The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
May. 15, 2012
Filed:
Sep. 07, 2010
Joseph R. Armstrong, Flagstaff, AZ (US);
Edward H. Cully, Flagstaff, AZ (US);
Craig T. Nordhausen, Flagstaff, AZ (US);
Mark J. Ulm, Flagstaff, AZ (US);
Michael J. Vonesh, Flagstaff, AZ (US);
Joseph R. Armstrong, Flagstaff, AZ (US);
Edward H. Cully, Flagstaff, AZ (US);
Craig T. Nordhausen, Flagstaff, AZ (US);
Mark J. Ulm, Flagstaff, AZ (US);
Michael J. Vonesh, Flagstaff, AZ (US);
W. L. Gore & Associates, Inc., Newark, DE (US);
Abstract
An endoprosthesis expansion system having, in combination, a delivery component such as a length of catheter tubing having at its distal end an intermediate sheath component, and an inner tube within the full length of the delivery catheter and intermediate sheath component. The inner tube has a protrusion affixed to its distal end, and an expandable endoprosthesis is fitted in a compacted state about the intermediate sheath, immediately proximal to the protrusion. If the endoprosthesis is a self-expanding endoprosthesis (as is preferred), an exterior constraining sheath is required around the outer surface of the endoprosthesis. Following insertion of the endoprosthesis and delivery system into a body conduit (such as a blood vessel) and transport of the endoprosthesis to the desired site within the body conduit, the endoprosthesis is deployed by axially moving the protrusion against the system, thereby applying a radially directed outward force and causing simultaneous dilatation of the intermediate sheath and disruption of the exterior constraining sheath. Disruption of the exterior constraining sheath, in the case of a self-expanding prosthesis, releases the stored energy in the formerly constrained prosthesis, allowing it to expand and accomplish full deployment against the luminal surface of the body conduit at the desired site.