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Sheaths used with polymer scaffolds

  • US 9,572,699 B2
  • Filed: 09/03/2014
  • Issued: 02/21/2017
  • Est. Priority Date: 06/21/2011
  • Status: Active Grant
First Claim
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1. An apparatus, comprising:

  • a balloon catheter assembly having a distal end and a proximal end, the catheter including a scaffold comprising a polymer crimped to a balloon of the catheter at the catheter distal end;

    a sheath disposed over the scaffold, the sheath applying a radially inward force on the crimped scaffold to limit recoil of the scaffold, the sheath comprising;

    a protecting portion having a distal end, anda constraining portion having a distal end, wherein the constraining portion distal end is distal of the catheter distal end, andwherein the constraining and protecting portions are configured so that the sheath is capable of being removed from the scaffold by the following steps;

    pulling an extension of the constraining portion distally to withdraw the constraining portion from the scaffold, andafter the constraining portion has been displaced distally, continuing to pull the constraining portion distally to remove both the constraining portion and the protecting portion from the scaffold;

    wherein the scaffold is crimped by way of plastic deformation of the scaffold to the balloon such that when the sheath is removed the scaffold retains substantially the same diameter it had when disposed within the sheath; and

    wherein a balloon material is disposed between struts of the scaffold to contribute to a retention force between the plastically deformed scaffold and a surface of the balloon to resist dislodgment of the scaffold from the balloon after the sheath is removed.

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