Expandable tip delivery system and method
First Claim
Patent Images
1. An expandable tip stent-graft delivery system comprising:
- an expandable tip member comprising;
a plurality of splines comprising long narrow non-hollow strips of material, said splines comprising;
tip petals;
runners; and
elbows connecting said tip petals to said runners, wherein said elbows have a smooth outer edge between said tip petals and said runners, said tip petals collectively forming an expandable tip of said expandable tip member;
an inner member defining a lumen therein through which said runners extend;
wherein said runners are coupled to said expandable tip through said inner member;
a sheath defining a lumen therein through which said inner member extends; and
a stent-graft radially constrained in an annular space between said sheath and said inner member wherein said expandable tip is configured to be collapsible by retracting said runners through said inner member and configured to be expandable through advancing said runners through said inner member.
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Abstract
A method of deploying a stent-graft in a curved vessel includes deploying an expandable tip to center a proximal end of the catheter containing a stent-graft in the curved vessel. A sheath is retracted to expose the stent-graft and the stent-graft self-expands into the curved vessel. By centering the catheter containing the stent-graft prior to deployment with the expandable tip, the accuracy of stent graft placement within the curved vessel is improved.
42 Citations
24 Claims
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1. An expandable tip stent-graft delivery system comprising:
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an expandable tip member comprising; a plurality of splines comprising long narrow non-hollow strips of material, said splines comprising; tip petals; runners; and elbows connecting said tip petals to said runners, wherein said elbows have a smooth outer edge between said tip petals and said runners, said tip petals collectively forming an expandable tip of said expandable tip member; an inner member defining a lumen therein through which said runners extend; wherein said runners are coupled to said expandable tip through said inner member; a sheath defining a lumen therein through which said inner member extends; and a stent-graft radially constrained in an annular space between said sheath and said inner member wherein said expandable tip is configured to be collapsible by retracting said runners through said inner member and configured to be expandable through advancing said runners through said inner member. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 21)
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- 19. The expandable tip stent-graft delivery system of 18 wherein said expandable tip is released from said inner member when said expandable tip is in its relaxed configuration.
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22. A method of deploying a stent-graft in a vessel with an expandable tip stent-graft, delivery system, said method comprising:
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deploying an expandable tip of said expandable tip stent-graft delivery system to center a distal end of a catheter containing said stent-graft in said vessel comprising advancing runners coupled to said expandable tip through an inner member of said expandable tip stent-graft delivery system, wherein said advancing runners advances the entire expandable tip relative to said inner member, said stent-graft being radially constrained in an annular space between a sheath and said inner member of said expandable tip stent-graft delivery system; subsequent to said deploying, retracting said sheath of said expandable tip stent-graft delivery system to expose said stent-graft, wherein said stent-graft self-expands into said vessel upon said retracting; and collapsing said expandable tip, wherein said collapsing said expandable tip comprises retracting said runners through said inner member. - View Dependent Claims (23, 24)
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Specification