Methods for delivering a prosthesis to a site in a body

• US 8,021,416 B2
• Filed: 01/14/2005
• Issued: 09/20/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 12/10/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Stryker European Operations Holdings, LLC (Stryker Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Stryker Corporation, Stryker Nv Operations Limited (Stryker Corporation)
• Inventors: Abrams, Robert M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Severson; Ryan J
• Application Number:
  US11/036,028
• Publication Number:
  US 20050121043A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,440 Days
• Field of Search: 606/108, 606/200, 623/1.23, 623 111- 113
• US Class Current: 623/1.23
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/12022 Occluding by internal devices, e.g. balloons or releasable wires plugging an opening in the wall of an organ A61B17/0057; occluders for the cervical canal A61F6/146; vas deferens occluders A61F6/20
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/12109 in a blood vessel
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/12113 within an aneurysm
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/12168 having a mesh structure A61B17/1214 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/1205 Introduction devices
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/12063 electrolytically detachable
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/07 Stent-grafts
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/88 the wire-like elements formed as helical or spiral coils forming a net-like or mesh-like structure A61F2/90
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/95 Instruments specially adapted for placement or removal of stents or stent-grafts
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/075 the stent being loosely attached to the graft material, e.g. by stitching
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2230/008 paraboloidal

Abstract

An endoprosthesis cover may be attached to the distal end of a delivery device. The cover may be generally cylindrical in shape and may have a lumen through it. An endoprosthesis may then be covered as it is delivered to a treatment site.

Claims

1. A method for delivering a prosthesis to a site in a body, comprising:

providing a delivery system comprising a tubular member having a sheath releasably affixed to a distal end of the tubular member, said sheath having a distal opening and a lumen therethrough, said distal opening and said lumen of sufficient size to maintain patent blood flow through the lumen;

advancing the tubular member through a vessel in a body to position the tubular member distal end at a site in the body;

advancing a prosthesis which is not within the sheath, through an opening in the tubular member distal end and into the sheath, the delivery of the prosthesis into the sheath causing the sheath to release from the tubular member, such that the sheath containing the prosthesis is delivered to the site; and

maintaining patent blood flow through the lumen and through the distal opening while said sheath is positioned at the site in the body.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the site is an aneurysm neck.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the site is an aneurysm.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the sheath comprises a plurality of slots or holes.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the sheath is frictionally fit to the distal end of the tubular member.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the sheath is affixed by an adhesive bond to the distal end of the tubular member.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the prosthesis expands as it is advanced out of the tubular member opening and into the sheath.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the sheath distends to conform to the expanded prosthesis.

9. The method of claim 1, the prosthesis comprising an occlusive coil that is advanced through the tubular member using a pusher wire, and wherein the coil is electrolytically detached from the pusher wire once the coil is advanced out of the tubular member and into sheath.

10. A method for delivering a prosthesis to a site in a body, comprising:

providing a delivery system comprising a tubular member having a delivery lumen in communication with an opening in the tubular member, and a sheath having a proximal end releasably affixed to an exterior of the tubular member proximate the opening, said sheath having a distal opening and a lumen therethrough, said distal opening and said lumen of sufficient size to maintain patent blood flow through the lumen;

advancing the tubular member through a vessel in a body to position the opening proximate a site in the body;

advancing a prosthesis which is not within the sheath, through the delivery lumen, out the opening, and into the sheath, the delivery of the prosthesis into the sheath causing the sheath to release from the tubular member, such that the sheath containing the prosthesis is delivered to the site; and

maintaining patent blood flow through the lumen and through the distal opening while said sheath is positioned at the site in the body.

11. The method of claim 10, the prosthesis expanding as it is advanced out of the tubular member opening and into the sheath, wherein the sheath distends to conform to the expanded prosthesis.

12. The method of claim 10, the prosthesis comprising a pre-curved wire that forms a disc-like shape suitable for covering an aneurysm neck when delivered into the sheath.

13. The method of claim 10, wherein the site is an aneurysm neck.

14. The method of claim 10, wherein the site is an aneurysm.

15. The method of claim 10, wherein the sheath comprises a plurality of slots or holes.

16. The method of claim 10, wherein the sheath is frictionally fit to the distal end of the tubular member.

17. The method of claim 10, wherein the sheath is affixed by an adhesive bond to the distal end of the tubular member.

18. A method for delivering a prosthesis to a site in a body, comprising:

providing a delivery system comprising a tubular member having a delivery lumen in communication with a distal opening in the tubular member, and a sheath having a proximal end releasably affixed to an exterior of the tubular member around the distal opening, said sheath having a distal opening and a lumen therethrough, said distal opening and said lumen of sufficient size to maintain patent blood flow through the lumen;

advancing the tubular member through a vessel in a body to position the distal opening proximate a site in the body;

advancing a prosthesis which is not within the sheath, through the delivery lumen, out the distal opening, and into the sheath, the prosthesis expanding as it is advanced out of the tubular member opening and into the sheath, the sheath conforming to the expanded prosthesis, the advancing of the prosthesis causing the sheath to release from the tubular member; and

maintaining patent blood flow through the lumen and through the distal opening while said sheath is positioned at the site in the body.

19. The method of claim 18, further comprising detaching the sheath from the tubular member as the prosthesis is deployed.

20. The method of claim 18, wherein the site is an aneurysm.