Non-compliant balloon with compliant top-layer to protect coated stents during expansion
First Claim
1. An expandable stent deployment assembly for stent implantation within a patient'"'"'s body, comprising:
- an expandable coated stent with a coating on at least a portion of an inner surface of the stent;
a stent expansion balloon, expandable from a first configuration to a second configuration, the balloon sized to fit within the expandable stent when the balloon and the stent are unexpanded; and
a compliant sheath located between the stent expansion balloon and the coated stent, wherein at least some of the coating on the inner surface of the coated stent has not been transferred to the stent from the compliant sheath, and wherein the compliant sheath is transparent.
2 Assignments
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Accused Products
Abstract
In order to minimize the potential for damage to bio-compatible and/or therapeutic-containing stent coatings, there is provided a compliant elastic sheath over layer between a non-compliant stent expansion balloon and an unexpanded stent, which is secured over the balloon with a securing crimp. This stent deployment assembly, which is mounted on a catheter, is maneuvered through a patient'"'"'s body to a desired deployment site and then inflated to expand the stent to the desired diameter. During expansion, the compliant elastic material between the stent and the non-compliant balloon prevents non-compliant balloon-induced damage to the stent'"'"'s coating, as well as preventing degradation of the non-compliant balloon by, for example, stent-caused punctures. The deflated non-compliant stent expansion balloon and compliant elastic sheath are then withdrawn from the patient'"'"'s body, leaving the deployed stent at the desired implantation site with its coating substantially intact.
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Citations
19 Claims
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1. An expandable stent deployment assembly for stent implantation within a patient'"'"'s body, comprising:
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an expandable coated stent with a coating on at least a portion of an inner surface of the stent; a stent expansion balloon, expandable from a first configuration to a second configuration, the balloon sized to fit within the expandable stent when the balloon and the stent are unexpanded; and a compliant sheath located between the stent expansion balloon and the coated stent, wherein at least some of the coating on the inner surface of the coated stent has not been transferred to the stent from the compliant sheath, and wherein the compliant sheath is transparent. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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Specification