RESHEATHABLE STENT DELIVERY SYSTEM

• US 20140025150A1
• Filed: 07/20/2012
• Published: 01/23/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 07/20/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Covidien LP (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Tyco Healthcare Group LP (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: LIM, Chhuon
• Granted Patent: US 9,724,222 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 623/1.11
• 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 2002/9505 having retaining means other than an outer sleeve, e.g. male-female connector between stent and instrument
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/9534 for repositioning of stents
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/9665 with additional retaining means

Abstract

The present disclosure relates generally to medical implant devices for use within a patient'"'"'s body and, more particularly, relates to systems and methods for resheathing vascular devices. In some embodiments, a stent delivery system includes a stent expandable from a compressed configuration to an expanded configuration. The stent has a proximal end and a distal end and an anchoring element having a proximal portion and a distal portion, wherein the anchoring element engages the stent in the expanded configuration.

Claims

1. A stent delivery system comprising:

a deployable stent expandable from a compressed configuration to an expanded configuration, the stent having a proximal end portion and a distal end portion;

an outer anchoring element having a proximal portion and a distal portion, the distal portion comprising a divide along a longitudinal length thereof, wherein the outer element engages an outer surface of the proximal end portion in the expanded configuration, and the distal portion of the outer element is configured to deflect radially outward by the stent when the stent expands; and

a delivery member configured to encapsulate at least partially the stent and the outer anchoring element prior to expanding the stent.

2. The system of claim 1 further comprising a capping element coupled to a guide wire, the capping element configured to cover at least partially the distal end portion of the stent and the guide wire configured to extend through a lumen of the stent prior to expanding the stent.

3. The system of claim 1 further comprising an inner anchoring element that is disposed at least partially within the stent and being expandable from a compressed configuration to an expanded configuration.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein the inner anchoring element is configured to frictionally engage an inner surface of the stent when the inner element is expanded.

5. The system of claim 3, wherein the inner anchoring element is configured to provide greater friction against an inner surface of the stent when the inner anchoring element is advanced distally relative to the stent than when the inner anchoring element is retracted proximally relative to the stent.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the outer anchoring element frictionally engages the stent when the stent is in the expanded configuration.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the outer anchoring element is at least partially slit in half along its axial length.

8. The system of claim 1, further comprising an elongate tube at least partially positioned within the stent, wherein the proximal end portion of the stent is disposed radially between the elongate tube and the outer anchoring element.

9. A stent delivery system comprising:

a stent expandable from a compressed configuration to an expanded configuration and having a proximal end portion, a distal end portion, and an inner lumen;

an outer anchoring element configured to engage a partially expanded stent, the outer anchoring element having a proximal portion and a distal portion, the distal portion being configured to flare radially outward when the stent is expanded;

an inner anchoring element expandable from a compressed configuration to an expanded configuration and being disposed in the stent and configured to engage the inner surface of the stent; and

an elongate tube disposed radially within the outer anchoring element, the elongate tube configured to at least partially encapsulate the inner anchoring element.

10. The stent delivery system of claim 9, wherein the outer anchoring element frictionally engages the stent in the expanded configuration.

11. The stent delivery system of claim 9, wherein the outer anchoring element is urged to flare radially outward by the stent when the stent is expanded.

12. The stent delivery system of claim 9, wherein the outer anchoring element is at least partially slit in half along its axial length.

13. The stent delivery system of claim 9 further comprising an inner anchoring element expandable from a compressed state to an expanded state, wherein at least a portion of the inner anchoring element is disposed inside the stent and configured to engage the inner wall of the stent when the inner element is in the expanded state.

14. The stent delivery system of claim 9, wherein the proximal end portion of the stent is disposed radially between the elongate tube and the outer anchoring element.

15. The stent delivery system of claim 9, wherein the outer anchoring element at least partially encapsulates the stent.

16. A method of positioning a stent at a target site comprising:

advancing distally a distal end of a self-expanding stent relative to a catheter, whereby, when unrestrained, the distal end of the stent radially expands from within a capping element attached to a wire, the stent being positioned between an inner anchoring element, radially within the stent, and an outer anchoring element, radially outward of the stent and axially offset from the inner anchoring element; and

advancing the wire distally, whereby the inner anchoring element (i) flares radially outward, (ii) engages an inner surface of the stent in an expanded configuration, and (iii) moves a proximal end of the stent distally away from an outer anchoring element.

17. The method of claim 16, further comprising:

prior to advancing the wire distally, retracting the wire proximally, whereby the inner anchoring element moves proximally relative to the stent without engaging the stent and becomes axially aligned with the outer anchoring element, whereby the proximal end of the stent is frictionally engaged with the outer anchoring element at an outer surface and with the inner anchoring element at an inner surface; and

retracting the stent proximally relative to the catheter, whereby the stent is entirely resheathed within the catheter.

18. The method of claim 16, further comprising:

retracting the wire proximally, whereby the inner anchoring element moves proximally of a proximal end of the stent; and

advancing the wire distally, after retracting the wire proximally, whereby the inner anchoring element (i) flares radially outward, (ii) engages the proximal end of the stent, and (iii) moves the proximal end of the stent distally away from the outer anchoring element.

19. A method of delivering a stent at a target site comprising:

advancing distally a distal end of a self-expanding stent relative to a catheter, whereby, when unrestrained, the distal end of the stent radially expands from within a capping element attached to a wire, the stent being positioned between an inner anchoring element, radially within the stent, and an outer anchoring element, radially outward of the stent and axially offset from the inner anchoring element;

retracting the wire proximally, whereby the inner anchoring element moves proximally relative to the stent without engaging the stent and becomes axially aligned with the outer anchoring element, whereby the proximal end of the stent is frictionally engaged with the outer anchoring element at an outer surface and with the inner anchoring element at an inner surface; and

retracting the stent proximally relative to the catheter, whereby the stent is entirely resheathed within the catheter.

20. The method of claim 19, further comprising advancing the wire distally, whereby the inner anchoring element (i) flares radially outward, (ii) engages the inner surface of the stent, and (iii) moves the proximal end of the stent distally away from the outer anchoring element.

21. The method of claim 19, further comprising:

retracting the wire proximally, whereby the inner anchoring element moves proximally of a proximal end of the stent; and

advancing the wire distally, whereby the inner anchoring element (i) flares radially outward, (ii) engages the proximal end of the stent, and (iii) moves the proximal end of the stent distally away from the outer anchoring element.