Suture esophageal stent introducer

A method of implanting a stent in a patient's lumen, the method comprising:

• inserting a distal portion of a stent delivery system into a lumen of a patient, the stent delivery system comprising:
• an elongate shaft including a proximal portion, a distal portion, at least one lumen extending at least partially therethrough, and a stent receiving portion on the distal portion of the elongate shaft;
• a stent positioned on the stent receiving portion of the elongate shaft, the stent having a first configuration and a second configuration;
• a proximal constraining arrangement engaged with a proximal end of the stent, the proximal constraining arrangement comprising a first proximal constraining member having a proximal portion, a second proximal portion, and a distal portion and a second proximal constraining member having a proximal portion and a distal portion, the distal portion of the first proximal constraining member engaged with a first proximal portion of the stent and the distal portion of the second proximal constraining member engaged with a second proximal portion of the stent;
• a distal constraining arrangement engaged with a distal end of the stent, the distal constraining arrangement comprising a first distal constraining member having a proximal portion, a second proximal portion, and a distal portion and a second distal constraining member having a proximal portion and a distal portion, the distal portion of the first distal constraining member engaged with a first distal portion of the stent and the distal portion of the second distal constraining member engaged with a second distal portion of the stent;
• a release wire disposed through the elongate shaft and releasably engaged with portion of the proximal constraining arrangement and the distal constraining arrangement;
• and
• a handle assembly operably connected to the proximal constraining arrangement and the distal constraining arrangement, the handle assembly comprising a shuttle and a brake assembly disposed within and engaged with the shuttle, wherein the proximal constraining arrangement and the distal constraining arrangement are operably coupled to the brake assembly and the shuttle of the handle assembly;
• holding the stent in the first configuration with longitudinal tensile force applied to the stent by the proximal constraining arrangement and the distal constraining arrangement and tensioning the stent for delivery of the stent to an implant site;
• positioning the stent at the implant site;
• and
• expanding the stent by moving the shuttle proximally to manipulate the proximal constraining arrangement and the distal constraining arrangement in a proximal direction and releasing longitudinal force on the stent.

A stent delivery system, comprising,

• an inner elongate shaft including a proximal portion, a distal portion, at least one lumen extending at least partially therethrough, and a stent receiving portion on the distal portion of the inner elongate shaft;
• an outer elongate shaft including a proximal portion, a distal portion, at least one lumen extending at least partially therethrough, the inner elongate shaft extending coaxially at least partially within the lumen of the outer elongate shaft, the outer elongate shaft moveably positionable relative to the inner elongate shaft;
• a stent positioned on the stent receiving portion of the elongate shaft, the stent having a first configuration and a second configuration;
• a proximal constraining arrangement disposed at least partially through the at least one lumen of the outer elongate shaft engaged with a proximal end of the stent, the proximal constraining arrangement comprising a first proximal constraining member having a proximal portion, a second proximal portion, and a distal portion and a second proximal constraining member having a proximal portion and a distal portion, the distal portion of the first proximal constraining member engaged with a first proximal portion of the stent and the distal portion of the second proximal constraining member engaged with a second proximal portion of the stent;
• a distal constraining arrangement disposed at least partially through the at least one lumen of the inner elongate shaft engaged with a distal end of the stent, the distal constraining arrangement comprising a first distal constraining member having a proximal portion, a second proximal portion, and a distal portion and a second distal constraining member having a proximal portion and a distal portion, the distal portion of the first distal constraining member engaged with a first distal portion of the stent and the distal portion of the second distal constraining member engaged with a second distal portion of the stent;
• a release wire disposed through the elongate shaft and releasably engaged with portion of the proximal constraining arrangement and the distal constraining arrangement member;
• and
• a handle assembly operably connected to the proximal constraining arrangement and the distal constraining arrangement, the handle assembly comprising a shuttle and a brake assembly disposed within and engaged with the shuttle,
• wherein the proximal arrangement and the distal arrangement are operably coupled to the brake assembly and the shuttle of the handle assembly, wherein the proximal constraining arrangement and the distal constraining member applies an axial mechanical force to at least a portion of the stent in the first configuration, and wherein movement of the shuttle in a proximal direction disengages the brake assembly and releases the axial force applied by the proximal constraining arrangement and the distal constraining arrangement.