US6217585B1 — Mechanical stent and graft delivery system

Claim 1

Independent Claim 228 words

An apparatus for deploying radially expandable prostheses within body lumens, comprising: an elongate and flexible catheter having a proximal end and a distal end, said catheter capable of insertion in a body so to position said distal end within a body lumen with said proximal end remaining outside of the body, said catheter disposed at least partially inside a radially expandable prosthesis; an elongate and pliable stylet disposed at least partially in a lumen of said catheter; an expansion framework comprising a plurality of elongate compliant strands fixed to said catheter at a first coupling location and fixed to said stylet at a second coupling location, said elongate compliant strands cooperating to define a profile of said framework; and wherein said stylet is movable axially relative to the catheter, and operable from said proximal end of said catheter to alternatively: (i) increase an axial distance between the first and second coupling locations to radially reduce said framework toward a reduced-radius state for intravascularly delivering said prosthesis in an unexpanded state in surrounding relation to said framework, and (ii) reduce the axial distance to radially expand said framework and thereby exert a radial expansion force to radially expand the prosthesis surrounding said framework; and wherein said elongate compliant strands, in a radially expanded state, define a profile of said framework which contacts the prosthesis to radially expand the prosthesis.

Claim 2

Independent Claim 228 words

An apparatus for deploying radially expandable prostheses within body lumens, comprising: an elongate and flexible catheter having a proximal end and a distal end, said catheter capable of insertion in a body so to position said distal end within a body lumen with said proximal end remaining outside of the body, said catheter disposed at least partially inside a radially expandable prosthesis; an elongate and pliable stylet disposed at least partially in a lumen of said catheter; an expansion framework comprising a plurality of elongate compliant strands fixed to said catheter at a first coupling location and fixed to said stylet at a second coupling location, said elongate compliant strands cooperating to define a profile of said framework; and wherein said stylet is movable axially relative to the catheter, and operable from said proximal end of said catheter to alternatively: (i) increase an axial distance between the first and second coupling locations to radially reduce said framework toward a reduced-radius state for intravascularly delivering said prosthesis in an unexpanded state in surrounding relation to said framework, and (ii) reduce the axial distance to radially expand said framework and thereby exert a radial expansion force to radially expand the prosthesis surrounding said framework; and wherein said elongate compliant strands, in a radially expanded state, define a profile of said framework which contacts the prosthesis to radially expand the prosthesis.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 29 words

The apparatus of claim 1 wherein: the strands are substantially equal in length between the first and second locations, and substantially uniformly arranged about an axis of the catheter.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 37 words

The apparatus of claim 2 wherein: the strands are substantially parallel to one another and extend axially when in the reduced-radius state, and are curved and circumferentially spaced apart from one another when in the enlarged-radius state.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 17 words

The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the first coupling location is proximal of the second coupling location.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 26 words

The apparatus of claim 1 wherein: the strands are resilient, and tapered such that the force due to bending varies over the length of each strand.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 22 words

The apparatus of claim 1 further including: a resilient elastomeric sleeve surrounding the strands and biasing the strands toward the reduced-radius state.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 22 words

The apparatus of claim 6 wherein: each of the strands, at least along a medial region, is embedded into the elastomeric sleeve.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 40 words

The apparatus of claim 7 further including: a means for generating an electrical current in the strands, to heat the framework and adjacent tissue at least to a selected temperature above normal body temperature, wherein the strands are electrically conductive.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 37 words

The apparatus of claim 8 wherein: the means for generating electrical current in the strands includes a power supply, and first and second electrical conductors coupled to the strands at the first and second coupling locations, respectively.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 60 words

The apparatus of claim 8 wherein: the means for generating electrical current in the strands includes an RF power source, first and second conductors connected to the RF power source, an indifferent electrode spaced apart from the framework, means for electrically coupling the first conductor to the strands, and means for electrically coupling the second conductor to the indifferent electrode.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 15 words

The apparatus or claim 8 further including: a temperature sensing means disposed proximate the cage/framework.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 188 words

A process for deploying a radially expandable prosthesis, comprising: positioning an elongate and flexible catheter at a target location within a lumen of a body such that a proximal end of said catheter remains outside the body, said catheter disposed at least partially inside a radially expandable prosthesis, an elongate and pliable stylet disposed at least partially in a lumen of said catheter, and an expansion framework comprising a plurality of elongate compliant strands axially fixed to said catheter at a first coupling location and fixed to said stylet at a second coupling location, said elongate compliant strands cooperating to define a profile of said framework, moving said stylet axially relative to the catheter to reduce an axial distance between the first and second locations to radially expand said framework such that the prosthesis radially expands into contact with said body lumen, reversibly moving said stylet axially relative to the catheter to increase said axial distance and radially reduce said framework such that said prosthesis remains in contact with said body lumen, and proximally withdrawing said catheter from said body lumen, leaving said prosthesis in said body lumen.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 188 words

A process for deploying a radially expandable prosthesis, comprising: positioning an elongate and flexible catheter at a target location within a lumen of a body such that a proximal end of said catheter remains outside the body, said catheter disposed at least partially inside a radially expandable prosthesis, an elongate and pliable stylet disposed at least partially in a lumen of said catheter, and an expansion framework comprising a plurality of elongate compliant strands axially fixed to said catheter at a first coupling location and fixed to said stylet at a second coupling location, said elongate compliant strands cooperating to define a profile of said framework, moving said stylet axially relative to the catheter to reduce an axial distance between the first and second locations to radially expand said framework such that the prosthesis radially expands into contact with said body lumen, reversibly moving said stylet axially relative to the catheter to increase said axial distance and radially reduce said framework such that said prosthesis remains in contact with said body lumen, and proximally withdrawing said catheter from said body lumen, leaving said prosthesis in said body lumen.

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 45 words

The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising a pair of handle sections, at least one of said handle sections connected to said styler, wherein relative rotation of said handle sections with respect to one another moves said styler axially with respect to said catheter.

Claim 16

Dependent Claim 13 words

The apparatus of claim 13 , wherein said handle sections are pivotally interconnected.

Claim 17

Dependent Claim 44 words

The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising a rotatable handle connected to said styler and threadably engaged at said proximal end of said catheter, wherein rotation of said handle with respect to said catheter moves said styler axially with respect to said catheter.

Claim 18

Dependent Claim 17 words

The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein each of said strands comprises a single strand or filament.

Claim 19

Dependent Claim 24 words

The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein each of said strands comprises a cable made up of a set of small wires or filaments.

Claim 20

Dependent Claim 15 words

The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein each of said strands comprises a tubular strand.

Claim 21

Dependent Claim 21 words

The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein said strands are resilient and preformed with a bias toward the radially expanded state.

Claim 22

Dependent Claim 15 words

The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein said strands are biased toward the reduced-radius state.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	2004-04-16	2004-10-16	2005-04-17	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	2008-04-16	2008-10-16	2009-04-17	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	2012-04-16	2012-10-16	2013-04-17	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Mechanical stent and graft delivery system

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