Deployment system for an endoluminal device

• US 7,198,636 B2
• Filed: 01/17/2003
• Issued: 04/03/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 01/17/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: W. L. Gore & Associates (W.L. Gore & Associates)
• Original Assignee: Gore Enterprise Holdings Incorporated
• Inventors: Cully, Edward H., Vonesh, Michael J., Ulm, Mark J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Bui; Vy Q.
• Application Number:
  US10/346,598
• Publication Number:
  US 20040143272A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,537 Days
• Field of Search: 623 111- 123, 606/108, 606/198, 606/195, 606/194
• US Class Current: 623/1.11
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/95 Instruments specially adapted for placement or removal of stents or stent-grafts
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/9522 Means for mounting a stent or stent-graft onto or into a placement instrument
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/9526 using a mandrel
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/958 Inflatable balloons for placing stents or stent-grafts
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/966 with relative longitudinal movement between outer sleeve and prosthesis, e.g. using a push rod
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/10 Balloon catheters A61M25/0125 takes precedence; embolectomy A61B17/22032; retractors A61B17/02; inflatable balloons for placing stents or stent-grafts A61F2/958 ; stomach balloons for treatment of obesity A61F5/0003; oesophagal tubes A61J15/00

Abstract

The present invention is directed to a deployment system for an endoluminal device. The deployment system includes a confining sheath placed around a compacted endoluminal device. A deployment line is provided in the system that is an integral extension of the sheath. As the deployment line is actuated, the sheath retracts from around the compacted endoluminal device. As the sheath retracts from around the endoluminal device, material from the sheath may be converted into deployment line. Once the sheath is retracted from around the compacted endoluminal device, the endoluminal device expands in configuration and repairs vascular or cardiac structures of an implant recipient. Any remaining sheath material is removed from the implantation site along with the deployment line.

Claims

1. A deployment system for a self-expanding endoluminal device comprising:

a removable sheath adapted to cover the endoluminal device, the sheath comprising a thin continuous film in the form of a double-walled tubular construct adapted to surround at least a portion of the endoluminal device and constrain the device in an introductory profile;

wherein the deployment system includes a deployment line integral with the sheath to effectuate device deployment;

wherein upon deployment, the sheath separates from the endoluminal device through actuation of the deployment line, the sheath pulling away from the device along with the deployment line; and

a compressible construct placed between the endoluminal device and a delivery catheter underlying the endoluminal device, wherein the sheath splits to transform from the sheath to an elongated filament.

2. The deployment system of claim 1 wherein means is provided to aid in splitting from a sheath to the filament.

3. The deployment system of claim 1 wherein the means to aid In splitting comprises a splitter.

4. The deployment system of claim 1 wherein the means to aid in splitting comprises an engineered defect incorporated into the sheath deployment line.

5. The deployment system of claim 1 wherein the sheath comprises a wall with a thickness of less than 0.05 mm.

6. The deployment system of claim 1 wherein the sheath comprises a continuous film that surrounds the endoluminal device in a double layer.

7. The deployment system of claim 6 wherein one layer of the double layer is placed over the other layer and one layer move past the other layer upon deployment.

8. The deployment system of claim 1 that includes a single catheter shaft.

9. The deployment system of claim 8 wherein the catheter shaft extends beyond the endoluminal device in its introductory profile.

10. The deployment system of claim 1 wherein the compressible construct is also resilient.

11. The deployment system of claim 1 wherein the length of sheath retracted from the self-expanding endoluminal device is substantially equal to the length of deployment line displaced during deployment of the self-expanding endoluminal device.

12. The deployment system of claim 1 wherein the length of sheath retracted from the self-expanding endoluminal device is essentially half the length of deployment line displaced during deployment of the self-expanding endoluminal device.

13. The deployment system of claim 1 wherein the sheath is not attached to a catheter shaft.