Apparatus and methods for deployment of vascular prostheses

• US 8,070,789 B2
• Filed: 03/28/2008
• Issued: 12/06/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 12/03/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: JW Medical Systems Ltd
• Original Assignee: XTENT, Inc.
• Inventors: Will, Allan, Andreas, Bernard, Chew, Sunmi
• Primary Examiner(s): TRUONG, KEVIN THAO
• Application Number:
  US12/057,527
• Publication Number:
  US 20080177369A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,348 Days
• Field of Search: 606/108, 606/159, 606191-198, 623 111- 112, 623/1.16, 623/1.17, 623/1.23
• 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 2/91 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 2002/91508 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 2002/91591 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 2210/0033 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
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2025/0183 Rapid exchange or monorail catheters
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/10182 : Injector syringes
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/10187 : Indicators for the level of inflation or deflation
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 3/2676 : Optically controlled phased array

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. A method for delivering a prosthesis to a lesion in a body lumen, said method comprising:

positioning an elongate flexible shaft having a proximal end, a distal end and a lumen therebetween adjacent the lesion, the flexible shaft having an expandable member coupled thereto and carrying a plurality of prosthetic segments near the distal end of the flexible shaft;

selecting a length of the expandable member for radial expansion, wherein the selected length substantially matches lesion length;

radially expanding the selected length of the expandable member from a contracted configuration to an expanded configuration while a remaining portion of the expandable member remains constrained from expansion, wherein in the expanded configuration the selected length of the expandable member engages the lesion and wherein none of the prosthetic segments are disposed over the selected length of the expandable member during radial expansion thereof,

selecting a first number of the prosthetic segments for radial expansion, wherein the selected first number of prosthetic segments have a total length at least as long as the lesion length; and

radially expanding the selected first number of prosthetic segments from a contracted shape to an expanded shape while a second number of the prosthetic segments remains unexpanded on the flexible shaft, wherein in the expanded shape the expanded first number of prosthetic segments engage the lesion.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein radially expanding the selected length of the expandable member comprises expanding a balloon.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein selecting the length of the expandable member comprises retracting a sheath thereby removing a constraint from the expandable member.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein selecting the length of the expandable member comprises axially moving at least some of the plurality of prosthetic segments away from the expandable member.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein selecting the first number of prosthetic segments comprises retracting a sheath thereby removing a constraint therefrom.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein radially expanding the selected first number of prosthetic segments comprises expanding the expandable member and the selected first number of prosthetic segments are disposed thereover.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the expandable member comprises a balloon.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the balloon is in fluid communication with the lumen.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein radial expansion of the selected length of the expandable member precedes radial expansion of the selected first number of prosthetic segments.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the body lumen comprises a blood vessel.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the first number is two or more.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein the first number is different from the second number.

13. The method of claim 1, further comprising collapsing the expandable member between the steps of radially expanding the selected length of the expandable member and radially expanding the selected first number of prosthetic segments.

14. The method of claim 1, wherein selecting the first number of prosthetic segments comprises axially moving the first number of prosthetic segments so as to be disposed over the expandable member.