Apparatus and methods for delivery of variable length stents

• US 8,016,870 B2
• Filed: 11/12/2007
• Issued: 09/13/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 12/03/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: JW Medical Systems Ltd
• Original Assignee: XTENT, Inc.
• Inventors: French, Ron, Andreas, Bernard, Gifford, Hanson S. III, Chew, Sunmi, Deem, Mark E., Will, Allan
• Primary Examiner(s): TRUONG, KEVIN THAO
• Application Number:
  US11/938,730
• Publication Number:
  US 20090088832A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,401 Days
• Field of Search: 623/1.11, 623/1.12, 623/1.15, 623/1.16, 606191-198, 604/101.01, 604/101.02, 604/1.16
• US Class Current: 623/1.11
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/0095 Packages or dispensers for prostheses or other implants for intraocular lenses A61F2/1691; for dental surgery A61C19/02
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/88 the wire-like elements formed as helical or spiral coils forming a net-like or mesh-like structure A61F2/90
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/89 the wire-like elements comprising two or more adjacent rings flexibly connected by separate members
• 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 2/95 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 2002/826 more than one stent being applied sequentially
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/828 Means for connecting a plurality of stents allowing flexibility of the whole structure
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/91533 characterised by the phase between adjacent bands
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/91541 Adjacent bands are arranged out of phase
• 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 2002/91566 connected trough to trough
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/91591 Locking connectors, e.g. using male-female connections
• 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 2210/0004 bioabsorbable
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2210/0033 electrically, e.g. heated by resistor
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2210/0042 using a fluid, e.g. circulating
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2250/0071 : breakable or frangible

Abstract

Blood vessels and other body lumens are stented using multiple, discrete stent structures, or continuous coiled or mesh stent structures. Stent structures may be a balloon expandable or self-expanding and are delivered by a delivery catheter which is repositioned to spaced-apart delivery sites. By coating the stents with particular biologically active substances, hyperplasia within and between the implanted stents can be inhibited. An exemplary delivery catheter comprises a catheter body having a deployment mechanism for deploying one or more stents of selectable length into the vessel.

Claims

1. A method for delivering a separable prosthesis of selectable length in a vessel, the method comprising:

positioning a flexible shaft in the vessel, the shaft having a proximal end, a distal end and the separable prosthesis releasably coupled thereto, wherein the separable prosthesis is separable into a first working length for expansion and a first remaining length uncoupled from the first working length;

selecting the first working length of the separable prosthesis;

axially separating the first working length from the first remaining length such that an axial gap is formed therebetween while both the first working length and the first remaining length are in unexpanded configurations;

radially expanding the first working length such that the first working length expands into engagement with a first portion of a wall of the vessel and the first working length decouples from the first remaining length of the separable prosthesis, the first remaining length remaining unexpanded and releasably coupled with the flexible shaft;

repositioning the flexible shaft in the vessel;

selecting a second working length of the separable prosthesis without removing the shaft from the vessel; and

radially expanding the second working length such that the second working length expands into engagement with a second portion of the wall of the vessel.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein selecting the first working length comprises moving at least a portion of the separable prosthesis relative to the flexible shaft.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein selecting the first working length comprises retracting a sheath disposed over the separable prosthesis so that the first working length is unconstrained from expansion.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein selecting the first working length comprises moving a pusher tube coupled with the separable prosthesis so as to move at least a portion of the separable prosthesis relative to the flexible shaft.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein selecting the first working length comprises passing at least a portion of the separable prosthesis through a valve member disposed near the distal end of the flexible catheter shaft.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein radially expanding the first working length comprises expanding a balloon coupled with the flexible shaft.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein selecting the second working length comprises retracting a sheath disposed over the separable prosthesis so that the second working length is unconstrained from expansion.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the first working length is different from the second working length.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the separable prosthesis comprises a plurality of separable stent segments.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein separable couplings couple at least some of the stent segments together.

11. The method of claim 9, wherein selecting a first working length comprises selecting at least one of the plurality of separable stent segments.

12. The method of claim 1, further comprising releasing a therapeutic agent releasably carried by the separable prosthesis.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the therapeutic agent inhibits restenosis.

14. The method of claim 1, wherein radially expanding the first working length comprises constraining the first remaining length so as to prevent the first remaining length from expanding.

15. The method of claim 1, further comprising severing the first working length from the first remaining length.

16. The method of claim 1, wherein selecting the first working length and second working length comprises actuating an actuator coupled with the flexible shaft near the proximal end.