Prosthesis delivery and deployment device
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A system for delivering and deploying an expandable endoluminal prosthesis, the system comprising:
- a distal end portion defining a prosthesis delivery section and a proximal end portion defining an external manipulation section;
an elongate sheath having a proximal end disposed at the proximal end portion of the system, a distal end disposed at the distal end portion of the system, and an inner lumen;
a delivery catheter having a proximal end disposed at the proximal end portion of the system and a distal end disposed at the distal end portion of the system, wherein the delivery catheter is slidably disposed within the sheath lumen; and
an operating mechanism comprising a contractible air vessel disposed entirely at the external manipulation section and having an expanded length and a contracted length, the air vessel coupling the sheath and the delivery catheter, so that pneumatic contraction of the air vessel causes the sheath to retract proximally over the delivery catheter,wherein the air vessel comprises a resilient tubular member having a proximal end, a distal end, and a lumen disposed therebetween, the tubular member being radially disposed about the sheath and the delivery catheter, the distal end of the tubular member sealingly engaging the sheath and the proximal end of the tubular member sealingly engaging the delivery catheter, whereby the tubular member, the sheath, and the delivery catheter define an annular air chamber therebetween.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A system for delivering and deploying an expandable endoluminal prosthesis comprises a delivery catheter and a sheath. The delivery catheter has a proximal end and a distal end and is slidably disposed within a lumen of the sheath. An operating mechanism comprises a contractible air vessel that couples the sheath and the delivery catheter so that contraction of the air vessel causes the sheath to retract proximally over the delivery catheter. Additional aspects of the invention include a method of deploying an expandable endoluminal prosthesis.
102 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A system for delivering and deploying an expandable endoluminal prosthesis, the system comprising:
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a distal end portion defining a prosthesis delivery section and a proximal end portion defining an external manipulation section; an elongate sheath having a proximal end disposed at the proximal end portion of the system, a distal end disposed at the distal end portion of the system, and an inner lumen; a delivery catheter having a proximal end disposed at the proximal end portion of the system and a distal end disposed at the distal end portion of the system, wherein the delivery catheter is slidably disposed within the sheath lumen; and an operating mechanism comprising a contractible air vessel disposed entirely at the external manipulation section and having an expanded length and a contracted length, the air vessel coupling the sheath and the delivery catheter, so that pneumatic contraction of the air vessel causes the sheath to retract proximally over the delivery catheter, wherein the air vessel comprises a resilient tubular member having a proximal end, a distal end, and a lumen disposed therebetween, the tubular member being radially disposed about the sheath and the delivery catheter, the distal end of the tubular member sealingly engaging the sheath and the proximal end of the tubular member sealingly engaging the delivery catheter, whereby the tubular member, the sheath, and the delivery catheter define an annular air chamber therebetween. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A system for delivering and deploying an expandable endoluminal prosthesis, the system comprising:
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a distal end portion defining a prosthesis delivery section and a proximal end portion defining an external manipulation section; an elongate sheath having a proximal end disposed at the proximal end portion of the system, a distal end disposed at the distal end portion of the system, and an inner lumen; a delivery catheter having a proximal end disposed at the proximal end portion of the system and a distal end disposed at the distal end portion of the system, wherein the delivery catheter is slidably disposed within the sheath lumen; and an operating mechanism comprising a contractible air vessel disposed entirely at the external manipulation section and having an expanded length and a contracted length, the air vessel coupling the sheath and the delivery catheter, so that pneumatic contraction of the air vessel causes the sheath to retract proximally over the delivery catheter, wherein the air vessel comprises a tubular bellows having a proximal end, a distal end, and a lumen disposed therebetween, the bellows being radially disposed about the sheath and the delivery catheter, the distal end of the bellows sealingly engaging the sheath and the proximal end of the bellows sealingly engaging the delivery catheter, whereby the bellows, the sheath, and the delivery catheter define an annular air chamber therebetween, and wherein the system further comprises; an air port configured to provide pneumatic communication between the air vessel and a pressure source; an actuation switch configured to selectively halt contraction of the air vessel by effecting pneumatic communication between the pressure source and the air vessel; a check valve for preventing expansion of the air vessel; a mechanical conversion mechanism for converting a vessel contraction into a sheath retraction, the conversion mechanism comprising a linear gear configured to mechanically increase sheath retraction in relation to vessel contraction so that the ratio between sheath retraction and vessel contraction is greater than 1; and wherein the air vessel is vacuum-contractible.
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11. A pneumatic operating mechanism for an endoluminal prosthesis delivery and deployment device having a distal end portion defining a prosthesis delivery section and a proximal end portion defining an external manipulation section, the device having a sheath and a delivery catheter slidingly disposed within a lumen of the sheath, the operating mechanism comprising:
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a contractible air vessel disposed entirely at the external manipulation section and having a proximal end, a distal end, an expanded length, and a contracted length; wherein the proximal end of the air vessel is engageable with the delivery catheter and the distal end of the air vessel is engageable with the sheath so that contraction of the air vessel causes the sheath to retract proximally over the delivery catheter, wherein the air vessel comprises a resilient tubular member having a proximal end, a distal end, and a lumen disposed therebetween, the tubular member being radially disposed about the sheath and the delivery catheter, the distal end of the tubular member sealingly engaging the sheath and the proximal end of the tubular member sealingly engaging the delivery catheter, whereby the tubular member, the sheath, and the delivery catheter define an annular air chamber therebetween. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A method of deploying an expandable endoluminal prosthesis, the method comprising the steps of:
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providing a prosthesis delivery and deployment system having a distal end portion defining a prosthesis delivery section and a proximal end portion defining an external manipulation section, the system comprising an elongate sheath having a proximal end, a distal end, and an inner lumen and a delivery catheter having a proximal end and a distal end, wherein the delivery catheter is slidably disposed within the sheath lumen; providing an operating mechanism comprising a contractible air vessel disposed entirely at the external manipulation section and having an expanded length and a contracted length, wherein the air vessel couples the sheath and the delivery catheter; and pneumatically contracting the air vessel to cause the sheath to retract over the delivery catheter, and wherein the air vessel comprises a resilient tubular member having a proximal end, a distal end, and a lumen disposed therebetween, the tubular member being radially disposed about the sheath and the delivery catheter, the distal end of the tubular member sealingly engaging the sheath and the proximal end of the tubular member sealingly engaging the delivery catheter, whereby the tubular member, the sheath, and the delivery catheter define an annular air chamber therebetween. - View Dependent Claims (19)
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20. A system for delivering and deploying an expandable endoluminal prosthesis, the system comprising:
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an elongate sheath having a proximal end, a distal end, and an inner lumen; a delivery catheter having a proximal end and a distal end, wherein the delivery catheter is slidably disposed within the sheath lumen; and an operating mechanism comprising a contractible air vessel having an expanded length and a contracted length, the air vessel coupling the sheath and the delivery catheter, so that pneumatic contraction of the air vessel causes the sheath to retract proximally over the delivery catheter; where the air vessel comprises a resilient tubular member having a proximal end, a distal end, and a lumen disposed therebetween, the tubular member being radially disposed about the sheath and the delivery catheter, the distal end of the tubular member sealingly engaging the sheath and the proximal end of the tubular member sealingly engaging the delivery catheter, whereby the tubular member, the sheath, and the delivery catheter define an annular air chamber therebetween.
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Specification