Apparatus and method for loading and delivering a stent

• US 20070270932A1
• Filed: 05/19/2006
• Published: 11/22/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 05/19/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Boston Scientific Scimed (Boston Scientific Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Boston Scientific Scimed (Boston Scientific Corporation)
• Inventors: Wood, Mark, Leanna, Gary J., Damarati, John, Headley, F. Anthony
• Granted Patent: US 8,535,368 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 623/1.110
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/95 Instruments specially adapted for placement or removal of stents or stent-grafts
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/9517 handle assemblies therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/9522 Means for mounting a stent or stent-graft onto or into a placement instrument
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/9525 using a funnel
• 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 2002/826 more than one stent being applied sequentially
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/9528 for retrieval of stents
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/9534 for repositioning of stents
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/9583 Means for holding the stent on the balloon, e.g. using protrusions, adhesives or an outer sleeve

Abstract

A stent loading and deployment device includes an outer elongate tubular member having opposed proximal and distal ends and an inner elongate tubular member having opposed proximal and distal ends and slidably disposed within the outer tubular member. When the distal ends of the outer tubular member and the inner tubular member are axially aligned, a stent deployment region is defined there in between. The device further includes a stent loading member having opposed proximal and distal ends and slidably disposed between the outer tubular member and the inner tubular member. The distal end of the stent loading member is slidable to a distal position past the distal end of the outer tubular member for receiving a stent and is further slidable toward the proximal end of the outer tubular member to a location past the stent deployment region for disengagement of a stent from the stent loading member.

Claims

1. A stent loading and deployment device comprising:

an outer elongate tubular member having opposed proximal and distal ends;

an inner elongate tubular member having opposed proximal and distal ends and slidably disposed within the outer tubular member, wherein, when the distal ends of the outer tubular member and the inner tubular member are axially aligned, a stent deployment region is defined there in between; and

a stent loading member having opposed proximal and distal ends and slidably disposed between the outer tubular member and the inner tubular member;

wherein the distal end of the stent loading member is slidable to a distal position past the distal end of the outer tubular member for receiving a stent and is further slidable toward the proximal end of the outer tubular member to a location past the stent deployment region for disengagement of a stent from the stent loading member.

2. The device of claim 1, further comprising a stent engaging member having opposed proximal and distal ends, wherein the proximal end is securably disposed to the distal end of the stent loading member.

3. The device of claim 2, wherein the stent engaging member has a truncated-conical shape, being smaller at its proximal end.

4. The device of claim 3, wherein the stent engaging member is a thin film which is collapsible such that the stent engaging member may be slidably contained within the outer tubular member.

5. The device of claim 3, wherein the stent engaging member is a radially distensible member which is collapsible such that the stent engaging member may be slidably contained within the outer tubular member.

6. The device of claim 5, wherein the stent engaging member is a polymeric member.

7. The device of claim 6, wherein the stent engaging member comprises filaments.

8. The device of claim 6, wherein the stent engaging member comprises a film.

9. The device of claim 7, wherein the braided filaments are contained within a thin polymeric film.

10. The device of claim 1, wherein the stent loading member is an elongate tubular device.

11. The device of claim 1, wherein the stent loading member is removably disposed within the device.

12. The device of claim 1, further comprising a tubular band disposed toward the distal end of the inner tubular member for releasably securing a stent in the stent deployment region between the inner and outer tubular members;

wherein the tubular band may partially or completely encompass a portion of the inner tubular member.

13. The device of claim 1, wherein the outer tubular member is proximally slidable for releasing a stent from the stent deployment region.

14. The device of claim 1, further comprising:

an outer tubular handle disposed at the proximal end of the outer tubular member;

an inner tubular handle disposed at the proximal end of the inner tubular member; and

a stent loading member handle disposed at the proximal end of the stent loading member.

15. The device of claim 14, wherein the stent loading member handle is axially disposed between the outer tubular handle and the inner tubular handle.

16. The device of claim 14, wherein the stent loading member handle is integrated with the inner tubular handle.

17. The device of claim 15, wherein the outer member handle is axially disposed before the proximal end of the inner tubular member handle.

18. The device of claim 14, wherein the stent loading member handle, the outer tubular handle and/or the inner tubular handle are interlocking handles.

19. The device of claim 1, further including a radially distensible stent.

20. The device of claim 19, wherein the radially distensible stent is a polymeric stent.

21. The device of claim 19, wherein the radially distensible stent is a self-expanding stent.

22. The device of claim 20, wherein the polymeric stent is a braided stent.

23. The device of claim 19, further comprising a graft disposed over at least a portion of the stent.

24. The device of claim 23, wherein the graft is selected from the group consisting of a covering, a liner, a film, a coating and combinations thereof.

25. The device of claim 24, wherein the stent is a braided polymeric stent and the graft comprises silicone.

26. A stent loading and deployment system comprising:

a radially distensible stent;

an outer elongate tubular member having opposed proximal and distal ends;

an inner elongate tubular member having opposed proximal and distal ends and slidably disposed within the outer tubular member, wherein, when the distal ends of the outer tubular member and the inner tubular member are axially aligned, a stent deployment region is defined there in between; and

a stent loading member having opposed proximal and distal ends and slidably disposed between the outer tubular member and the inner tubular member;

wherein the distal end of the stent loading member is slidable to a distal position past the distal end of the outer tubular member for receiving the stent and is further slidable toward the proximal end of the outer tubular member to a location past the stent deployment region for disengagement of the stent from the stent loading member.

27. A method for loading a stent into a delivery and deployment device, comprising

a. providing a radially distensible stent having opposed proximal and distal ends;

b. providing a delivery deployment device, the device comprising;

an outer elongate tubular member having opposed proximal and distal ends;

an inner elongate tubular member having opposed proximal and distal ends and slidably disposed within the outer tubular member, wherein, when the distal ends of the outer tubular member and the inner tubular member are axially aligned, a stent deployment region is defined there in between; and

a stent loading member having opposed proximal and distal ends and slidably disposed between the outer tubular member and the inner tubular member;

c. axially moving or sliding the distal end of the stent loading member to a distal position past the distal end of the outer tubular member to releasably engage the stent; and

d. axially moving or sliding the stent and the stent loading member toward the proximal end of the outer tubular member to radially compress the stent within the stent deployment region;

28. The method of claim 27, further comprising:

providing a stent engaging member with the delivery deployment device, the stent engaging member having opposed proximal and distal ends, wherein the proximal end of the stent engaging member is securably disposed to the distal end of the stent loading member;

engaging the proximal end of the stent with the stent engaging member; and

axially moving or sliding the stent engaging member to a location past the stent deployment region for disengagement of the stent from the stent loading member.

29. The method of claim 27, further comprising:

providing a tubular band disposed toward the distal end of the inner tubular member for releasably securing the stent in the stent deployment region between the inner and outer tubular members.

30. The method of claim 29, further comprising:

advancing the outer tubular member over the stent and the tubular band to releasably and securably set the position of the stent engaging member relative to the position of the inner tubular member.

31. The method of claim 30, further comprising:

retracting the outer tubular member proximally past the tubular band;

repositioning the stent within the outer tubular member; and

re-advancing the outer tubular member over the stent and the tubular band to releasably and securably reset the position of the stent engaging member relative to the position of the inner tubular member.

32. The method of claim 27, further comprising

axially moving or sliding the outer tubular member toward a proximal position for releasing the stent from the stent deployment region.

33. The method of claim 27, further comprising:

providing an outer tubular handle disposed at the proximal end of the outer tubular member;

providing an inner tubular handle disposed at the proximal end of the inner tubular member; and

providing a stent loading member handle disposed at the proximal end of the stent loading member, wherein independent axial movement of the outer tubular member, the inner tubular member the stent loading member is achieved by manual manipulation of the handles.

34. The method of claim 27, further comprising:

removing the stent loading member from the device prior to deploying the stent.