Endoscopic stent delivery system and method
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A system for delivering a stent into an anatomical structure, the system comprising:
- an outer tubular structure having a proximal end, a distal end, an inner surface defining a lumen, and an outer surface, wherein the outer tubular structure has a translucent region at the distal end and the translucent region has a length less than a constrained length of a stent placed within the outer tubular structure, wherein the outer tubular structure is devoid of braiding along the length of the translucent region between the inner and outer surfaces;
an inner elongated structure having a proximal end and a distal end, the inner elongated structure being located within the outer tubular structure such that the distal end of the inner elongated structure substantially coincides with the distal end of the outer tubular structure;
a stent accommodating area on the distal end of the inner elongated structure, the stent accommodating area accommodating the stent; and
an external tubular structure contact area projecting from a surface of the inner elongated structure and located closer to a proximal end of the stent accommodating area than a distal end of the stent accommodating area, the external tubular structure contact area frictionally sliding against an interior surface of the outer tubular structure,wherein the translucent region is coextensive with at least a portion of the stent accommodating area.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A stent delivery system is disclosed that has an outer assembly and an inner assembly that accommodates a stent. The inner assembly further has an external assembly contact area projecting from its surface that frictionally contacts an inner surface of the outer assembly. The contact area is positioned at one end of the inner assembly, proximal to the stent accommodating area. Also disclosed is a method of using the stent delivery system.
-
Citations
21 Claims
-
1. A system for delivering a stent into an anatomical structure, the system comprising:
-
an outer tubular structure having a proximal end, a distal end, an inner surface defining a lumen, and an outer surface, wherein the outer tubular structure has a translucent region at the distal end and the translucent region has a length less than a constrained length of a stent placed within the outer tubular structure, wherein the outer tubular structure is devoid of braiding along the length of the translucent region between the inner and outer surfaces; an inner elongated structure having a proximal end and a distal end, the inner elongated structure being located within the outer tubular structure such that the distal end of the inner elongated structure substantially coincides with the distal end of the outer tubular structure; a stent accommodating area on the distal end of the inner elongated structure, the stent accommodating area accommodating the stent; and an external tubular structure contact area projecting from a surface of the inner elongated structure and located closer to a proximal end of the stent accommodating area than a distal end of the stent accommodating area, the external tubular structure contact area frictionally sliding against an interior surface of the outer tubular structure, wherein the translucent region is coextensive with at least a portion of the stent accommodating area. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
-
-
11. A method of deploying a stent with respect to an anatomical structure, the method comprising:
-
providing a stent delivery system, the system comprising; an outer tubular structure having a proximal end, a distal end, an inner surface defining a lumen, and an outer surface, wherein the outer tubular structure has a translucent region at the distal end and the translucent region has a length less than a constrained length of a stent within the outer tubular structure, wherein the outer tubular structure is devoid of braiding along the length of the translucent region between the inner and outer surfaces; an inner elongated structure having a proximal end and a distal end, the inner elongated structure being located within the outer tubular structure such that the distal end of the inner elongated structure substantially coincides with the distal end of the outer tubular structure; a stent accommodating area on the distal end of the inner elongated structure accommodating the stent; and an external tubular structure contact area projecting from a surface of the inner elongated structure and located closer to a proximal end of the stent accommodating area than a distal end of the stent accommodating area, the external tubular structure contact area able to frictionally slide against an interior surface of the outer tubular structure, wherein the translucent region is coextensive with at least a portion of the stent accommodating area; inserting the stent delivery system through an insertion point in a body until the distal ends of the external tubular structure and the inner elongated structure are in a position within the anatomical structure; moving the outer tubular structure proximally while maintaining the position of the inner elongated structure, thus exposing the stent accommodating area and releasing at least part of the stent into the anatomical structure; continuing the proximal movement of the outer tubular structure with respect to the inner elongated structure until the stent is completely deployed into the anatomical structure; and withdrawing the stent delivery system from the insertion point in the body. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
-
Specification