Device and Method for Delivering an Endovascular Stent-Graft Having a Longitudinally Unsupported Portion
AssigneeMedtronic Vascular, Inc.
InventorsAndrew J. Kim, Eric D. Johnson
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An endoluminal prosthesis having an unsupported or flexible region and a delivery system for delivering the endoluminal prosthesis is provided. The delivery system includes a prosthesis delivery catheter with stiffening elements that provide longitudinally rigid support to a flexible or unsupported portion of an endoluminal prosthesis as the prosthesis is being deployed. A prosthesis is removably coupled to the stiffening elements. The endoluminal prosthesis can be a stent or a stent graft or graft.
Claims16
1-18. (canceled)
An endoluminal prosthesis delivery system comprising:
- a delivery catheter comprising:
- a distal portion configured to hold and deploy an endoluminal prosthesis, and to track through a body lumen, the distal portion comprising at least one stiffening element comprising a first end coupled to the distal portion and a free end extending along a length of the distal portion, wherein the at least one stiffening element is configured to be coupled to an endoluminal prosthesis and removed from the endoluminal prosthesis after the endoluminal prosthesis is deployed, further comprising;
- an endoluminal prosthesis comprising:
- a tubular graft member comprising an unsupported portion;
- and
- at least one receiving element configured to receive the at least one stiffening element so as to support the unsupported portion when the prosthesis is being deployed.
An endoluminal prosthesis delivery system comprising:
- a delivery catheter means comprising:
- a distal means for holding and deploying an endoluminal prosthesis and for tracking the catheter means through a body lumen, the distal means comprising at least one stiffening means removably attachable to an endoluminal prosthesis, for stiffening an endoluminal prosthesis during deployment of the endoluminal prosthesis wherein the stiffening means is removed from the prosthesis after deployment of the prosthesis.
An endoluminal prosthesis comprising a flexible portion and at least one coupling element configured to couple to at least one stiffening element of a delivery device whereby the flexible portion is supported by the stiffening element.
An endoluminal prosthesis comprising:
- a tubular graft means for providing a lumen for the flow of body fluids therethrough, the graft means comprising an unsupported portion;
- and
- at least one receiving means coupled to the tubular graft means, the at least one receiving means for removably receiving a stiffening means for stiffening the graft means, whereby the stiffening means supports the unsupported portion when the prosthesis means is being deployed and whereby the stiffening means is removed from the prosthesis means after the prosthesis means is deployed.
A method of deploying an endoluminal prosthesis comprising the steps of:
- providing and endoluminal prosthesis delivery system comprising:
- a delivery catheter comprising:
- a distal portion configured to hold and deploy an endoluminal prosthesis, and to track through a body lumen, the distal portion comprising at least one stiffening element comprising a first end coupled to the distal portion and a free end extending along a length of the distal portion;
- and
- an endoluminal prosthesis having a flexible portion loaded in the catheter;
- locating the distal portion of the catheter at a site for deployment of the endoluminal prosthesis;
- releasing the endoluminal prosthesis from the catheter with the endoluminal prosthesis coupled to the stiffening element whereby the stiffening element supports the flexible portion as the prosthesis is being deployed;
- and
- releasing the stiffening element from the endoluminal prosthesis after the prosthesis has been deployed.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.