Apparatus and methods for deployment of linked prosthetic segments
First Claim
1. A method for delivering a luminal prosthesis to at least one treatment site, the method comprising:
- providing a plurality of radially expandable prosthetic stent segments arranged axially along a delivery catheter and within a sheath of the delivery catheter, wherein at least some adjacent prosthetic stent segments have a coupling structure therebetween;
positioning the delivery catheter at a first treatment site;
selecting two or more prosthetic stent segments for deployment; and
decoupling the two or more prosthetic stent segments from the remaining stent segments by expanding a decoupling balloon within the sheath of the delivery catheter so as to engage the coupling structure, wherein the decoupling balloon is positioned near the distal end of the delivery catheter, and wherein a proximal end of the two or more prosthetic stent segments is decoupled from a distal end of the remaining stent segments upon engagement of the coupling structure while being disposed within the sheath of the delivery catheter;
radially expanding the selected two or more prosthetic stent segments without expanding the remaining prosthetic stent segments, wherein the two or more prosthetic stent segments are expanded by an expansion element, wherein the expansion element is separate from the decoupling balloon, and wherein the coupling structure permits the selected prosthetic stent segments to separate from the remaining prosthetic stent segments while maintaining or forming an attachment between the selected prosthetic stent segments when expanded.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A luminal prosthesis comprises a plurality of radially expandable prosthetic stent segments arranged axially. Two or more of the prosthetic stent segments are separable upon expansion from the remaining prosthetic stent segments and a coupling structure connects at least some of the adjacent prosthetic stent segments to each other. The coupling structure permits a first group of the adjacent prosthetic stent segments to separate from a second group of the prosthetic stent segments upon differential radial expansion of the first group relative to the second group and the coupling structure maintains or forms an attachment between the adjacent prosthetic stent segments in the first group which have been expanded together. A delivery system and methods for deploying the multiple coupled prosthetic stent segments are also disclosed.
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Citations
18 Claims
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1. A method for delivering a luminal prosthesis to at least one treatment site, the method comprising:
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providing a plurality of radially expandable prosthetic stent segments arranged axially along a delivery catheter and within a sheath of the delivery catheter, wherein at least some adjacent prosthetic stent segments have a coupling structure therebetween; positioning the delivery catheter at a first treatment site; selecting two or more prosthetic stent segments for deployment; and decoupling the two or more prosthetic stent segments from the remaining stent segments by expanding a decoupling balloon within the sheath of the delivery catheter so as to engage the coupling structure, wherein the decoupling balloon is positioned near the distal end of the delivery catheter, and wherein a proximal end of the two or more prosthetic stent segments is decoupled from a distal end of the remaining stent segments upon engagement of the coupling structure while being disposed within the sheath of the delivery catheter; radially expanding the selected two or more prosthetic stent segments without expanding the remaining prosthetic stent segments, wherein the two or more prosthetic stent segments are expanded by an expansion element, wherein the expansion element is separate from the decoupling balloon, and wherein the coupling structure permits the selected prosthetic stent segments to separate from the remaining prosthetic stent segments while maintaining or forming an attachment between the selected prosthetic stent segments when expanded. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3)
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4. A luminal prosthesis comprising:
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a plurality of radially expandable prosthetic stent segments arranged axially, wherein a group of two or more adjacent prosthetic stent segments is separable upon expansion from the remaining prosthetic stent segments; a sheath axially positionable to cover the plurality of radially expandable prosthetic stent segments, wherein the sheath is retractable to expose the group of two or more adjacent prosthetic stent segments while covering the remaining prosthetic stent segments; a coupling structure between at least some of the adjacent prosthetic stent segments for limiting relative axial movement therebetween, wherein the coupling structure permits a first group of the adjacent prosthetic stent segments to separate from a second group of the prosthetic stent segments upon differential radial expansion within the sheath of a proximal end of the first group of stent segments relative to a distal end of the second group of stent segments, wherein the coupling structure maintains or forms an attachment between the adjacent prosthetic stent segments in the first group which have been expanded together; and an expansion element for radially expanding the first group of stent segments wherein engaging the first group of stent segments with the expansion element uncouples the coupling structure between the first group of stent segments and the second group of stent segments by differential radial expansion such that the proximal end of the first group of stent segments is decoupled from the distal end of the second group of stent segments while being positioned within the sheath;
wherein an inner lumen of the sheath is radially expanded at a distal end, the radially expanded inner lumen limiting the radial expansion of the expansion element, and wherein the first group of stent segments is decoupled from the second group of stent segments while positioned within the radially expanded inner lumen. - View Dependent Claims (5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A luminal prosthesis comprising:
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a plurality of radially expandable prosthetic stent segments arranged axially wherein a group of two or more adjacent prosthetic stent segments is separable upon expansion from the remaining prosthetic stent segments; a sheath axially positionable to cover the plurality of radially expandable prosthetic stent segments, wherein the sheath is retractable to expose the group of two or more adjacent prosthetic stent segments while covering the remaining prosthetic stent segments; a breakable coupling structure between at least some of the adjacent prosthetic stent segments for limiting relative axial movement therebetween, the coupling structure permitting a first group of the adjacent prosthetic stent segments to separate from a second group of the prosthetic stent segments upon differential radial expansion within the sheath of a proximal end of the first group relative to a distal end of the second group, wherein the coupling structure maintains an attachment between adjacent prosthetic stent segments in the first group which have been expanded together; and an expansion element for radially expanding the first group of stent segments; a decoupling element, wherein engaging the first group of stent segments with the decoupling element uncouples the coupling structure between the first group of stent segments and the second group of stent segments by differential radial expansion such that the proximal end of the first group of stent segments is decoupled from the distal end of the second group of stent segments while being positioned within the sheath. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A luminal prosthesis delivery system comprising
a delivery catheter having a proximal end and a distal end; -
a plurality of radially expandable prosthetic stent segments arranged axially near the distal end of the delivery catheter, wherein a group of two or more adjacent prosthetic stent segments is separable upon expansion from the remaining prosthetic stent segments; a sheath axially positionable to cover the plurality of radially expandable prosthetic stent segments; a coupling structure between at least some of the adjacent prosthetic stent segments, wherein the coupling structure permits a first group of the adjacent prosthetic stent segments to separate from a second group of the prosthetic stent segments upon differential radial expansion within the sheath of a proximal end of the first group relative to a distal end of the second group, wherein the coupling structure maintains an attachment between adjacent prosthetic stent segments in the first group which have been expanded together; and an expansion element for radially expanding the first group, wherein engaging the first group with the expansion element uncouples the coupling structure between the first group and the second group by differential radial expansion such that the proximal end of the first group is decoupled from the distal end of the second group while being positioned within the sheath. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18)
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Specification