Method and apparatus for delivering a stent into a body lumen
First Claim
1. A method for delivering a stent into a body lumen, said method comprising the steps of:
- (1) providing a stent delivery device comprising an outer tube having a proximal end and a distal end and sized to hold said stent therein in a radially constricted condition, an inner tube within said outer tube having a proximal end and a distal end, and a balloon fixedly mounted on said inner tube and positioned within said outer tube;
(2) positioning said stent in a radially constricted state within said outer tube in a longitudinal position so that at least a portion of said stent is longitudinally contiguous with at least a portion of said balloon;
(3) inflating said balloon so as to trap said stent between said balloon and said outer tube;
(4) guiding said delivery device within said body lumen to position said stent within said delivery device to a position within said body lumen; and
(5) moving said outer tube proximally relative to said inner tube, said balloon and said stent so as to at least partially release said stent from said outer tube.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Method and apparatus for delivering a stent, including, but not limited to, a self expanding stent, into a body lumen. The apparatus comprises an outer tube having a proximal end and a distal end and sized to hold a stent therein in a radially constricted condition, an inner tube within the outer tube and having a proximal end and a distal end, and a holding element comprising one or more inflatable balloons carried on the inner tube at the location of the loaded stent. The balloon can be inflated prior to the procedure so that the balloon presses against the inner surface of the outer tube trapping the stent in its longitudinal position between the inner and outer tubes. Accordingly, the outer tube can be slid proximally to release the stent or distally to retract the stent back into the delivery device without the stent inadvertently sliding.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A method for delivering a stent into a body lumen, said method comprising the steps of:
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(1) providing a stent delivery device comprising an outer tube having a proximal end and a distal end and sized to hold said stent therein in a radially constricted condition, an inner tube within said outer tube having a proximal end and a distal end, and a balloon fixedly mounted on said inner tube and positioned within said outer tube; (2) positioning said stent in a radially constricted state within said outer tube in a longitudinal position so that at least a portion of said stent is longitudinally contiguous with at least a portion of said balloon; (3) inflating said balloon so as to trap said stent between said balloon and said outer tube; (4) guiding said delivery device within said body lumen to position said stent within said delivery device to a position within said body lumen; and (5) moving said outer tube proximally relative to said inner tube, said balloon and said stent so as to at least partially release said stent from said outer tube. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A method for delivering a stent into a body lumen, said method comprising the steps of:
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(1) providing a stent delivery device comprising an outer tube having a proximal end and a distal end and sized to hold said stent therein in a radially constricted condition, an inner tube within said outer tube having a proximal end and a distal end, and a balloon fixedly mounted on said inner tube and positioned within said outer tube; (2) positioning said stent in a radially constricted state within said outer tube in a longitudinal position so that at least a portion of said stent is longitudinally contiguous with at least a portion of said balloon; (3) inflating said balloon so as to trap said stent between said balloon and said outer tube; (4) guiding said delivery device within said body lumen to position said stent within said delivery device to a position within said body lumen; and (5) moving said outer tube proximally relative to said inner tube, said balloon and said stent so as to at least partially release said stent from said outer tube; wherein said balloon is shorter than said stent and wherein step (2) comprises positioning at least a portion of said stent longitudinally aligned with said balloon.
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19. A method for delivering a stent into a body lumen, said method comprising the steps of:
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(1) providing a stent delivery device comprising an outer tube having a proximal end and a distal end and sized to hold said stent therein in a radially constricted condition, an inner tube within said outer tube having a proximal end and a distal end, and a balloon fixedly mounted on said inner tube and positioned within said outer tube; (2) positioning said stent in a radially constricted state within said outer tube in a longitudinal position so that at least a portion of said stent is longitudinally contiguous with at least a portion of said balloon; (3) inflating said balloon so as to trap said stent between said balloon and said outer tube; (4) guiding said delivery device within said body lumen to position said stent within said delivery device to a position within said body lumen; and (5) moving said outer tube proximally relative to said inner tube, said balloon and said stent so as to at least partially release said stent from said outer tube; wherein said balloon is shorter than said stent, said stent having a proximal end and a distal end and wherein step (2) comprises positioning said stent so that said balloon is adjacent said proximal end of said stent. - View Dependent Claims (20)
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Specification