Apparatus and methods for delivery of multiple distributed stents

• US 9,326,876 B2
• Filed: 04/22/2014
• Issued: 05/03/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 12/03/2001
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: JW Medical Systems Ltd
• Original Assignee: JW Medical Systems Ltd
• Inventors: Acosta, Pablo, Andreas, Bernard, Landreville, Steve, Snow, David W.
• Primary Examiner(s): STRANSKY, KATRINA MARIE
• Application Number:
  US14/258,129
• Publication Number:
  US 20140228931A1
• Time in Patent Office: 742 Days
• Field of Search: 606/1.11
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/0095 Packages or dispensers for prostheses or other implants for intraocular lenses A61F2/1691; for dental surgery A61C19/02
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/82 Devices providing patency to, or preventing collapsing of, tubular structures of the body, e.g. stents stent-grafts for tubular structures of the body other than blood vessels A61F2/04; stent-grafts for blood vessels A61F2/07; instruments specially adapted for placement or removal of stents or stent-grafts A61F2/95; for closing wounds, or holding wounds closed A61B17/04 - A61B17/115; dilators A61M29/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/91 made from perforated sheet material or tubes, e.g. perforated by laser cuts or etched holes
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/915 with bands having a meander structure, adjacent bands being connected to each other
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/95 Instruments specially adapted for placement or removal of stents or stent-grafts
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/958 Inflatable balloons for placing stents or stent-grafts
• 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 2002/828 Means for connecting a plurality of stents allowing flexibility of the whole structure
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/91508 the meander having a difference in amplitude along the band
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/91516 the meander having a change in frequency along the band
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/91525 within the whole structure different bands showing different meander characteristics, e.g. frequency or amplitude
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/91533 characterised by the phase between adjacent bands
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/91541 Adjacent bands are arranged out of phase
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/9155 Adjacent bands being connected to each other
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/91558 connected peak to peak
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/91591 Locking connectors, e.g. using male-female connections
• 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 2002/9583 Means for holding the stent on the balloon, e.g. using protrusions, adhesives or an outer sleeve
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2210/0033 electrically, e.g. heated by resistor
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2210/0042 : using a fluid, e.g. circulating
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2250/006 : modular
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2250/0071 : breakable or frangible
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2025/0681 : Systems with catheter and outer tubing, e.g. sheath, sleeve or guide tube
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/0068 : Static characteristics of the catheter tip, e.g. shape, atraumatic tip, curved tip or tip structure
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/0075 : Valve means
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/008 : Strength or flexibility characteristics of the catheter tip
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/0082 : Catheter tip comprising a tool
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/10 : Balloon catheters A61M25/0125 takes precedence; embolectomy A61B17/22032; retractors A61B17/02; inflatable balloons for placing stents or stent-grafts A61F2/958 ; stomach balloons for treatment of obesity A61F5/0003; oesophagal tubes A61J15/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/104 : used for angioplasty
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 3/2676 : Optically controlled phased array

Abstract

Delivery catheters and systems are adapted for delivering multiple discreet prostheses in body lumens. An exemplary delivery catheter comprises a sheath, a pusher for moving the prostheses relative to the sheath, and a valve member for selectively retaining the prostheses in the sheath. For balloon expandable stents, an elongated shaft and an expandable member are slidably disposed in the sheath, and the prostheses are positionable on the expandable member for deployment in the body lumen. The valve member allows a selected number of prostheses to be deployed from the sheath while retaining other prostheses within the sheath.

Claims

1. A method of delivering a stent to a treatment site, the method comprising:

providing a catheter comprising;

a sheath having a proximal end, a distal end, an opening at the distal end, and a passage in communication with the opening, the stent being movably disposed in the passage;

an elongate inner shaft disposed within the sheath, the stent being positionable over the elongate inner shaft, wherein the stent comprises a plurality of axially coupled stent segments; and

a valve member near the distal end of the sheath adapted for selectively retaining a first stent segment within the passage while allowing a second stent segment to be deployed outside the passage;

positioning the distal end of the sheath at the treatment site;

decoupling the second stent segment and the first stent segment; and

proximally retracting the sheath relative to a distal end of the elongate inner shaft to move the valve member and thereby cause the second stent segment to pass through the opening of the sheath while retaining the first stent segment within the sheath;

wherein the second stent segment and first stent segment are axially coupled via a coupling member; and

wherein decoupling the second stent segment and the first stent segment comprises breaking the coupling member.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the second stent segment is decoupled from the first stent segment by the valve member as the sheath is proximally retracted.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein decoupling the second stent segment and the first stent segment comprises radially expanding the second stent segment while retaining the first stent segment in an unexpanded configuration.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein either or both the first stent segment or the second stent segment comprises a plurality of stent segments.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the plurality of stent segments of either or both the first stent segment or the second stent segment remain axially coupled after the second stent segment is decoupled from the first stent segment.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the elongate inner shaft comprises an expandable member near the distal end of the sheath.

7. A method of delivering a stent to a treatment site, the method comprising:

providing a catheter comprising;

a sheath having a proximal end, a distal end, an opening at the distal end, and a passage in communication with the opening, the stent being movably disposed in the passage;

an elongate inner shaft disposed within the sheath, the stent being positionable over a distal end of the elongate inner shaft, wherein the stent comprises a plurality of axially arranged stent segments; and

a valve member near the distal end of the sheath adapted for selectively retaining a first stent segment within the passage while allowing a second stent segment to be deployed outside the passage, wherein the second stent segment and the first stent segment are axially coupled via a coupling member;

positioning the distal end of the sheath and the distal end of the elongate inner shaft at the treatment site; and

proximally retracting the sheath relative to the distal end of the elongate inner shaft to move the valve member and decouple the second stent segment and the first stent segment by breaking the coupling member and to cause the second stent segment to be proximally moved relative to the first stent segment and cause the second stent segment to pass through the opening of the sheath while retaining the first stent segment within the sheath.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the second stent segment and the first stent segment are decoupled by the valve member as the sheath is proximally retracted.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein breaking the coupling member comprises radially expanding the second stent segment while retaining the first stent segment in an unexpanded configuration.

10. The method of claim 7, wherein either or both the first stent segment or the second stent segment comprises a plurality of stent segments.

11. The method of claim 7, wherein the elongate inner shaft comprises an expandable member positioned near the distal end of the sheath.

12. A method of delivering one or more prostheses to a treatment site, the method comprising:

providing a catheter comprising;

an elongate flexible catheter shaft;

a sheath at least partially disposed over the elongate flexible catheter shaft, the sheath having a proximal end, a distal end, an opening at the distal end, and an interior passage in communication with the opening, the one or more prostheses being movably disposed in the passage; and

a valve member near the distal end of the sheath adapted for selectively retaining at least one prosthesis within the passage;

positioning the distal end of the sheath at the treatment site; and

proximally retracting the sheath to move the valve member and thereby retain the at least one prosthesis within the passage while allowing at least one other prosthesis to pass through the opening of the sheath;

wherein the at least one prosthesis and the at least one other prosthesis are initially axially coupled, and

wherein the at least one prosthesis and the at least one other prosthesis are decoupled by breaking a coupling member that couples the at least one prosthesis and the at least one other prosthesis.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein either or both the at least one prosthesis or the at least one other prosthesis comprises a plurality of stent segments.

14. The method of claim 12, wherein the elongate flexible catheter shaft comprises an expandable member positioned near the distal end of the sheath.

15. The method of claim 12, wherein the valve member is actuatable from the proximal end of the sheath between a first configuration which inhibits movement of the at least one other prosthesis from the passage, and a second configuration which allows movement of the at least one other prosthesis from the passage and through the opening.