Stent-graft delivery system

• US 8,333,797 B2
• Filed: 09/22/2009
• Issued: 12/18/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 01/24/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Medtronic Vascular, Inc. (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Medtronic Vascular, Inc. (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Elkins, Jeff, Goodson, Harry IV
• Primary Examiner(s): EREZO, DARWIN P
• Application Number:
  US12/564,689
• Publication Number:
  US 20100010617A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,183 Days
• Field of Search: 623/1.11, 623/1.23, 623/1.13
• US Class Current: 623/1.11
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/9517 handle assemblies therefor
• 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 2002/9505 having retaining means other than an outer sleeve, e.g. male-female connector between stent and instrument
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/9511 the retaining means being filaments or wires
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/9665 with additional retaining means

Abstract

A method of delivering a stent-graft includes mounting the stent-graft on a pushrod; radially constraining the stent-graft within a sheath; securing a crown portion of the stent-graft to the pushrod with a retainer structure of a stent-graft retainment system; retracting the sheath to expose the crown portion of the stent-graft; and further retracting the sheath to cause the retainer structure to release the crown portion from the pushrod thus deploying the stent-graft. The retainer structure releases the stent-graft automatically as a result of the retraction of the sheath.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

mounting a stent-graft on a pushrod;

radially constraining said stent-graft within a sheath;

securing a crown portion of said stent-graft to said pushrod with a retainer structure of a stent-graft retainment system;

retracting said sheath to expose said crown portion of said stent-graft such that said crown portion is not constrained within said sheath, wherein said crown portion remains secured to said pushrod after said crown portion is exposed; and

further retracting said sheath to release said crown portion from said retainer structure and said pushrod.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein said stent-graft self-expands upon said release of said crown portion from said pushrod.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein said step of further retracting said sheath comprises a trigger trip surface of said sheath contacting a trigger portion of said stent-graft retainment system.

4. The method of claim 3 wherein said step of further retracting said sheath further comprises said trigger trip surface retracting said trigger portion to retract said retainer structure.

5. The method of claim 4 wherein said retainer structure is retracted to release said crown portion from said retainer structure.

6. The method of claim 3 wherein a locking feature is coupled to said trigger portion such that when said trigger trip surface contacts said trigger portion, said locking feature extends longitudinally outside of said sheath.