Stent delivery apparatus and method

Delivery system for implantation of a self-expanding stent in a vessel, comprising:

• elongate flexible catheter means having proximal and distal ends for delivering a self-expanding stent to a predetermined location in a vessel;
• a self-expanding stent having proximal and distal ends, the stent surrounding the flexible catheter near its distal end, the stent being in a delivery configuration where the stent has a reduced radius along its entire axial length;
• stent retaining and release means for retaining the stent in the delivery configuration and for deploying the stent, the stent retaining and release means selected from the group consisting of dissolving bands, slipping sleeves, hydraulic sleeves, push/pull sleeves and swelling bands;
• wherein the dissolving band stent retaining and release means is comprised of at least one water soluble band surrounding the stent and retaining the stent in the delivery configuration;
• band protection sleeve means extending over the entire axial length of the stent to prevent fluid access, and retraction means for retracting the band protection sleeve means over the entire axial length of the stent, allowing fluid to access and dissolve the band, thereby releasing the stent to self-expand;
• wherein the slipping sleeve stent retaining and release means is comprised of at least one sleeve retaining the stent in the delivery configuration, the sleeve being formed of a double walled section of sleeve folded over onto itself, with the end of the sleeve nearest the stent being fixedly connected to the catheter means and the other end of the sleeve connected to the catheter means with slip seal means and further including inflation means for inflating the sleeve with fluid, wherein increased fluid pressure in the sleeve causes the slip seal means end of the sleeve to move axially away from the stent, shortening the double walled section of the sleeve, thereby releasing the stent to self-expand;
• wherein the hydraulic sleeve stent retaining and release means is comprised of proximal and distal sleeves, each retaining their respective proximal and distal stent portions in the delivery configuration, proximal and distal sliding seal means each carried inside a lumen of the elongate flexible catheter means and each connected by a wire to its respective proximal or distal sleeve and where fluid pressure in the proximal and distal sliding seal means lumens moves the proximal and distal sliding seal means axially apart, thereby moving the proximal and distal sleeves axially apart to release the stent to self-expand;
• wherein the push/pull sleeve stent retaining and release means is comprised of proximal and distal sleeves, retaining their respective proximal and distal stent portions in the delivery configuration and each connected respectively to proximal and distal wires, each carried inside a lumen of the elongate flexible catheter means, the ends of the proximal and distal wires being movable such that the proximal and distal sleeves move axially apart to release the stent to self-expand;
• wherein the swelling bands stent retaining and release means is comprised of at least one band attached to and surrounding the catheter and which is made of a water swelling material, and where the stent is pressed into and held in its delivery configuration by the water swelling material;
• band protection sleeve means extending over the entire axial length of the stent to prevent fluid access, and retraction means for retracting the band protection sleeve means over the entire axial length of the stent, allowing fluid to access and swell the band, thereby releasing the stent to self-expand.

Delivery system for implantation of a stent in a vessel, comprising:

• elongate flexible catheter means having proximal and distal ends for delivering a stent to a predetermined location in a vessel;
• stent expansion means surrounding the flexible catheter near its distal end;
• a stent having proximal and distal ends, the stent surrounding the stent expansion means;
• stent covering means for covering the stent, the stent covering means selected from the group consisting of slipping sleeves, hydraulic sleeves, and push/pull sleeves;
• wherein the slipping sleeve stent covering means is comprised of at least one sleeve covering the stent, the sleeve being formed of a double walled section of sleeve folded over onto itself, with the end of the sleeve nearest the stent being fixedly connected to the catheter means and the other end of the sleeve connected to the catheter means with slip seal means and further including inflation means for inflating the sleeve with fluid, wherein increased fluid pressure in the sleeve causes the slip seal means end of the sleeve to move axially away from the stent, shortening the double walled section of the sleeve, thereby uncovering the stent;
• wherein the hydraulic sleeve stent covering means is comprised of proximal and distal sleeves, each covering their respective proximal and distal stent portions, proximal and distal sliding seal means each carried inside a lumen of the elongate flexible catheter means and each connected by a wire to its respective proximal or distal sleeve and where fluid pressure in the proximal and distal sliding seal means lumens moves the proximal and distal sliding seal means axially apart, thereby moving the proximal and distal sleeves axially apart to uncover the stent;
• wherein the push/pull sleeve stent covering means is comprised of proximal and distal sleeves, retaining their respective proximal and distal stent portions, and each connected respectively to proximal and distal wires, each carried inside a lumen of the elongate flexible catheter means, the ends of the proximal and distal wires being movable such that the proximal and distal sleeves move axially apart to uncover release the stent.

A delivery system for implantation of a stent in a vessel, comprising:

• elongate flexible catheter means having proximal and distal ends for delivering a stent to a predetermined location in a vessel;
• a stent having proximal and distal ends, the stent surrounding the flexible catheter near the flexible catheter's distal end, the stent being in a delivery configuration where the stent has a reduced radius along its entire axial length;
• stent retaining and release means for retaining the stent in the delivery configuration and for deploying the stent, the stent retaining and release means comprising single layer sheath retaining means surrounding the stent for retaining the stent in its delivery configuration, and slipping sleeve means for releasing the stent for expansion, the slipping sleeve means attached to the single layer sheath retaining means, the slipping sleeve means being formed of a double walled section of material folded over onto itself, and including inflation means for inflating the slipping sleeve means with fluid, wherein increased fluid pressure in the slipping sleeve means causes the slipping sleeve means to move axially away from the stent, retracting the single layer sheath retaining means, and
• balloon expansion means arranged inside the stent to expand the stent.

A delivery system for implantation of a stent in a vessel, comprising:

• an elongate flexible catheter having proximal and distal ends for delivering a self-expanding stent to a predetermined location in a vessel;
• a self-expanding stent having proximal and distal ends, the stent surrounding the flexible catheter near its distal end, the stent being in a delivery configuration where the stent has a reduced radius along its entire axial length;
• stent retaining and release means for retaining the stent in the delivery configuration and for deploying the stent, comprised of sheath means extending over the entire axial length of the stent which holds the self-expanding stent in its delivery configuration against the outwardly urging force of the self-expanding stent;
• retraction means for retracting the sheath means to release the stent to self-expand, the retraction means comprised of a wire carried in a lumen of the elongate flexible catheter which is attached to the sheath means, whereby retracting the wire retracts the sheath means.

A delivery system for implantation of a stent in a vessel, comprising:

• an elongate flexible catheter having proximal and distal ends for delivering a stent to a predetermined location in a vessel;
• an expansion balloon surrounding the flexible catheter near its distal end;
• a stent having proximal and distal ends, the stent surrounding the expansion balloon;
• sheath means extending over the entire axial length of the stent;
• retraction means for retracting the sheath means to release the stent for expansion, the retraction means comprised of a wire carried in a lumen of the elongate flexible catheter which is attached to the sheath means, whereby retracting the wire retracts the sheath means.