Endovascular grafting apparatus, system and method and devices for use therewith

Claim 2

An endovascular grafting system, comprising: a capsule catheter comprising a flexible elongate tubular member having proximal and distal extremities, and a capsule mounted on the distal extremity of the elongate tubular member, the capsule being substantially cylindrical in shape and having an inner wall, the capsule being formed of a helical wrap of a metal ribbon and means bonding the helical wrap into a unitary capsule while permitting bending of the capsule; a graft disposed within the capsule, said graft comprising a tubular member having proximal and distal ends, and hook-like attachment means secured to the proximal and distal ends of the tubular member of said graft, the attachment means facing in a direction outwardly towards the inner wall of the capsule; and push rod means disposed within said capsule catheter and engaging said graft, wherein upon relative movement between said push rod means and said capsule catneter, said graft can be forced out of the capsule.

Claim 3

A system according to claim 1, together with a balloon catheter comprised of a flexible elongate member having proximal and distal extremities and a balloon having a proximal extremity secured to the distal extremity of the flexible elongate member of said balloon catheter, the flexible elongate member of said balloon catheter having a balloon inflation lumen extending through the elongate tubular member of said capsule catheter and means for inflating and deflating the balloon throughout the balloon inflation lumen of the flexible elongate member of said 25 balloon catheter. a.

Claim 4

A system according to claim 2, wherein said balloon catheter includes a rigid metallic tube extending through the balloon and in communication with the balloon e inflation lumen.

Claim 5

A system according to claim 3, wherein said push rod means includes a wire extending through said rigid metallic tube. o 94030,p:\opcr\kay,8l7.sp,30 -31 A system according to claim 4, wherein said balloon catheter includes a plug distal of the balloon engageable by said wire.

Claim 6

A system according to claim 2, together with a pusher button mounted on the flexible elongate lmember of the balloon catheter and engaging the graft.

Claim 7

A system according to claim 6, wherein the pusher rod engages the pusher button.

Claim 8

A system according to claim 6, wherein said pusher button is mounted in a fixed position on the flexible elongate member of the balloon catheter.

Claim 9

A system according to claim 6, wherein said pusher button is mounted on the flexible elongate member of said balloon catheter so that said pusher button is movable between one position spaced from the proximal extremity of the balloon and another position adjacent to the proximal extremity of the balloon. A catheter assembly comprising a prosthesis, and a flexible elongate tubular member having a proximal and distal ends, said catheter assembly "further comprising: retaining means for retaining said prosthesis in an unexpanded state, said retaining means having a longitudinal axis and being mounted on said distal end of said tubular member and being substantially cylindrical in shape and being formed of helical wraps of a metal ribbon; and 25 means for bonding said helical wraps so that said retaining means is flexible along its longitudinal axis.

Claim 12

A system for implanting a prosthesis in a vessel having a wall, said system comprising: graft means for repairing the vessel, said graft meas including a tubular graft having proximal and distal ends, and attachment means for engaging the vessel wall; first catheter means for advancing said graft means in the vessel, said catheter means including a first elongate tubular member having proximal and distal ends, and capsule means for removably receiving said graft means, the capsule means being secured to the distal end of the first elongate tubular member and being formed of flexible material; and second catheter means for implanting said graft means, said second catheter means being disposed within said first catheter means, wherein, upon relative movement between said first catheter means and said second catheter means, said graft means is removable from the capsule means. '13. A system according to claim 11 or claim 12 wherein said second catheter means includes a second elongate tubular member having proximal and distal ends, and inflation means for seating the attachment means into the vessel wall. O 30 14. A system according to claim 13, wherein said inflation means includes an inflatable member having a proximal end secured proximal to the distal end of the second elongate tubular member, and an inflation lumen extending through the b 940302,p:\opr\kay,804173p,32 Mh o y/ -33- second elongate tubular member and in fluid communication with the inflatable member. A system according to claim 14, wherein said first elongate tubular member further includes pusher means for causing relative movement between said first catheter and said second catheter.

Claim 13

A system according to claim 15, wherein said pusher means further includes a pusher rod secured to the proximal end of the second elongate tubular member, and a pusher button located proximal of the inflatable member.

Claim 14

An endovascular grafting system substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Claim 15

An endovascular grafting system substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Claim 16

A catheter assembly substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Claim 17

A catheter assembly substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.