Apparatus and methods for deployment of vascular prostheses
First Claim
Patent Images
1. Apparatus for delivering a prosthesis into a target vessel comprising:
- a flexible catheter shaft having proximal and distal ends and a first lumen therein;
a tubular prosthesis releasably carried near the distal end of the catheter shaft, the tubular prosthesis being expandable to a shape suitable for engaging the target vessel;
a sheath disposed over the catheter shaft and the tubular prosthesis and being retractable relative thereto to a retracted position in which the tubular prosthesis is exposed for deployment, the sheath having proximal and distal ends, and an exit port between the proximal and distal ends; and
a guidewire tube extending through the exit port and having a distal extremity extending through the tubular prosthesis and being fixedly attached to the catheter shaft within the sheath and a proximal extremity disposed outside of the sheath, the guidewire tube being adapted for slidably receiving a guidewire therethrough and wherein the guidewire tube slides through the exit port as the sheath is retracted relative to the catheter shaft.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Apparatus for delivering stents to body lumens include one or more tubular prostheses carried at the distal end of a catheter shaft, a sheath slidably disposed over the prostheses, and a guidewire tube extending from within the sheath to the exterior of the sheath through an exit port in a sidewall thereof. A guidewire extends slidably through the guidewire tube. The sheath can be moved relative to the catheter shaft and the guidewire tube to expose the prostheses for deployment. Methods of delivering stents are also provided.
327 Citations
43 Claims
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1. Apparatus for delivering a prosthesis into a target vessel comprising:
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a flexible catheter shaft having proximal and distal ends and a first lumen therein; a tubular prosthesis releasably carried near the distal end of the catheter shaft, the tubular prosthesis being expandable to a shape suitable for engaging the target vessel; a sheath disposed over the catheter shaft and the tubular prosthesis and being retractable relative thereto to a retracted position in which the tubular prosthesis is exposed for deployment, the sheath having proximal and distal ends, and an exit port between the proximal and distal ends; and a guidewire tube extending through the exit port and having a distal extremity extending through the tubular prosthesis and being fixedly attached to the catheter shaft within the sheath and a proximal extremity disposed outside of the sheath, the guidewire tube being adapted for slidably receiving a guidewire therethrough and wherein the guidewire tube slides through the exit port as the sheath is retracted relative to the catheter shaft. - 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 of delivering a prosthesis in a target vessel of a patient comprising:
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inserting a guidewire through the patient'"'"'s vasculature to the target vessel; slidably coupling a delivery catheter to the guidewire, the delivery catheter having proximal and distal ends, a tubular prosthesis carried near the distal end, a sheath with an exit port disposed between the proximal and distal ends, and a guidewire tube fixedly attached to the delivery catheter and extending through the exit port, a proximal extremity of the guidewire tube being outside the sheath and a distal extremity of the guidewire tube extending through the tubular prosthesis inside the sheath, the guidewire being slidable positioned through the guidewire tube; advancing the delivery catheter over the guidewire to the target vessel; retracting the sheath relative to the guidewire tube to expose a tubular prosthesis carried by the delivery catheter, the guidewire tube sliding through the exit port as the sheath is retracted; and expanding the tubular prosthesis into engagement with the target vessel. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30)
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31. A balloon catheter for treating a target vessel comprising:
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a flexible catheter shaft having proximal and distal ends and a first lumen therein; an expandable member connected to the catheter shaft; a sheath disposed over the catheter shaft and the expandable member and being retractable relative thereto to a retracted position in which at least a portion of the expandable member is exposed, the sheath having proximal and distal ends and an exit port between the proximal and distal ends; and a guidewire tube extending through the exit port and having a distal extremity extending through the expandable member and being fixedly attached to the catheter shaft within the sheath and a proximal extremity disposed outside of the sheath, the guidewire tube being adapted for slidably receiving a guidewire therethrough and wherein the guidewire tube slides through the exit port as the sheath is retracted relative to the catheter shaft. - View Dependent Claims (32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43)
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Specification