Loading apparatus and method for expandable intraluminal medical devices
First Claim
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1. A method of loading an expandable intraluminal medical device into a delivery device adapted for delivery of said expandable intraluminal medical device to a point of treatment in a body vessel, said method comprising the step of:
- applying a substantially translational force to an end of a loading apparatus, the loading apparatus comprising a flexible main body having inner and outer surfaces, first and second opposing edges, and first and second ends, the main body having a helical configuration in which the main body is coiled upon itself such that each of the first and second opposing edges defines a helical path, a substantial portion of the inner surface is disposed adjacent to and in contact with the outer surface, and the helical path defined by one of the first and second opposing edges is free of contact with the inner surface, the helical configuration having a length and defining an interior chamber within which said expandable intraluminal medical device is disposed;
wherein the step of applying a substantially translational force causes the length of the helical configuration to be reduced and results in advancement of said expandable intraluminal medical device along a lengthwise axis of the loading apparatus toward a device chamber of said delivery device.
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Abstract
Methods of loading an expandable intraluminal medical device into a delivery device adapted for delivery of the expandable intraluminal medical device to a point of treatment in a body vessel are described. The expandable intraluminal medical device can be compressed and forced out of a loading apparatus—and into a delivery device—by applying one or both of a rotational force and a substantially translational force to an end of the loading apparatus. Related kits and apparatuses are also described.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A method of loading an expandable intraluminal medical device into a delivery device adapted for delivery of said expandable intraluminal medical device to a point of treatment in a body vessel, said method comprising the step of:
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applying a substantially translational force to an end of a loading apparatus, the loading apparatus comprising a flexible main body having inner and outer surfaces, first and second opposing edges, and first and second ends, the main body having a helical configuration in which the main body is coiled upon itself such that each of the first and second opposing edges defines a helical path, a substantial portion of the inner surface is disposed adjacent to and in contact with the outer surface, and the helical path defined by one of the first and second opposing edges is free of contact with the inner surface, the helical configuration having a length and defining an interior chamber within which said expandable intraluminal medical device is disposed; wherein the step of applying a substantially translational force causes the length of the helical configuration to be reduced and results in advancement of said expandable intraluminal medical device along a lengthwise axis of the loading apparatus toward a device chamber of said delivery device. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A method of loading an expandable intraluminal medical device into a delivery device adapted for delivery of said expandable intraluminal medical device to a point of treatment in a body vessel, said method comprising the steps of:
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applying a rotational force to an end of a loading apparatus, the loading apparatus comprising a flexible main body having inner and outer surfaces, first and second opposing edges, and first and second ends, the main body having a helical configuration in which the main body is coiled upon itself such that each of the first and second opposing edges defines a helical path, a substantial portion of the inner surface is disposed adjacent to and in contact with the outer surface, and the helical path defined by one of the first and second opposing edges is free of contact with the inner surface, the helical configuration having a length and defining an interior chamber within which said expandable intraluminal medical device is disposed; and applying a substantially translational force to an end of the loading apparatus; wherein the step of applying a rotational force results in compression of an outer diameter of the helical configuration of the main body and of an outer diameter of said expandable intraluminal medical device; wherein the step of applying a substantially translational force causes the length of the helical configuration to be reduced and results in advancement of said expandable intraluminal medical device along a lengthwise axis of the loading apparatus toward a device chamber of said delivery device; and wherein the steps of applying a rotational force to an end of the loading apparatus and applying a substantially translational force to an end of the loading apparatus are conducted sequentially. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16)
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17. A method of loading an expandable intraluminal medical device into a delivery device adapted for delivery of said expandable intraluminal medical device to a point of treatment in a body vessel, said method comprising the steps of:
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applying a rotational force to an end of a loading apparatus, the loading apparatus comprising a flexible main body having inner and outer surfaces, first and second opposing edges, and first and second ends, the main body having a helical configuration in which the main body is coiled upon itself such that each of the first and second opposing edges defines a helical path, a substantial portion of the inner surface is disposed adjacent to and in contact with the outer surface, and the helical path defined by one of the first and second opposing edges is free of contact with the inner surface, the helical configuration having a length and defining an interior chamber within which said expandable intraluminal medical device is disposed; and applying a substantially translational force to an end of the loading apparatus; wherein the step of applying a rotational force results in compression of an outer diameter of the helical configuration of the main body and of an outer diameter of said expandable intraluminal medical device; wherein the step of applying a substantially translational force causes the length of the helical configuration to be reduced and results in advancement of said expandable intraluminal medical device along a lengthwise axis of the loading apparatus toward a device chamber of said delivery device; and wherein the steps of applying a rotational force to an end of the loading apparatus and applying a substantially translational force to an end of the loading apparatus are conducted simultaneously. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20)
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Specification