Deployment system for an expandable device

• US 7,556,641 B2
• Filed: 07/16/2004
• Issued: 07/07/2009
• 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 (W.L. Gore and Associates)
• Inventors: Cully, Edward H., Flury, Keith M., Vonesh, Michael J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Ho; (Jackie) Tan-Uyen T.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Anderson; Gregory A
• Application Number:
  US10/892,934
• Publication Number:
  US 20050033402A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,817 Days
• Field of Search: 604/181, 623/1.11, 623/1.12, 606/108
• 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 2/958 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 2/9662 the middle portion of the stent or stent-graft is released first
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/97 the outer sleeve being splittable
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/9511 the retaining means being filaments or wires

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. The deployment system also includes an endo-prosthesis mounting member placed between the endoluminal device and an underlying catheter. The endo-prosthesis mounting member serves to cushion and retain the endoluminal device when constrained by the sheath and may assist in expansion of the endoluminal device when unconstrained by the sheath.

The present invention is also directed to a deployment system having a deployment assembly that simultaneously expands an endo-prosthesis mounting member while removing a sheath from an expandable medical device.

Claims

1. A deployment system for an endoluminal device comprising:

an expandable endoluminal device mounted on a distal end of a delivery catheter provided with an endo-prosthesis mounting member;

a removable sheath in the form of a continuous double-walled tube adapted to cover and constrain at least a portion of said endoluminal device in an introductory profile;

wherein said deployment system includes a deployment line integral with and extending from one wall of said double-walled tube to which tension can be applied to aid endoluminal device deployment;

wherein upon endoluminal device deployment, said double-walled tube progressively unrolls from around said endoluminal device through actuation of said deployment line to form removed sheath material;

wherein said removed sheath material begins to become converted to deployment line at a point where said removed sheath material breaks apart, separates, and converges into deployment line material in the form of an elongated filament;

wherein said converged deployment line material is removed from said deployment system along with said deployment line;

wherein said deployment line is attached to an actuator at a proximal end of said catheter tube, wherein said actuator is coupled to a means in fluid communication with a lumen of said endoprosthesis mounting member for expanding said endoprosthesis mounting member, whereby said endoprosthesis mounting member is expanded simultaneously with unrolling of said overlying sheath from said expandable medical device.

2. The implantation system of claim 1 further comprising a pressurizable chamber attached to said system in fluid communication with said endoprosthesis mounting member.

3. The implantation system of claim 2 wherein said pressurizable chamber comprises a diaphragm having a compressible material in contact with said diaphragm.

4. The implantation system of claim 3 wherein said compressible material is a spring.

5. The implantation system of claim 3 wherein said compressible material is a gas.

6. The implantation system of claim 3 wherein said compressible material is a polymeric material.

7. The deployment assembly of claim 1 further comprising a pressure-storage chamber in fluid communication with said means for expanding said endoprosthesis mounting member.

8. The medical device deployment system of claim 1 further comprising a gas bladder placed within said means for expanding said endoprosthesis mounting member.