Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 13
Claim 1
Independent Claim
129 words
A method of mounting a radially expandable intraluminal stent onto a delivery catheter, said method comprising the steps of: (a) providing a stent mounting apparatus which comprises: (1) a hollow housing defining an interior chamber which is filled with a fluid; and (2) a collapsible, resilient tubular sleeve disposed within the interior chamber of the housing, said sleeve having an open end which communicates with the exterior of the housing; (b) positioning the radially expandable stent upon a portion of the delivery catheter; (c) inserting the portion of the delivery catheter having the stent positioned thereupon into the sleeve; and (d) pressurizing the fluid within the interior chamber of the housing to facilitate the uniform radial compression of the sleeve and the stent positioned therein about the delivery catheter.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
129 words
A method of mounting a radially expandable intraluminal stent onto a delivery catheter, said method comprising the steps of: (a) providing a stent mounting apparatus which comprises: (1) a hollow housing defining an interior chamber which is filled with a fluid; and (2) a collapsible, resilient tubular sleeve disposed within the interior chamber of the housing, said sleeve having an open end which communicates with the exterior of the housing; (b) positioning the radially expandable stent upon a portion of the delivery catheter; (c) inserting the portion of the delivery catheter having the stent positioned thereupon into the sleeve; and (d) pressurizing the fluid within the interior chamber of the housing to facilitate the uniform radial compression of the sleeve and the stent positioned therein about the delivery catheter.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
36 words
The method of claim 1 further comprising the steps of: (e) depressurizing the interior chamber of the housing; and (f) removing the portion of the delivery catheter having the stent mounted thereto from within the sleeve.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method of claim 1 wherein step (b) comprises positioning a pressure expandable stent onto the delivery catheter.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method of claim 1 wherein step (d) comprises pressurizing the interior chamber of the housing with a liquid.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method of claim 1 wherein step (d) comprises pressurizing the interior chamber of the housing with a gas.
Claim 7
Independent Claim
188 words
A system for installing a radially expandable intraluminal prosthesis within a body lumen wherein the system comprises an elongate, pliable delivery catheter having a radial expansion member formed thereon, and a radially expandable prosthesis mounted upon said radial expansion member in a radially compact configuration such that subsequent expansion of the expansion member will cause the prosthesis to become radially expanded, wherein said prosthesis has been mounted upon said delivery catheter by the method which comprises the steps of: (a) providing a stent mounting apparatus which comprises: (1) a hollow housing defining an interior chamber which is filled with a fluid; (2) a collapsible, resilient tubular sleeve disposed within the interior chamber of the housing, said sleeve having an open end which communicates with the exterior of the housing; (b) positioning the radially expandable stent upon a portion of the delivery catheter; (c) inserting the portion of the delivery catheter having the stent positioned thereupon into the sleeve; and (d) pressurizing the fluid within the interior chamber of the housing to facilitate the uniform radial compression of the sleeve and the stent positioned therein about the delivery catheter.
Claim 8
Independent Claim
188 words
A system for installing a radially expandable intraluminal prosthesis within a body lumen wherein the system comprises an elongate, pliable delivery catheter having a radial expansion member formed thereon, and a radially expandable prosthesis mounted upon said radial expansion member in a radially compact configuration such that subsequent expansion of the expansion member will cause the prosthesis to become radially expanded, wherein said prosthesis has been mounted upon said delivery catheter by the method which comprises the steps of: (a) providing a stent mounting apparatus which comprises: (1) a hollow housing defining an interior chamber which is filled with a fluid; (2) a collapsible, resilient tubular sleeve disposed within the interior chamber of the housing, said sleeve having an open end which communicates with the exterior of the housing; (b) positioning the radially expandable stent upon a portion of the delivery catheter; (c) inserting the portion of the delivery catheter having the stent positioned thereupon into the sleeve; and (d) pressurizing the fluid within the interior chamber of the housing to facilitate the uniform radial compression of the sleeve and the stent positioned therein about the delivery catheter.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
13 words
The method of claim 6 wherein the radially expandable prosthesis is a stent.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method of claim 7 wherein the radially expandable prosthesis is a stent formed of plastically deformable material.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
34 words
The method of claim 7 wherein the radially expandable prosthesis is a stent having a ratchet mechanism which enables the stent to be radially expanded by exertion of outward radial pressure against the stent.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method of claim 6 wherein the radially expandable prosthesis is a stented graft.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method of claim 10 wherein the stented graft is a tubular graft having at least one radially expandable stent member attached thereto.