Stretchable stent and delivery system

• US 8,241,344 B2
• Filed: 04/08/2008
• Issued: 08/14/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 04/09/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Covidien LP (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Tyco Healthcare Group LP (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Kusleika, Rich, Duchon, Doug, Tatalovich, Joe
• Primary Examiner(s): Severson, Ryan
• Assistant Examiner(s): MILES, JONATHAN WADE
• Application Number:
  US12/099,544
• Publication Number:
  US 20080255655A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,589 Days
• Field of Search: 606/108, 623/1.11, 623/1.12, 623/1.23, 604/95.04
• US Class Current: 623/1.11
• 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 2/9517 handle assemblies therefor
• 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 2002/91558 connected peak to peak
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2210/0057 stretchable
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2220/005 using adhesives
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2220/0058 soldered or brazed or welded
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2230/0054 V-shaped

Abstract

An implant delivery catheter enables permanent modification of the implant length in the vicinity of the treatment site prior to radial expansion thereof. The implant is releasable carried between inner and outer tubular members of the delivery catheter which, upon repositioning relative to one another using an actuator mechanism, impart any of tensile, compressile or torquing forces to the implant causing permanent modification of the implant length. In one embodiment, the circumference of the implant is substantially similar both before and after modification of the implant length. In another embodiment, the implant includes a plurality of strut sections interconnected by bridges which are capable of the deformation along the longitudinal axis of the implant.

Claims

1. A medical device comprising:

a tubular implant having a circumference, first and second ends and extending for an initial length L1 along a longitudinal axis; and

an implant delivery system comprising;

a catheter having an outer tubular member disposed about an inner tubular member, the first end of the implant operatively secured to the outer tubular member and the second end of the implant operatively secured to the inner tubular member such that changes in the relative positions of the outer tubular member and the inner tubular member change the initial length L1 of the implant to a modified length L2 along the longitudinal axis, L1 being the un-stretched length of the implant, and L2 being the maximum stretched length of the implant; and

an actuator mechanism movably coupled to one of the outer tubular member and the inner tubular member for changing relative positions of the outer tubular member and the inner tubular member, the relative movement of the outer tubular member and the inner tubular member moving the implant between tensioned and relaxed configurations such that movement of the implant towards the tensioned configuration stretches the implant to the modified length L2 while the circumference of the implant remains substantially unchanged.

2. The medical device of claim 1 wherein the implant further comprises a plurality of struts having terminal ends, at least some of the terminal ends defining a first profile.

3. The medical device of claim 2 wherein the catheter further comprises:

a first interlock structure carried by the outer tubular member and comprising at least one receptacle defining a second profile for enabling axial movement of one of the terminal ends of the implant relative to the inner tubular member.

4. The implant delivery system of claim 3 wherein the first interlock structure comprises at least one receptacle for enabling axial movement of the first end of the implant relative to the axis.

5. The medical device of claim 2 wherein the catheter further comprises:

a second interlock structure carried by the outer tubular member and comprising at least one receptacle defining a second profile for enabling axial movement of one of the terminal ends of the implant relative to the inner tubular member.

6. The medical device of claim 1 wherein one of tensile, compressile and torquing force is applied to at least one of the first and second ends of the implant as the relative positions of the outer tubular member and the inner tubular member change.

7. The medical device of claim 1 wherein the implant delivery system further comprises a guide wire lumen extending proximally from a distal tip of the catheter.

8. The medical device of claim 7 wherein the guide wire lumen extends at least partially through the outer tubular member and opens externally thereof distal of a proximal end of the catheter.

9. The medical device of claim 1 wherein the implant comprises a self-expanding stent and the implant delivery system further comprises a retractable sheath slidably mounted over the outer tubular member.

10. The medical device of claim 1 wherein the implant delivery system further comprises:

a first interlock mechanism operatively coupled to the outer tubular member for receiving and releasably retaining the first end of the implant.

11. The medical device of claim 10 wherein the implant delivery system further comprises:

a second interlock mechanism operatively coupled to the inner tubular member for receiving and releasably retaining the second end of the implant.

12. The medical device of claim 1, wherein the relative movement of the outer tubular member and the inner tubular member is along a second axis substantially parallel with the longitudinal axis.

13. The medical device of claim 1, wherein the circumference of the implant along its entire modified length L2 is substantially constant.

14. The medical device of claim 1, wherein the circumference of the implant remains substantially constant along at least a majority of the initial length Ll and the modified length L2 during relative movement of the outer tubular member and the inner tubular member.

15. The medical device of claim 1, wherein the circumference of the implant does not change when the length changes between L1 and L2.

16. The medical device of claim 1, wherein L2 is between about 3% and about 50% greater than L1.

17. The medical device of claim 1, wherein L2 is between about 10% and about 50% greater than L1.

18. The medical device of claim 17, wherein a first circumference C1 of the implant corresponds to when the length of the implant is L1, wherein a second circumference C2 of the implant corresponds to when the length of the implant is L2, and wherein C2 is between 0% and about 10% smaller than C1.

19. The medical device of claim 17, wherein a first circumference C1 of the implant corresponds to when the length of the implant is L1, wherein a second circumference C2 of the implant corresponds to when the length of the implant is L2, and wherein C2 is between 0% and about 5% smaller than C1.

20. The medical device of claim 1, wherein L2 is between about 20% and about 50% greater than L1.

21. The medical device of claim 1, wherein L2 is between about 30% and about 50% greater than L1.

22. The medical device of claim 21, wherein a first circumference C1 of the implant corresponds to when the length of the implant is L1, wherein a second circumference C2 of the implant corresponds to when the length of the implant is L2, and wherein C2 is between 0% and about 3% smaller than C1.

23. The medical device of claim 1, wherein a first circumference C1 of the implant corresponds to when the length of the implant is L1, wherein a second circumference C2 of the implant corresponds to when the length of the implant is L2, and wherein C2 is between 0% and about 10% smaller than C1.

24. The medical device of claim 1, wherein a first circumference C1 of the implant corresponds to when the length of the implant is L1, wherein a second circumference C2 of the implant corresponds to when the length of the implant is L2, and wherein C2 is between 0% and about 5% smaller than C1.