Apparatus and methods for deployment of multiple custom-length prostheses (III)

• US 7,320,702 B2
• Filed: 06/08/2005
• Issued: 01/22/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 06/08/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: JW Medical Systems Ltd
• Original Assignee: XTENT, Inc.
• Inventors: Karatt, Joseph, Kao, Stephen, Hammersmark, Dan Jeffrey, Welk, Craig, Acosta, Pablo
• Primary Examiner(s): Hayes; Michael J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Mendoza; Michael G.
• Application Number:
  US11/148,546
• Publication Number:
  US 20060282148A1
• Time in Patent Office: 958 Days
• Field of Search: 623/1.11, 623/1.12, 623/1.16, 606/108, 606/127, 606192-198
• US Class Current: 623/1.11
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00309 Cut-outs or slits
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/91 made from perforated sheet material or tubes, e.g. perforated by laser cuts or etched holes
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/915 with bands having a meander structure, adjacent bands being connected to each other
• 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: A61F 2002/826 more than one stent being applied sequentially
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/91508 the meander having a difference in amplitude along the band
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/91516 the meander having a change in frequency along the band
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/91525 within the whole structure different bands showing different meander characteristics, e.g. frequency or amplitude
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/91533 characterised by the phase between adjacent bands
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/9155 Adjacent bands being connected to each other
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/91558 connected peak to peak
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/9583 Means for holding the stent on the balloon, e.g. using protrusions, adhesives or an outer sleeve
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/9665 with additional retaining means
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2220/0033 made by longitudinally pushing a protrusion into a complementary-shaped recess, e.g. held by friction fit
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2220/005 using adhesives
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2250/0007 for adjusting length
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2250/0032 differing in radiographic density
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2250/007 O-rings
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2250/0098 radio-opaque, e.g. radio-opaque markers

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.

Claims

1. Apparatus for delivering a prosthesis into a target vessel of a patient, comprising:

a flexible catheter having proximal and distal ends, said catheter comprising an outer sheath, a pusher shaft, and an inner shaft;

an expandable member coupled to the inner shaft;

a plurality of tubular prostheses releasably carried over the expandable member, the outer sheath disposed over the prostheses and being axially movable relative thereto, a distal end of the pusher shaft abutting a proximal end of one of the tubular prostheses; and

a garage member at the distal end of the outer sheath having sufficient radial strength to constrain a proximal portion of the expandable member within the garage member from expansion when a distal portion of the expandable member outside the garage member is expanded to deploy one of the tubular prostheses, the garage member having a length at least as long as one of the tubular prostheses.

2. Apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a valve member mounted in the garage member, the valve member being adapted to engage one of the tubular prostheses when disposed in the garage member.

3. Apparatus of claim 2 wherein the valve member comprises a flange configured to frictionally engage an outer surface of the tubular prosthesis.

4. Apparatus of claim 2 wherein the valve member is spaced proximally from a distal end of the garage member.

5. Apparatus of claim 4 wherein the valve member is spaced from the distal end a distance at least equal to the length of one of the tubular prostheses.

6. Apparatus of claim 5 wherein the valye member is spaced from the distal end a distance equal to less than the length of two of the tubular prostheses.

7. Apparatus of claim 4 wherein the valve member is spaced from the distal end a distance equal to between ¼

and ¾

of the length of one of the tubular prostheses.

8. Apparatus of claim 1 wherein the garage member is axially flexible so as to bend about a transverse axis.

9. Apparatus of claim 8 wherein the garage member has a tubular wall, the tubular wall having a plurality of openings to provide flexibility.

10. Apparatus of claim 9, wherein the openings have different sizes at different locations along the tubular wall.

11. Apparatus of claim 1 wherein the garage member has a length less than the combined length of two tubular prostheses.

12. Apparatus of claim 11 wherein the garage member is covered with a polymer about its exterior.

13. Apparatus of claim 1 wherein the garage member is composed of a metal.

14. Apparatus of claim 13 wherein the garage member is composed of a superelastic alloy.

15. Apparatus of claim 1 wherein the outer sheath comprises a reinforcing braid in a wall thereof.

16. Apparatus of claim 1 further comprising radiopaque marker coupled to the garage member.