Surgery – Instruments – Internal pressure applicator
Reexamination Certificate
2000-10-23
2002-04-30
Reip, David O. (Department: 3731)
Surgery
Instruments
Internal pressure applicator
C606S194000, C604S096010
Reexamination Certificate
active
06379372
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention pertains generally to medical devices, and more particularly to a catheter delivery system for endovascular stents and endovascular grafts.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The term “stent” is generally used to describe endoprosthetic devices which are implanted in blood vessels or other anatomical passageways of the body for the purpose of treating stenoses, aneurysms, occlusions, etc. Typically, such stents are implanted in blood vessels to maintain dilation and patency of an occluded region of blood vessel, or to bridge a weakened or aneurysmic region of blood vessel. On the other hand, some typical nonvascular applications of such stents are for the treatment of constrictions or injuries to the gastrointestinal tract (e.g., esophagus), ducts of the biliary tree (e.g., common bile duct) or anatomical passageways of the genitourinary tract (e.g., ureter, urethra fallopian tube, etc.).
Most stents are initially disposed in a compact configuration of relatively small diameter, whereby the stent may be mounted upon or within a delivery catheter for insertion and transluminal advancement into the desired anatomical passageway. Thereafter, such stents are radially expandable to a larger “operative” diameter which is equal to or slightly larger than the diameter of the blood vessel or other anatomical passageway in which the stent is to be implanted. When radially expanded to such operative diameter, the stent will typically become released from the delivery catheter and embedded or engaged to the surrounding wall of the blood vessel or other anatomical passageway.
Some stents are covered with tubular sleeves, in which case they are typically referred to as a “stented graft”.
In general, stents and stented grafts fall into two major categories—a) self-expanding and b) pressure-expandable. Those of the self-expanding variety may be formed of resilient or shape memory material (e.g., spring steel or nitinol™) which is capable of self-expanding from its first (radially compact) diameter to its second (operative) diameter without the exertion of outwardly-directed force against the stent or stented graft. Examples of such self-expanding stents and stented grafts are set forth in U.S. Pat. No. 4,655,771 (Wallsten, et al); U.S. Pat. No. 4,954,126 (Wallsten); U.S. Pat. No. 5,061,275 (Wallsten, et al); U.S. Pat. No. 4,580,568 (Gianturco); U.S. Pat. No. 4,830,003 (Wolf, et al); U.S. Pat. No. 5,035,706 (Gianturco, et al); U.S. Pat. No. 5,330,400 (Song) and U.S. Pat. No. 5,354,308 (Simon, et al) and Foreign Patent Publication Nos. WO94\12136; WO92\06734 and EPA183372. Those of the pressure-expandable (i.e., “passive expandable”) variety may be formed of plastically deformable material (e.g., stainless steel) which is initially formed in its first (radially compact) diameter and remains stable in such first diameter until such time of outwardly directed pressure is exerted upon the stent or stented graft to cause radial expansion and resultant plastic deformation of the stent or stented graft, to its second (operative) diameter. Examples of such pressure-expandable stents and stented grafts are set forth in U.S. Pat. No. No. 5,135,536 (Hillstead); U.S. Pat. No. 5,161,547 (Tower); U.S. Pat. No. 5,292,331 (Boneau); U.S. Pat. No. 5,304,200 (Spaulding); U.S. Pat. No. 4,733,665 (Palmaz); U.S. Pat. No. 5,282,823 (Schwartz, et al); U.S. Pat. No. 4,776,337 (Palmaz); and U.S. Pat. No. 5,403,341 (Solar) and Foreign Patent Publication Nos. EPA480667; and W
0
95\08966.
In many applications, careful positioning and firm implantation of the stent or stented graft is critical to the successful treatment of the underlying medical problem. In this regard, the delivery catheter which is utilized to accomplish the positioning and implantation of the stent or stented graft is an important aspect of the overall system. Various types of delivery catheters for stents and stented grafts have been previously known, including those described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,665,918 (Garza, et al); U.S. Pat. No. 4,733,665 (Palmaz); U.S. Pat. No. 4,739,762 (Palmaz); U.S. Pat. No. 4,762,125 (Leiman, et al); U.S. Pat. No. 776,337 (Palmaz); U.S. Pat. No. 4,838,269 (Robinson, et al); U.S. Pat. No. 4,994,071 (MacGregor); U.S. Pat. No. 5,037,427 (Harada, et al); U.S. Pat. No. 5,089,005 (Harada); U.S. Pat. No. 5,102,417 (Palmaz); U.S. Pat. No. 5,108,416 (Ryan, et al); U.S. Pat. No. 5,141,498 (Christian); U.S. Pat. No. 5,181,920 (Mueller, et al); U.S. Pat. No. 5,195,984 (Schatz); U.S. Pat. No. 5,201,901 (Harada, et al); U.S. Pat. No. 5,269,763 (Boehmer, et al); U.S. Pat. No. 5,275,622 (Lazarus, et al); U.S. Pat. No. 5,290,295 (Querals, et al); U.S. Pat. No. 5,306,294 (Winston, et al); U.S. Pat. No. 5,318,588 (Horzewski, et al); U.S. Pat. No. 5,344,426 (Lau, et al); U.S. Pat. No. 5,350,363 (Goode, et al); U.S. Pat. No. 5,360,401 (Turnland); U.S. Pat. No. 5,391,172 (Williams, et al); U.S. Pat. No. 5,397,345 (Lazarus); U.S. Pat. No. 5,405,380 (Gianotti, et al); U.S. Pat. No. 5,443,452 (Hart, et al); U.S. Pat. No. 5,453,090 (Martinez, et al); U.S. Pat. No. 5,456,284 (Ryan, et al); and U.S. Pat. No. 5,456,694 (Marin, et al) and Foreign Patent Publication Nos. EP-0308-815-A2; EP-0335-341-A1; EP-364-787-A; EP-0442-657-A2; EP-482976-A; EP-0505-686-A1; EP-0611-556-A1; EP-0638-290-A1; W
0
94\15549; W
0
95\01761; GB2196-857-A; DE3042-229; and DE3737-121-A. Generally, the attributes which are desirable of any delivery catheter which is to be used for placement and implantation of stents or stented grafts, are as follows:
a) maintain minimal diameter during insertion to avoid unnecessary trauma and/or difficulty of placement;
b) include radiopaque markings at appropriate locations to facilitate precise visualization and positioning of the delivery catheter to ensure that the stent or stented graft is implanted at the desired location;
c) reliable and reproducible expansion of the stent or stented graft to its full operative diameter, without regional or localized variations in the degree or completeness of such expansion;
d) reliable and reproducible disengagement or release of the stent or stented graft from the catheter body;
e) ability to withdraw and remove the delivery catheter without disturbing the newly implanted stent or stented graft; and,
f) ability to easily check for leakage of biological fluid (e.g., blood) outside of a stented graft (i.e., an “endoleak”) after the stented graft has been delivered and implanted within a body lumen.
None of the previously-known delivery catheter systems have been clearly optimal for all types of stents and stented grafts. Accordingly, there remains a need in the art for a design and development of improved delivery catheter systems for at least some types of stents and stented grafts.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention provides a method and system for implanting a tubular endoluminal prosthesis (e.g., a stent or stented graft) within a body lumen (e.g., artery, vein, gastrointestinal tract, ducts of the biliary tree, urinary tract, reproductive tract, or other endocrine or exocrine ducts, etc.) of a mammal. The system of the present invention includes a) a delivery catheter; b) an introducer assembly; and c) a dilator.
In accordance with the invention, there is provided a delivery catheter which is usable for introducing and implanting a radially expandable tubular endoluminal prosthesis within a duct of the body. The delivery catheter incorporates one or more of the following elements:
a) a portion of the catheter being formed of separate tubular members upon which opposite ends of a radially expandable balloon are mounted such that movement (e.g., longitudinal, rotational) movement of one of such members relative to the other will cause the balloon to be tightened (e.g., longitudinally drawn, rotatably twisted) to a taut configuration when the balloon is in its deflated state, thereby eliminating or minimizing loose or protrusive balloon material which may interfere with subsequent retraction and removal of the delivery catheter;
Dehdashtian Mark
Saravia Maria Lillian
White Geoffrey H.
Yu Weiyun
Canter Bruce M.
Edwards Lifesciences Corp.
Gluck Peter Jon
Reip David O.
Vascular Therapies
LandOfFree
Endovascular delivery system does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Endovascular delivery system, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Endovascular delivery system will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-2906658