Catheter device

• US 9,872,785 B2
• Filed: 06/16/2006
• Issued: 01/23/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 06/16/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Angiomed GmbH & Co. Medizintechnik KG
• Original Assignee: Angiomed GmbH & Co. Medizintechnik KG
• Inventors: Dorn, Jrgen, Wuebbeling, Martin
• Primary Examiner(s): Rodjom, Katherine
• Application Number:
  US11/917,431
• Publication Number:
  US 20100087906A1
• Time in Patent Office: 4,239 Days
• Field of Search: 623 111, 623 123, 606191-200
• 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 2002/9665 with additional retaining means

Abstract

A catheter device having a shaft that extends from a proximal end to a distal end to carry on its distal end a self-expanding implant for intraluminal advance on a guidewire and delivery of the implant to an implant site by proximal withdrawal of a sheath that lies radially outside the implant in the catheter, the catheter including a first shaft element to pull the sheath proximally and a second shaft element to push the implant distally to prevent the implant moving proximally with the sheath when the sheath is pulled proximally, wherein the second shaft element comprises a pusher-guider tube having a wall thickness with a plurality of discrete slits, the slits extending through the wall thickness of the pusher-guider tube.

Claims

1. A catheter device having a shaft that extends from a proximal end to a distal end to carry on its distal end a self-expanding implant for intraluminal advance on a guidewire and delivery of the implant to an implant site by proximal withdrawal of a sheath that lies radially outside the implant in the catheter, the catheter including a first shaft element to pull the sheath proximally and a second shaft element to push the implant distally to prevent the implant moving proximally with the sheath when the sheath is pulled proximally, wherein

the second shaft element comprises a pusher-guider tube having a wall thickness with a plurality of discrete slits, the slits extending through the wall thickness of the pusher-guider tube, and

wherein the second shaft element carries a stopper for abutting the implant, and wherein the arrangement of slits is confined to the portion of the pusher-guider tube distal of the stopper.

2. Catheter as claimed in claim 1, wherein the slits are arranged in a helical string on the outer surface and along the axial length of the pusher-guider tube.

3. Catheter as claimed in claim 2, wherein the helical arrangement of the slits forms more than one spiral along the length of the pusher-guider tube.

4. Catheter as claimed in claim 3, wherein there is at least as many discrete slits in the helical string as there are pitches in said helical string.

5. Catheter as claimed in claim 3, unslitted material between adjacent slits of the string being located on a line parallel to the long axis of the pusher-guider tube.

6. Catheter as claimed in claim 2, wherein there are at least as many discrete slits in the helical string as there are pitches in said helical string.

7. Catheter as claimed in claim 2, unslitted material between adjacent slits of the string being located on a line parallel to the long axis of the pusher-guider tube.

8. Catheter as claimed in claim 7, wherein the slits are arranged in two helical strings, each with its own line of unslitted material, and the respective lines associated with each of the two strings are 180°

apart on the circumference of the pusher-guider tube.

9. Catheter as claimed in claim 8, wherein the pitch of the second helix is the same as that of the first helix.

10. Catheter as claimed in claim 1, wherein the pusher-guider tube has been heat-treated, and the portion of the pusher-guider tube proximal of the stopper has a heat treatment history different from that of the portion distal of the stopper.

11. Catheter as claimed in claim 1, and loaded with an implant, wherein the pusher-guider tube extends distally beyond the distal end of the implant.

12. Catheter as claimed in claim 1, wherein at least an axial portion of the length of the pusher-guider tube is of stainless steel.

13. Catheter as claimed in claim 12, wherein the stainless steel tube has an elongation at fracture that is at least 40%.

14. Catheter as claimed in claim 1, wherein an axial portion of the length of the pusher-guider tube is made of a polymer.

15. Catheter as claimed in claim 1, including a self-expanding stent.