deployed within a vessel of a patient, wherein a lumen for the flow of blood is created by the deployed shape memory stent, comprising the steps of:

inserting a recapture stent within the shape memory stent, wherein the recapture stent is attached to a catheter, the recapture stent being configured to receive and circulate fluid from the catheter without release of fluid into the vessel;

enlarging the recapture stent to come in contact with the shape memory stent;

cooling the recapture stent thereby reverting the shape memory stent to a smaller or relaxed state whereby the shape memory stent enfolds the recapture stent; and

withdrawing the catheter to remove the recapture stent and shape memory stent.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the enlarging step further comprises the step of circulating heated fluid through the recapture stent.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein the cooling step further comprises the step of circulating cryogenic fluid through the recapture stent.