Catheter system for introducing an expandable heart valve stent into the body of a patient

• US 9,510,947 B2
• Filed: 09/11/2012
• Issued: 12/06/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 10/21/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: JenaValve Technology, Inc.
• Original Assignee: JenaValve Technology, Inc.
• Inventors: Straubinger, Helmut, Litzenburger, Michael, Tllner, Thomas
• Primary Examiner(s): Shi, Katherine M
• Application Number:
  US14/352,117
• Publication Number:
  US 20150127092A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,547 Days
• Field of Search: 623/1.11, 623/2.11
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/2418 Scaffolds therefor, e.g. support stents
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/2436 Deployment by retracting a sheath
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/9517 handle assemblies therefor

Abstract

The invention relates to catheter system for introducing an expandable heart valve stent (150) into the body of a patient, the catheter system comprising: a catheter tip (10) having a seat portion for accommodating the stent (150) in its collapsed state and a stent holder (15) for releasably fixing the stent (150), wherein the seat portion is constituted by a first sleeve-shaped member (11) and a second sleeve-shaped member (21), said sleeve-shaped members (11, 21) being moveable relative to each other and relative to the stent holder (15), and a catheter shaft (30) for connecting the catheter tip (10) to a handle (70). The catheter shaft (30) comprising: first force transmitting means (31) connected to the first sleeve-shaped member (11), second force transmitting means (41) connected to the second sleeve-shaped member (21) and a distal end section connectable to second operating means (81) of the handle (70), and guiding means (51) having a passageway extending there between, wherein the first and second force trans mining means (31, 41) are at least partly received within the passageway such as to be moveable relative to the guiding means (51), and wherein the proximal end of the guiding means (51) terminates distal to the catheter tip (10).

Claims

1. A catheter system for introducing a heart valve stent into a body of a patient, the catheter system comprising:

a catheter tip comprising a first sleeve-shaped member, a second sleeve-shaped member, and a stent holder, wherein the first and second sleeve-shaped members are moveable relative to each other and relative to the stent holder;

a handle; and

a catheter shaft extending between the catheter tip and the handle, the catheter shaft comprising;

a first tubular member having a distal end section connected to the first sleeve-shaped member and a proximal end section connected to the handle; and

a second tubular member having a distal end section connected to the second sleeve-shaped member and a proximal end section connected to the handle,

wherein the stent holder comprises a cylindrical body and a guiding element at least partly accommodated in the cylindrical body, the guiding element forming an end section of the stent holder, and wherein the guiding element is movable relative to the cylindrical body in a longitudinal direction of the stent holder.

2. The catheter system according to claim 1, wherein the cylindrical body includes an inner sidewall for guiding the movement of the guiding element relative to the cylindrical body.

3. The catheter system according to claim 1, wherein the cylindrical body includes a first stop for restricting the movement of the guiding element in a first direction relative to the cylindrical body.

4. The catheter system according to claim 3, wherein the cylindrical body includes a second stop to restrict the movement of the guiding element in a second direction relative to the cylindrical body opposite the first direction.

5. The catheter system according to claim 4, wherein the second stop includes an element inserted into an end of the cylindrical body.

6. The catheter system according to claim 3, wherein the first stop includes a step in an inner sidewall of the cylindrical body.

7. The catheter system according to claim 1, wherein the stent holder includes a spring element, wherein a first portion of the spring element is accommodated in the cylindrical body, and a second portion of the spring element is accommodated in the guiding element.

8. The catheter system according to claim 7, wherein the guiding element includes a recessed portion, an opening of the recessed portion facing an interior of the cylindrical body, wherein the second portion of the spring element is accommodated in the recessed portion of the guiding element, and the first portion of the spring element abuts a surface of the cylindrical body.

9. The catheter system according to claim 8, wherein the spring element includes a compression spring configured to apply a force to the guiding element to move the guiding element away from the surface of the cylindrical body.

10. The catheter system according to claim 1, wherein the cylindrical body of the stent holder includes at least one surface feature configured to receive at least one corresponding retaining element of the heart valve stent.

11. The catheter system according to claim 10, wherein the at least one surface feature includes a plurality of pockets spaced uniformly apart around an outermost surface of the cylindrical body, each pocket connected to an end surface of the cylindrical body by a groove.

12. The catheter system according to claim 11, wherein each pocket is formed in the outermost surface of the cylindrical body and has a shape adapted for accommodating a corresponding retaining element.

13. A catheter system for introducing a heart valve stent into a body of a patient, the catheter system comprising:

a tip comprising a first sleeve, a second sleeve, and a stent holder, wherein the first and second sleeves are moveable relative to each other and relative to the stent holder;

a handle; and

a shaft extending between the catheter tip and the handle, wherein the shaft comprises;

a first tube having a distal end coupled to the first sleeve and a proximal end coupled to the handle; and

a second tube having a distal end coupled to the second sleeve and a proximal end coupled to the handle;

wherein the stent holder comprises an elongate body and a guiding element at least partially accommodated in the elongate body, the guiding element movable relative to the elongate body along a longitudinal axis of the stent holder; and

wherein the guiding element and the elongate body of the stent holder define a lumen for passage of the second tube therethrough.

14. The catheter system according to claim 13, further comprising a third tube having a distal end attached to the stent holder and a proximal end attached to the handle, wherein the second and third tubes are coaxial.

15. A catheter system for introducing a heart valve stent into a body of a patient, the catheter system comprising:

a tip comprising a first sleeve, a second sleeve, and a stent holder, wherein the first and second sleeves are moveable relative to each other and relative to the stent holder;

a handle; and

a shaft extending between the tip and the handle, the shaft comprising;

a first tube having a distal end coupled to the first sleeve and a proximal end coupled to the handle; and

a second tube having a distal end coupled to the second sleeve and a proximal end coupled to the handle;

wherein the stent holder comprises an elongate body, a spring element, and a guiding element, each of the spring element and the guiding element being at least partially accommodated in the elongate body and movable relative to the elongate body along a longitudinal axis of the stent holder.

16. The catheter system of claim 15, wherein the spring element includes a compression spring configured to apply a force to the guiding element to move the guiding element away from the elongate body.

17. The catheter system of claim 16, wherein a tension of the compression spring is adjustable by moving the first sleeve along a longitudinal axis of the tip.

18. The catheter system of claim 15, wherein the elongate body of the stent holder includes a plurality of pockets, each pocket configured to receive a corresponding retaining element of the heart valve stent.