# US 11,439,524 B2 · Apparatus and methods for deployment of multiple custom-length prostheses (III)

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- Number: US 11,439,524 B2
- Document ID: US11439524B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 16/250,863
- Filed: 2019-01-17
- Published: 2019-05-23
- Granted: 2022-09-13
- Earliest claimed: 2005-06-08
- Assignees: J.W. Medical Systems Ltd.
- Applicants: J.W. Medical Systems Ltd.
- Inventors: Dan J. Hammersmark; Stephen Kao; Craig Welk; Pablo Acosta; Joseph Karatt
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11439524B2

## CPC

- A61F 2/91: made from perforated sheets or tubes, e.g. perforated by laser cuts or etched holes
- A61F 2/915: with bands having a meander structure, adjacent bands being connected to each other
- A61F 2/958: Inflatable balloons for placing stents or stent-grafts
- A61F 2/966: with relative longitudinal movement between outer sleeve and prosthesis, e.g. using a push rod
- A61B 2017/00309: {Cut-outs or slits}
- A61F 2002/826: {more than one stent being applied sequentially}
- A61F 2002/91508: {the meander having a difference in amplitude along the band}
- A61F 2002/91516: {the meander having a change in frequency along the band}
- A61F 2002/91525: {within the whole structure different bands showing different meander characteristics, e.g. frequency or amplitude}
- A61F 2002/91533: {characterised by the phase between adjacent bands}
- A61F 2002/9155: {Adjacent bands being connected to each other}
- A61F 2002/91558: {connected peak to peak}
- A61F 2002/9583: {Means for holding the stent on the balloon, e.g. using protrusions, adhesives or an outer sleeve}
- A61F 2002/9665: {with additional retaining means}
- A61F 2220/0033: made by longitudinally pushing a protrusion into a complementary-shaped recess, e.g. held by friction fit
- A61F 2220/005: using adhesives
- A61F 2250/0007: for adjusting length
- A61F 2250/0032: differing in radiographic density
- A61F 2250/007: O-rings
- A61F 2250/0098: radio-opaque, e.g. radio-opaque markers
- A61F: FILTERS IMPLANTABLE INTO BLOOD VESSELS; PROSTHESES; DEVICES PROVIDING PATENCY TO, OR PREVENTING COLLAPSING OF, TUBULAR STRUCTURES OF THE BODY, e.g. STENTS; ORTHOPAEDIC, NURSING OR CONTRACEPTIVE DEVICES; FOMENTATION; TREATMENT OR PROTECTION OF EYES OR EARS; BANDAGES, DRESSINGS OR ABSORBENT PADS; FIRST-AID KITS (dental prosthetics A61C)
- A61B: DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION (usefulness limited to only animals A61D)

## Abstract

Apparatus for delivering stents to body lumens include one or more tubular prostheses carried at the distal end of a catheter shaft, a sheath slidably disposed over the prostheses, and a guidewire tube extending from within the sheath to the exterior of the sheath through an exit port in a sidewall thereof. A guidewire extends slidably through the guidewire tube. The sheath can be moved relative to the catheter shaft and the guidewire tube to expose the prostheses for deployment. Methods of delivering stents are also provided.

## Claims

### Claim 1

An apparatus, comprising:
a flexible catheter having a translatable outer sheath over an inner member;
an expandable member attached to the inner member;
a constraining member defining:
a first set of cut-outs having an oval or rectangular shape being aligned circumferentially around a periphery of the constraining member;
a second set of cut-outs having a liner or slot-like shape formed in a staggered formation and located proximal to the first set of cut-outs;
a third set of cut-outs having an oval or rectangular shape aligned circumferentially staggered around the periphery of the constraining member relative to the first set of cut-outs and located proximal to the second set of cut-outs;
a fourth set of cut-outs having an oval or rectangular shape relatively narrower and shorter than the first set of cut-outs and located proximal to the third set of cut-outs;
a fifth set of cut-outs having a hexagonal shape and located proximal to the fourth set of cut-outs; and
a plurality of tubular members carried over the expandable member, wherein retracting the outer sheath relative to the inner member exposes a distal portion of the expandable member for expansion while a proximal portion of the expandable member is restrained from expanding by the constraining member.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a valve member which is connected to the constraining member.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The apparatus of claim 1 wherein a selectable number of the tubular members are expandable by the expandable member when exposed distally from the constrainable member.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the expandable member comprises a balloon.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the constraining member is comprised of a metallic, polymeric, or super-elastic alloy.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the constraining member is at least as long as one of the plurality of tubular members.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the fifth set of cut-outs define a plurality of axially aligned struts.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the constraining member defines a range of parallel struts having various lengths and widths.

### Claim 9 (depends on 1)

The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the constraining member defines a range of parallel struts having struts of the same size which are staggered to bisect adjacent struts of the same size.

### Claim 10

A method, comprising:
translating a plurality of tubular members upon an inner member;
exposing a selected number of tubular members for deployment into a vessel;
engaging at least one of the tubular members via a valve member positioned within a constraining member mounted to an outer sheath along a length of the tubular member, wherein the constraining member defines:
a first set of cut-outs having an oval or rectangular shape being aligned circumferentially around a periphery of the constraining member;
a second set of cut-outs having a liner or slot-like shape formed in a staggered formation and located proximal to the first set of cut-outs;
a third set of cut-outs having an oval or rectangular shape aligned circumferentially staggered around the periphery of the constraining member relative to the first set of cut-outs and located proximal to the second set of cut-outs;
a fourth set of cut-outs having an oval or rectangular shape relatively narrower and shorter than the first set of cut-outs and located proximal to the third set of cut-outs;
a fifth set of cut-outs having a hexagonal shape and located proximal to the fourth set of cut-outs; and
retracting the outer sheath while engaging at least one of the tubular members with the valve member such that a remainder of the tubular members are separated from the selected number for deployment.

### Claim 11 (depends on 10)

The method of claim 10 wherein the constraining member is cut or stamped from a sheet of material.

### Claim 12 (depends on 10)

The method of claim 10 wherein the fifth set of cut-outs define a plurality of axially aligned struts.

### Claim 13 (depends on 10)

The method of claim 10 wherein the constraining member defines a range of parallel struts having various lengths and widths.

### Claim 14 (depends on 10)

The method of claim 10 wherein the constraining member defines a range of parallel struts having struts of the same size which are staggered to bisect adjacent struts of the same size.

### Claim 15 (depends on 10)

The method of claim 10 wherein the valve member engages the tubular member along ¼ to ¾ of a length of the tubular member.

### Claim 16 (depends on 10)

The method of claim 10 wherein the valve member engages at least one of the tubular members with an engagement force of 0.5 to 5 lbs.

### Claim 17 (depends on 10)

The method of claim 10 wherein the valve member comprises an inwardly extending ring-shaped flange configured to frictionally engage at least one of the tubular members.

### Claim 18 (depends on 10)

The method of claim 10 wherein the valve member comprises a polymeric or metallic material.

### Claim 19 (depends on 10)

The method of claim 10 wherein the valve member comprises a cross-sectional shape selected from the group consisting of circles, triangles, and trapezoids.

### Claim 20 (depends on 10)

The method of claim 10 further comprising inflating an expandable member attached to the inner member to deploy the selected number of tubular members.