US5372600A — Stent delivery systems

Claim 1

Independent Claim 128 words

Apparatus for implanting a flexible, generally cylindrical, expandable stent, comprising: a catheter having distal and proximal ends, said catheter defining a central lumen and a second lumen extending therethrough and having two longitudinally displaced openings extending from the second lumen radially to the surface of the catheter, a flexible, expandable stent having discrete proximal and distal ends, said stent being positioned circumferentially around said catheter and said discrete ends extending into said openings to hold said stent in position, and at least one release wire positioned in and extending through the second lumen, said release wire or wires fixedly containing at least one conically shaped pushing member capable of causing a discrete end of said stent to move radially as the release wire or wires are moved proximally.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 128 words

Apparatus for implanting a flexible, generally cylindrical, expandable stent, comprising: a catheter having distal and proximal ends, said catheter defining a central lumen and a second lumen extending therethrough and having two longitudinally displaced openings extending from the second lumen radially to the surface of the catheter, a flexible, expandable stent having discrete proximal and distal ends, said stent being positioned circumferentially around said catheter and said discrete ends extending into said openings to hold said stent in position, and at least one release wire positioned in and extending through the second lumen, said release wire or wires fixedly containing at least one conically shaped pushing member capable of causing a discrete end of said stent to move radially as the release wire or wires are moved proximally.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 14 words

The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the discrete ends of the stent have balls.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 12 words

The apparatus of claim 1, wherein there is only one release wire.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 13 words

The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the release wire contains two pushing members.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 22 words

The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the pushing members are spaced apart at a distance equal to the distance between said openings.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 20 words

The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the distance between the pushing members is different from the distance between said openings.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 14 words

The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the stent is comprised of a superelastic alloy.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 14 words

The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the superelastic alloy is a nickel-titanium alloy (Nitinol).

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 26 words

The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the alloy is superelastic, having high elasticity such that the stent assumes its original, unwound shape after stent diameter reduction.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 187 words

Apparatus for implanting a flexible, generally cylindrical, expandable stent, comprising: a catheter having distal and proximal ends, said catheter defining a central lumen and from one to three secondary lumens extending therethrough and having two or three longitudinally displaced openings extending from the secondary lumen or lumens radially to the surface of the catheter, a flexible, expandable stent having discrete proximal and distal ends, said stent being positioned circumferentially around said catheter, one or more release wires positioned in and extending through the second lumen or lumens, and two or three restraining means positioned proximal and distal to the stent, respectively, each of said restraining means comprising a loop member having two ends, one of which ends is positioned on the outer surface of the catheter and the other of which ends has an opening therein, such that said loop member is positioned across the external surface of said stent end and extends into a respective radial opening to intersect a release wire, such that when said release wire or wires are pulled proximally the loop members disengage the ends of the stent and the stent uncoils.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 187 words

Apparatus for implanting a flexible, generally cylindrical, expandable stent, comprising: a catheter having distal and proximal ends, said catheter defining a central lumen and from one to three secondary lumens extending therethrough and having two or three longitudinally displaced openings extending from the secondary lumen or lumens radially to the surface of the catheter, a flexible, expandable stent having discrete proximal and distal ends, said stent being positioned circumferentially around said catheter, one or more release wires positioned in and extending through the second lumen or lumens, and two or three restraining means positioned proximal and distal to the stent, respectively, each of said restraining means comprising a loop member having two ends, one of which ends is positioned on the outer surface of the catheter and the other of which ends has an opening therein, such that said loop member is positioned across the external surface of said stent end and extends into a respective radial opening to intersect a release wire, such that when said release wire or wires are pulled proximally the loop members disengage the ends of the stent and the stent uncoils.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 13 words

The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the loop members are flexible or rigid.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 22 words

The apparatus of claim 10, wherein a loop member is positioned around a release wire on each side of said stent end.

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 22 words

The apparatus of claim 10, wherein a loop member is positioned around a release wire on one side of said stent end.

Claim 16

Dependent Claim 13 words

The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the stent is comprised of superelastic alloy.

Claim 17

Dependent Claim 12 words

The apparatus of claim 10, wherein there is only one release wire.

Claim 18

Dependent Claim 26 words

The apparatus of claim 10, wherein there are two release wires, the wires engaging loop members at the proximal and distal ends of the stent, respectively.

Claim 19

Dependent Claim 15 words

The apparatus of claim 16, wherein each release wire extends through a separate secondary lumen.

Claim 20

Dependent Claim 25 words

The apparatus of claim 10, wherein there are only two restraining means, which are positioned at the proximal and distal ends of the stent, respectively.

Claim 21

Dependent Claim 28 words

The apparatus of claim 10, wherein there are three restraining means, which are positioned at the proximal end, the middle, and the distal end of the stent, respectively.

Claim 22

Dependent Claim 20 words

The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the catheter has a section of reduced external diameter substantially coextensive with the stent.

Claim 23

Dependent Claim 177 words

Apparatus for implanting a flexible generally cylindrical, expandable stent, comprising: a catheter having distal and proximal ends, said catheter defining a central lumen and from one to three secondary lumens extending therethrough and having two or more longitudinally displaced openings extending from the secondary lumen or lumens to the surface of the catheter, a flexible expandable stent having discrete proximal and distal ends, said stent being positioned circumferentially around said catheter, at least one release wire positioned in and extending through the secondary lumen or lumens, and two or three restraining means, two of which are positioned at respective ends of the stent and each having a restraining member extending over a respective end of the stent, the release wire or wires extending through at least one of said openings to hold one or both ends of the stent and thus to hold the stent in position, such that when the release wire or wires are pulled proximally, one or both ends of the stent are released from the restraining members to permit the stent to expand.

Claim 24

Dependent Claim 177 words

Apparatus for implanting a flexible generally cylindrical, expandable stent, comprising: a catheter having distal and proximal ends, said catheter defining a central lumen and from one to three secondary lumens extending therethrough and having two or more longitudinally displaced openings extending from the secondary lumen or lumens to the surface of the catheter, a flexible expandable stent having discrete proximal and distal ends, said stent being positioned circumferentially around said catheter, at least one release wire positioned in and extending through the secondary lumen or lumens, and two or three restraining means, two of which are positioned at respective ends of the stent and each having a restraining member extending over a respective end of the stent, the release wire or wires extending through at least one of said openings to hold one or both ends of the stent and thus to hold the stent in position, such that when the release wire or wires are pulled proximally, one or both ends of the stent are released from the restraining members to permit the stent to expand.

Claim 25

Dependent Claim 13 words

The apparatus of claim 21, wherein each restraining member is flexible or rigid.

Claim 26

Dependent Claim 22 words

The apparatus of claim 21, wherein a restraining member is positioned around a release wire on each side of said stent end.

Claim 27

Dependent Claim 22 words

The apparatus of claim 21, wherein a restraining member is positioned around a release wire on one side of said stent end.

Claim 28

Dependent Claim 13 words

The apparatus of claim 21, wherein the stent is comprised of superelastic alloy.

Claim 29

Dependent Claim 12 words

The apparatus of claim 21, wherein there is only one release wire.

Claim 30

Dependent Claim 26 words

The apparatus of claim 21, wherein there are two release wires, the wires engaging loop members at the proximal and distal ends of the stent, respectively.

Claim 31

Dependent Claim 15 words

The apparatus of claim 27, wherein each release wire extends through a separate secondary lumen.

Claim 32

Dependent Claim 25 words

The apparatus of claim 21, wherein there are only two restraining means, which are positioned at the proximal and distal ends of the stent, respectively.

Claim 33

Dependent Claim 28 words

The apparatus of claim 21, wherein there are three restraining means, which are positioned at the proximal end, the middle, and the distal end of the stent, respectively.

Claim 34

Dependent Claim 20 words

The apparatus of claim 21, wherein the catheter has a section of reduced external diameter substantially coextensive with said stent.

Claim 35

Dependent Claim 186 words

Apparatus for implanting a flexible, generally cylindrical, expandable stent, comprising: a catheter having distal and proximal ends, said catheter defining a central lumen and a second lumen extending therethrough and having two longitudinally displaced openings extending from the second lumen radially to the surface of the catheter, a flexible, expandable stent having discrete proximal and distal ends, said stent being positioned circumferentially around said catheter and said discrete ends extending into said openings to hold said stent in position, and a release wire positioned in and extending through the second lumen, said release wire fixedly containing a pushing member capable of causing a discrete end of said stent to move radially as the release wire is moved proximally, wherein the second lumen is substantially arcuate shaped, the pushing member has a cross-section of similar shape, the proximal portion of the pushing member has two oppositely positioned sloping faces, and the openings in the catheter are offset such that one sloping face intersects the plane of one opening and the other sloping face intersects the plane of the other opening, as the release wire is pulled distally.

Claim 36

Dependent Claim 186 words

Apparatus for implanting a flexible, generally cylindrical, expandable stent, comprising: a catheter having distal and proximal ends, said catheter defining a central lumen and a second lumen extending therethrough and having two longitudinally displaced openings extending from the second lumen radially to the surface of the catheter, a flexible, expandable stent having discrete proximal and distal ends, said stent being positioned circumferentially around said catheter and said discrete ends extending into said openings to hold said stent in position, and a release wire positioned in and extending through the second lumen, said release wire fixedly containing a pushing member capable of causing a discrete end of said stent to move radially as the release wire is moved proximally, wherein the second lumen is substantially arcuate shaped, the pushing member has a cross-section of similar shape, the proximal portion of the pushing member has two oppositely positioned sloping faces, and the openings in the catheter are offset such that one sloping face intersects the plane of one opening and the other sloping face intersects the plane of the other opening, as the release wire is pulled distally.

Claim 37

Dependent Claim 14 words

The apparatus of claim 32, wherein the discrete ends of the stent have balls.

Claim 38

Dependent Claim 14 words

The apparatus of claim 32, wherein the stent is comprised of a superelastic alloy.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	1997-12-12	1998-06-13	1998-12-13	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	2001-12-12	2002-06-13	2002-12-13	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	2005-12-12	2006-06-13	2006-12-13	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Stent delivery systems

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