Apparatus and method for dilating a lumen and for inserting an intraluminal graft

Claim 1

A graft delivery device for delivering a graft within a vessel lumen, the graft including a plurality of anchor struts, each one of the plurality of anchor struts having a portion defining a window, the graft delivery device comprising: a catheter coil having a lumen, a proximal end and a distal end; a cup member affixed to the distal end of the catheter coil, the cup member having a portion defining an aperture that is aligned with the lumen; a deployment shaft having a proximal end, a distal end, and a longitudinal axis, the deployment shaft disposed within the lumen so that the distal end of the deployment shaft extends through the aperture and is spaced apart axially from the cup member, the proximal end extending beyond the proximal end of the catheter coil; a nose member affixed to the distal end of the deployment shaft; a plurality of expanding arms, each one of the plurality of expanding arms including a proximal end affixed to the cup member, a distal end affixed to the nose member, and a mid-section disposed between the proximal and distal ends and aligned parallel to the longitudinal axis, the plurality of expanding arms movable between a first position wherein the mid-sections are adjacent to the deployment shaft and a second position wherein the mid-sections are spaced radially apart from the deployment shaft; a plurality of expandable frame guides, each one of the plurality of expandable frame guides having a first length at least as long as a distance between the nose member and the cup member when the plurality of expanding arms are in the first position, each one of the plurality of expandable frame guides affixed to a mid-section of a respective one of the plurality of expanding arms, the plurality of expandable frame guides being maintained parallel to the longitudinal axis of the deployment shaft as the plurality of expanding arms is moved between the first and second positions; and a hook disposed on each one of the plurality of expandable frame guides for engaging the window of a corresponding anchor strut, wherein, when the proximal end of the deployment shaft is retracted in a proximal direction relative to the catheter coil, the plurality of expanding arms bow radially outward to the second position and exert an outward force, the plurality of expandable frame guides distributing the outward force over a length of the vessel lumen equal to the first length.

Claim 18

A method for dilating a vessel lumen with an intraluminal dilation device, comprising steps of: providing an intraluminal dilation device comprising a catheter coil having a lumen, a deployment shaft disposed within the lumen and arranged for reciprocation therethrough, a plurality of expanding arms, each one of the plurality of expanding arms having a first length, a proximal end coupled to the catheter coil, a distal end coupled to the deployment shaft, and a mid-section aligned parallel to a longitudinal axis of the deployment shaft, the plurality of expanding arms movable between a first position wherein the plurality of expanding arms are adjacent to the deployment shaft and a second position wherein the expanding arms bow radially outward and exert an outward force, and a plurality of expandable frame guides, each one of the plurality of expandable frame guides affixed to a corresponding one of the plurality of expanding arms and having a second length at least as long as the first length; creating an intraluminal access site; advancing a guide wire through the intraluminal access site to a predetermined location in the vessel lumen; introducing the intraluminal dilation device through the access site; and retracting the deployment shaft in a proximal direction relative to the catheter coil to move the plurality of expanding arms to the second position, so that the plurality of expandable frame guides distributes the outward force over a length of the vessel lumen equal to the second length.

Claim 19

A method for dilating a vessel lumen with an intraluminal dilation device, comprising steps of: providing an intraluminal dilation device comprising a catheter coil having a lumen, a deployment shaft disposed within the lumen and arranged for reciprocation therethrough, a plurality of expanding arms, each one of the plurality of expanding arms having a first length, a proximal end coupled to the catheter coil, a distal end coupled to the deployment shaft, and a mid-section aligned parallel to a longitudinal axis of the deployment shaft, the plurality of expanding arms movable between a first position wherein the plurality of expanding arms are adjacent to the deployment shaft and a second position wherein the expanding arms bow radially outward and exert an outward force, and a plurality of expandable frame guides, each one of the plurality of expandable frame guides affixed to a corresponding one of the plurality of expanding arms and having a second length at least as long as the first length; creating an intraluminal access site; advancing a guide wire through the intraluminal access site to a predetermined location in the vessel lumen; introducing the intraluminal dilation device through the access site; and retracting the deployment shaft in a proximal direction relative to the catheter coil to move the plurality of expanding arms to the second position, so that the plurality of expandable frame guides distributes the outward force over a length of the vessel lumen equal to the second length.