Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 17
Claim 1
Independent Claim
150 words
A delivery apparatus for a self-expanding stent, said apparatus comprising: a) an outer sheath comprising an elongated tubular member having distal and
proximal ends and an inside and outside diameter, said outer sheath having an
enlarged section at its distal end, said enlarged section having a greater inside and
outside diameter than said inside and outside diameter of said sheath proximal to
said enlarged section; b) an inner shaft located coaxially within said outer sheath, said shaft having a distal
end and a proximal end, said shaft further including a stop attached thereto, said
stop being proximal to said distal end of said sheath; and c) a self-expanding stent located within said enlarged section of said outer sheath,
said stent making frictional contact with said outer sheath, said shaft disposed
coaxially within a lumen of said stent, whereby said stent makes contact with said
stop during deployment of said stent.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
42 words
The delivery apparatus of claim 1 wherein said outer sheath comprises an outer polymeric
layer, and inner polymeric layer, and a wire reinforcing layer between said inner and outer
layers, said reinforcing layer being more rigid than said inner and outer layers.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
38 words
The delivery apparatus of claim 1, wherein said distal end of said shaft extends distal to
said distal end of said sheath, and said proximal end of said shaft extends proximal to said
proximal end of said sheath.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
15 words
The apparatus of claim 2 wherein said wire reinforcing layer comprises braids of metallic
wire.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
13 words
The apparatus of claim 2 or 4 wherein said wire comprises stainless steel.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
17 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said stop makes no substantial frictional contact with
said outer sheath.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
17 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said shaft has a proximal portion made from a metallic
material.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
23 words
The apparatus of claim 7 wherein said proximal portion is made from material selected
from a group comprising: stainless steel, nickel titanium alloys.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
15 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said stent is made from a superelastic nickel-titanium
alloy.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
35 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said shaft further includes a distal tip, said distal tip has
a proximal end having an outer diameter which is not less than an outer diameter of said
sheath.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
11 words
The apparatus of claim 10 wherein said distal tip is radiopaque.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
10 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said stop is radio-opaque.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
20 words
The apparatus of claim 1 or 12 wherein said distal end of said shaft has a radio-opaque
marker disposed thereon.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
23 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said sheath has an increasing durometer along its length
from its distal end to its proximal end.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
24 words
The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said inner shaft further includes a reinforcing
sleeve attached to said shaft immediately proximal to said stop.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
20 words
The apparatus according to claim 15 wherein said reinforcing sleeve has a smaller
diameter than a diameter of said stop.
Claim 17
Independent Claim
23 words
The apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims wherein said enlarged
section of the outer sheath has a tapered proximal end.