C. R. Bard, Inc.

Angiomed Gmbh & Co. Medizintechnik Kg

Jürgen Dorn

Michael Vogel

Daniel Dietrich

Martin Wuebbeling

Thilo Wack

Beate Walter

Markus Forster

Martin Wübbeling

Erhard Elsässer

Jörg Feeser

Debra A Bebb

Sandra M Cundy

Martina Hoffman

Thomas Töllner

Alexander Maurer

Carsten Giebmeyer

Martina Hoffmann

Markus Förster

A stent device delivery system and method of making. The stent device delivery system includes a stent device and an outer sheath overlaying the stent device in a radially compact, delivery configuration of the stent device. The system also includes a pull member for pulling proximally on to retract the outer sheath, wherein a portion of the outer sheath is heat shrunk radially onto a relatively heat shrink resistant support member in order to capture a distal portion of the pull member radially between the outer sheath and the heat shrink resistant support member.

Stent device delivery system with a heat shrink resistant support member

A catheter device having a shaft that extends from a proximal end to a distal end to carry on its distal end a self-expanding implant for intraluminal advance on a guidewire and delivery of the implant to an implant site by proximal withdrawal of a sheath that lies radially outside the implant in the catheter, the catheter including a first shaft element to pull the sheath proximally and a second shaft element to push the implant distally to prevent the implant moving proximally with the sheath when the sheath is pulled proximally, wherein the second shaft element comprises a pusher-guider tube having a wall thickness with a plurality of discrete slits, the slits extending through the wall thickness of the pusher-guider tube.

Catheter device

A stent device delivery system and method of making. The stent device delivery system includes a stent device, an outer sheath overlaying the stent device in a radially compact, delivery configuration of the stent device, and a pull member. The outer sheath may include a first layer and a reinforcement layer that are laminated together, a portion of the pull member captured radially between the first layer and the reinforcement layer. At least a partial length of the captured portion of the pull member may be formed with a varying radial profile.

Stent device delivery system with a varying radial profile pull member

There is disclosed herein a method of loading a self-expanding stent () into a delivery sheath () that is by itself strong enough to preserve the stent in a radially compressed pre-deployment configuration, comprising the steps of: (i) compressing the stent () to a relatively small diameter; (ii) providing a loading sheath () with an inner diameter d1; (iii) with the stent () exhibiting an outside diameter of d2, where d2&#x3c;d1, providing relative translational movement between the stent () and the loading sheath (), whereby the stent is accommodated within the lumen of the loading sheath (); (iv) advancing the loading sheath (), containing the stent (), into the lumen () of the delivery sheath (); and {v} deploying the stent into the lumen () of the delivery sheath (), by withdrawing the loading sheath () while restraining the stent () from axial movement out of the lumen () of the delivery sheath ().

Method of loading a stent into a sheath

A stent device includes a first graft member, a second graft member and a stent frame defining a central axis. The frame has an abluminal surface engaged with the first graft member and a luminal surface engaged with the second graft member such that the first graft member and the second graft member encapsulates the stent frame along the length of the central axis. The stent frame includes a configuration where the stent frame is disposed on a curvature such that the abluminal surface has a radius of curvature of approximately 20 millimeters about a center of the curvature and the luminal surface defines a substantially constant effective cross-sectional area at any portion generally transverse to the central axis of the stent frame disposed about the curvature.

Flexible stretch stent-graft

A device for moving an elongate member relative to an elongate body through which it extends, the device including a housing, a mover, and a pre-mover. The housing is connectable to the elongate body. The mover is associated with the housing and is connectable to the elongate member for moving the elongate member relative to the housing. The pre-mover is associated with the housing and is connectable to the elongate member for adjusting the elongate member in preparation for moving the elongate member with the mover.

Device for catheter sheath retraction

This invention relates to an elongate medical device, with a distal end to be advanced into the body of a patient and then withdrawn from the body, and an elongate shaft connecting the distal end with a proximal end that remains outside the body, the shaft extending in use through a hole in the skin of the body characterized by a slider, captivated on a portion of the length of the shaft, which is capable of lining the said hole, as the shaft is advanced and withdrawn relative to said hole and the slider in the hole, said slider having a maximum outer diameter that is substantially the same as or less than a maximum outer diameter of the distal end.

Elongate medical device

A method of moving a stent device into an outer sheath of a stent: device delivery system is disclosed. The stent device () is Crimped into a collapsed configuration onto the loading mandrel (). The loading mandrel is pushed towards the outer sheath as the engaging surfaces () resist relative longitudinal movement between the stent device and the loading mandrel to move the stent device into the outer sheath (). Upon entering the outer sheath, the stent device expands radially until radially constrained by the outer sheath.

Method of transferring a stent device from a crimping head to an outer sheath of a stent device delivery system

A hand-held actuator device for releasing into the body from a delivery system a medical prosthesis, like a stent, comprising a frame () that acts as a housing, a reel () for receiving a wire (), a manually operable slider () mounted to the frame and a one-way connection between the slider and the reel. Actuating the slider causes the reel to wind up the wire and release the medical prosthesis.

Hand-held actuator device

A delivery device () for delivering a stent device () in a reduced profiled delivery configuration is provided. A distal region () of the stent device is axially anchored to an inner catheter () by annular rings () about the inner catheter. A remaining portion () of the stent device is spaced radially from the inner catheter. A proximal stop () is spaced axially from a proximal end of the stent device. The stent device is maintained in the reduced profile delivery configuration by a retractable outer sheath ().

Delivery device for delivering a stent device

A delivery device is provided for delivering a stent device. The stent device () is radially expandable from a radially reduced, delivery configuration to a radially expanded, deployment configuration. A restraining sheath () is mounted coaxially over the stent device for maintaining the stent device in the delivery configuration. The restraining sheath has a line of weakness () extending axially therealong. A pull member is provided, which is to be pulled so as to split the restraining sheath at the line of weakness and withdraw the restraining sheath from over the stent device. The pull member and the line of weakness are located on opposing sides of the restraining sheath. The pull member () is wrapped around a distal end of the restraining sheath. The wrap around portion may be formed by a hook of a metal pull member. The wrap around portion may be formed by an open loop of polymer thread. Both ends of the open loop may extend proximally from the restraining sheath and the stent device with one of the ends being fixed to the delivery device and the other being moveable to provide a pull end.

Stent delivery device

A catheter device having a shaft that extends from a proximal end to a distal end to carry on its distal end a self-expanding implant for intraluminal advance on a guidewire and delivery of the implant to an implant site by proximal withdrawal of a longitudinal sheath that lies radially outside the implant in the catheter, the catheter including a first shaft element to pull the sheath proximally and a second shaft element to push the implant distally to prevent the implant moving proximally with the sheath when the sheath is pulled proximally, wherein the sheath is freely rotatable with respect to the first shaft element during the said intraluminal advance and, during proximal movement, is caused to abut the first shaft element at an abutment position by a reduced inner diameter portion of the sheath proximal of the abutment position.

Disclosed is a system for delivering self-expanding stents to stenting sites within the body, which minimizes trauma to the affected tissue of the patient yet, at the same time, offers the medical practitioner a robust and simple system for stent placement. These technical effects are achieved by providing a catheter which receives the stent at its proximal end and guides it to the stenting site. The catheter serves as a guide catheter and has a tapered distal tip from which the stent emerges at the site of stenting. A stent pusher can be used which abuts the proximal end of the stent inside the guide catheter. The tapered tip can be molded and can be integral with the catheter shaft or bonded to it. The guide catheter can include a figurated portion towards its distal tip. The system has particular application to stenting the carotid artery.

Implant delivery device

A pusher assembly for a delivery system for a self-expanding stent () which is delivered by proximal withdrawal of a sheath () radially surrounding the stent has a stent pusher element () which defines a lumen for a guidewire (), a pusher strand () that extends to the proximal end of the delivery system and bears an end-wise compressive stress during release of the stent. A transfer shaft () links the distal end of the pusher strand () to the pusher element () and lies side-by-side with the guidewire (). In a rapid exchange version, an adapter () provides two lumens side-by-side, one () carrying the pusher strand () and the other () defining a proximal guidewire part. To the adapter is mounted the proximal end of the stent sheath (). The system allows modular () construction, a tapered tip (A) on the sheath, and an uncluttered internal configuration which facilitates passage of pulses (F) of liquids from the proximal to the distal end of the system.

Delivery system having a rapid pusher assembly for self-expanding stent, and stent exchange configuration

A stent delivery system that includes an inner member and an outer retractable sheath is operated by a handle that permits retraction of the sheath at more than one speed. The sheath may be retracted in small, incremental steps or in a single, more rapid stroke. The stent delivery system may include releasably locking of the inner member and outer sheath in a fixed position and also may facilitate admission of liquid into the device.

Growing community of inventors

Neulussheim, Germany

Jürgen Dorn