Apparatus for delivering endoluminal prostheses and methods of making and using them
First Claim
1. An apparatus for delivering a prosthesis into a blood vessel of a patient, comprising:
- an elongate tubular member having a proximal end, a distal end, and a lumen extending between the proximal and distal ends, the distal end having a size for endoluminal insertion into a blood vessel and terminating in a substantially atraumatic distal portion comprising a plurality of flexible leaflets integrally molded thereto, the leaflets being deflectable from a closed position wherein the leaflets engage one another to an open position wherein the leaflets define an opening communicating with the lumen;
a tubular prosthesis disposed within the lumen proximate the distal portion; and
an elongate bumper member having a proximal end and a distal end, the bumper member being slidably disposed within the lumen of the elongate tubular member, the distal end of the bumper member having a blunt edge that engages the proximal end of the prosthesis for preventing axial displacement of the prosthesis upon retraction of the tubular member with respect to the bumper member;
wherein the bumper member comprises a helical coil.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An apparatus for delivering a stent into a blood vessel includes a sheath having a rounded bullet-shaped distal portion including a plurality of flexible leaflets integrally molded thereto. The stent is disposed in its contracted condition within a lumen of the sheath proximate the distal portion. A bumper is slidably disposed within the lumen that includes a helical compression coil, a bumper element attached to the helical coil including a blunt distal edge for abutting the stent, and an extension element extending distally from the bumper element through the stent and between the leaflets to facilitate introducing the apparatus over a guidewire. The sheath is formed by inserting a bullet into a blunt-ended tube, and inserting the tube into a bullet-shaped bore in a heated die until the tube material is softened and deforms into a rounded bullet shape. Slits are then cut into the distal portion to create the leaflets.
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Citations
13 Claims
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1. An apparatus for delivering a prosthesis into a blood vessel of a patient, comprising:
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an elongate tubular member having a proximal end, a distal end, and a lumen extending between the proximal and distal ends, the distal end having a size for endoluminal insertion into a blood vessel and terminating in a substantially atraumatic distal portion comprising a plurality of flexible leaflets integrally molded thereto, the leaflets being deflectable from a closed position wherein the leaflets engage one another to an open position wherein the leaflets define an opening communicating with the lumen; a tubular prosthesis disposed within the lumen proximate the distal portion; and an elongate bumper member having a proximal end and a distal end, the bumper member being slidably disposed within the lumen of the elongate tubular member, the distal end of the bumper member having a blunt edge that engages the proximal end of the prosthesis for preventing axial displacement of the prosthesis upon retraction of the tubular member with respect to the bumper member; wherein the bumper member comprises a helical coil.
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2. An apparatus for delivering a prosthesis into a blood vessel of a patient, comprising:
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an elongate tubular member having a proximal end, a distal end, and a lumen extending between the proximal and distal ends, the distal end having a size for endoluminal insertion into a blood vessel; a tubular prosthesis disposed within the lumen proximate the distal end; and an elongate bumper member comprising a helical coil having a proximal end and a distal end, the bumper member being slidably disposed within the lumen of the elongate tubular member, the distal end of the bumper member having a blunt distal edge that engages the proximal end of the prosthesis for preventing axial displacement of the prosthesis upon retraction of the tubular member with respect to the bumper member. - View Dependent Claims (3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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Specification