Prosthesis (i.e. – artificial body members) – parts thereof – or ai – Arterial prosthesis – Stent combined with surgical delivery system
Reexamination Certificate
1999-06-07
2001-08-28
Recla, Henry J. (Department: 3731)
Prosthesis (i.e., artificial body members), parts thereof, or ai
Arterial prosthesis
Stent combined with surgical delivery system
C606S108000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06280464
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to a system for manipulating a prosthesis, and more particularly, to a catheter and gripping system for enabling manipulation of a graft or stent deployed or implanted at a repair site within a corporeal lumen.
It is well established that various fluid conducting body or corporeal lumens, such as veins and arteries, may deteriorate or suffer trauma so that repair is necessary. For example, various types of aneurysms or other deteriorative diseases may affect the ability of the lumen to conduct fluids and, in turn, may be life-threatening. In some cases, the damaged lumen is repairable only with the use of a prosthesis such as an artificial vessel or graft. Other situations require the use of a stent which operates to hold a constricted vessel open. For repair of vital vessels such as the aorta, repair may be significantly life-threatening.
Techniques known in the art which tend to minimize dangers to the patient include a procedure in which a graft resembling the natural vessel is placed within the diseased or obstructed section of the natural vessel. More specifically, it is known within the art to provide a graft for intraluminal repair of a vessel. In intraluminal vessel repair, the graft is advanced intraluminally through the vessel to the repair site using a delivery catheter and deployed within the vessel so that the graft traverses the diseased portion to thereby repair the vessel.
Additionally, it is known within the art to provide a stent for holding open a vessel which is constricted due to a stenosis. In order to minimize danger to the patient, a stent may also be intraluminally deployed.
Generally speaking, it may be necessary to reposition a graft or stent deployed or implanted at a repair site in a corporeal lumen. However, it may be difficult to maneuver a device to a position adjacent the prosthesis, to grip the prosthesis for maneuvering thereof to the desired location, and to then retrieve the device from the repair site.
Thus, what has been needed and heretofore unavailable is a system which is designed specifically to enable secure gripping and maneuvering of a prosthesis which has been placed within a patient's vasculature and to accomplish repositioning of the prosthesis within the patient's vasculature to a desired location.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Briefly, and in general terms, the present invention provides a new and improved catheter and gripping system, and a novel method for their use in manipulating a prosthesis or repair device at a repair site in a corporeal lumen. The prosthesis or repair device is deployed or implanted at the lumen repair site for repairing a diseased condition of the lumen. The catheter and gripping system is configured to enable secure gripping and manipulation of the prosthesis at the repair site, for repositioning the prosthesis to the desired location.
The present catheter is adapted to enable insertion and removal thereof in a corporeal lumen. It includes a grip at a proximal end for enabling gripping thereof, a jacket at a distal end thereof comprising an enlarged portion for enclosing and enabling expansion and compression of gripping elements, and a shaft therebetween, including a channel extending therethrough.
The present gripping system is housed in the catheter and is adapted to enable gripping of the prosthesis end at the repair site in the corporeal lumen, for maneuvering and repositioning the prosthesis to the desired location. It includes a knob at a proximal end for enabling pushing thereof for compressing the gripping elements into engagement with the prosthesis end. A spring extends between the knob and the catheter grip for biasing the system so as to normally enclose the gripping elements. A plurality of resilient gripping elements at the distal end of the system are adapted to engage the prosthesis end. The gripping elements are biased to an open or spread-out configuration and include angled ends for gripping a prosthesis end. A deploying wire extends between the knob and the gripping elements.
A method contemplated for repositioning the prosthesis at the repair site in the corporeal lumen includes retracting the catheter jacket from its position enclosing the gripping elements, releasing the gripping elements for outward expansion thereof. The catheter jacket is then advanced, compressing the gripping elements so as to engage the graft end. The jacket is then retracted, enabling the gripping elements to expand, and then advanced to compress and enclose the gripping elements to enable removal of the system from the corporeal lumen. Another method further includes advancing a folded balloon at the distal end of the gripping system into engagement with the prosthesis end, for enabling secure gripping of the prosthesis end by the gripping elements. A further method also includes actuating a maneuverable element into engagement with the prosthesis end.
Other features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description, taken in conjunction with the accompanied drawings, which illustrate, by way of example, the features of the invention.
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Bui Vy Q.
Endovascular Technologies, Inc.
Fulwider Patton Lee & Utecht LLP
Recla Henry J.
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