Coiled endoluminal prosthesis system and delivery catheter

A coiled endoluminal prosthesis delivery assembly comprising:

• a handle;
• a delivery catheter extending from the handle and comprising a proximal end at the handle and a distal end;
• an elongate, flexible release element, having a tip, extending from the handle to the distal end of the delivery catheter and movable along the delivery catheter with the tip movable proximally towards the handle;
• and
• the handle comprising:
• a release element retractor constructed to retract the release element proximally through the delivery catheter;
• and
• a delivery catheter rotator constructed to rotate the delivery catheter, the delivery catheter rotator being operably coupled to the release element retractor so that the release element is retracted simultaneously with rotation of the delivery catheter.

A coiled endoluminal prosthesis system for use within a target vessel comprising:

• a handle;
• a delivery catheter extending from the handle;
• a coiled endoluminal prosthesis carried by the delivery catheter, the coiled endoluminal prosthesis having a first direction of spiral, the first direction of spiral being in a first rotational direction;
• and
• the handle comprising means for rotating the delivery catheter in a second rotational direction while axially releasing the coiled endoluminal prosthesis from the delivery catheter for engagement with a wall of a target vessel.

A method for making a constant length, generally helical endoluminal prosthesis of the type defining a generally helical gap between the turns of the prosthesis when in a relaxed, expanded diameter state, comprising:

• determining a first diameter for an endoluminal prosthesis when in a reduced diameter state wrapped down onto a delivery device;
• determining a second diameter of the endoluminal prosthesis when in an expanded diameter state at a target location;
• configuring the endoluminal prosthesis to reduce or eliminate any difference between the length of the endoluminal prosthesis when in the reduced diameter state and when in the expanded diameter state;
• and
• wrapping the endoluminal prosthesis onto the delivery device to place the endoluminal prosthesis in the reduced diameter state, the endoluminal prosthesis having turns.

A catheter assembly comprising:

• a delivery catheter;
• and
• a constant length endoluminal prosthesis mounted to a position along the delivery catheter, the constant length endoluminal prosthesis comprising:
• a generally helical body comprising:
• generally helically-extending turns;
• adjacent turns being laterally positioned relative to one another when in a reduced diameter state wrapped down onto the delivery catheter so adjacent turns do not overlie one another;
• and
• a generally helical gap between the turns of the body when in a relaxed, expanded diameter state;
• the body having a first diameter when in a reduced diameter state wrapped down onto the delivery catheter;
• the body having a second diameter when in an expanded diameter state at a target site;
• when in the expanded diameter state, the endoluminal prosthesis having a total area (TA) equal to the external surface area of the turns of the body (SA) plus the area of the generally helical gap (GA) between the turns;
• and
• the ratio of SA to TA being at least substantially equal to the ratio of the first diameter to the second diameter, whereby any difference between the length of the endoluminal prosthesis when in the reduced diameter state and when in the expanded diameter state is effectively eliminated.

A constant length endoluminal prosthesis comprising:

• a generally helical body defining a generally helical gap between the turns of the body when in a relaxed, expanded diameter state;
• the body having a first length and a first diameter when in a reduced diameter state wrapped down onto a delivery device;
• the body having a second length and a second diameter when in an expanded diameter state at a target site;
• and
• means for effectively eliminating any difference between the first and second lengths when the endoluminal prosthesis is deployed from the reduced diameter state to the expanded diameter state.