Method of loading a medical endoprosthesis through the side wall of an elongate member

• US 7,815,670 B2
• Filed: 07/11/2006
• Issued: 10/19/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 07/11/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Boston Scientific Scimed, Inc. (Boston Scientific Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Boston Scientific Scimed, Inc. (Boston Scientific Corporation)
• Inventors: Austin, Michael, Serrano, Gabriel Sobrino, Flanagan, Aiden, McMorrow, Dave
• Primary Examiner(s): Manahan; Todd E
• Assistant Examiner(s): ISHMAN, NAQUAN ERIC
• Application Number:
  US11/484,528
• Publication Number:
  US 20080015674A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,561 Days
• Field of Search: 623/1.11
• 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 2/9517 handle assemblies therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/9522 Means for mounting a stent or stent-graft onto or into a placement instrument
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/966 with relative longitudinal movement between outer sleeve and prosthesis, e.g. using a push rod
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/9511 the retaining means being filaments or wires
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/9665 with additional retaining means

Abstract

Medical devices and related systems and methods.

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

providing an implantable medical endoprosthesis;

providing an elongate member having a sidewall, an outer surface, and a lumen; and

moving the implantable medical endoprosthesis from a position along the outer surface of the elongate member, through an aperture formed through the sidewall of the elongate member, and into the lumen of the elongate member;

wherein the elongate member of the medical device comprimises an outer sheath of a stent delivery system, and the implantable medical endoprosthesis comprises a stent.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the aperture is a slit.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the slit extends to a distal end of the elongate member.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the aperture has a length that is greater than alength of the implantable medical endoprsthesis.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising forming the aperture in the sidewall of the elomgate member.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising expanding the aperture prior to passing the implantable medical endoprosthesis therethrough.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising passing the implantable medical endoprosthesis through an aperture formed through a sidewall of an inner sleeve disposed within a lumen of the elongate member.

8. The method of claim 7, further comprising axially displacing the inner sleeve and the implantable medical endoprosthesis disposed therin relative to the aperture of the elongate member.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising the seperating a region of the elongate member comprising the aperture from a remainder of the member.

10. The method of claim 1, further comprising disposing an outer sleeve coaxially about the elongate member, the outer sleeve substantially covering the aperture.

11. The method of claim 1, further comprising closing the aperture.

12. The method of claim 1, further comprising passing the stent through an aperture formed through a sidewall of an inner sleeve disposed within a lumen of the outer sheath.