Stent delivery balloon catheter assembly and method of operating same

A stent delivery system comprising:

• a sheath;
• a wire guide;
• a stent;
• a stent delivery balloon catheter that includes a catheter that defines an inflation lumen, and the catheter defining a wire guide channel that terminates at a wire guide exit located a distance from a distal end of the catheter;
• and a balloon with a closed distal end attached to the catheter distally of the wire guide exit, and extending distally beyond the distal end of the catheter, and the balloon being in fluid communication with the inflation lumen;
• and a column strength stiffener with a proximal end attached to the catheter distally of the wire guide exit, a balloon support segment extending distally away from the distal end of the catheter within the balloon, and a distal end of the column strength stiffener being attached to the closed distal end of the balloon;
• the system has a first configuration characterized by the stent being crimped about the balloon, which is deflated and positioned inside the sheath, and a distal end of the wire guide is positioned at, or proximally displaced from, the wire guide exit and within the wire guide channel;
• and
• the system has a second configuration characterized by the stent and the balloon being outside of the sheath, and the distal end of the wire guide is positioned between an outer surface of the balloon, which is deflated, and an interior surface of the stent, which is expanded, and a segment of the wire guide is positioned in the wire guide channel.

A method of operating a stent delivery system comprising the steps of:

• moving a distal end of a sheath from within a fenestrated stent graft and out through a fenestration of the fenestrated stent graft;
• moving a stent delivery balloon catheter through the sheath to a position at which a balloon of the stent delivery balloon catheter is within the sheath, and most or all of a length of the balloon is outside of the fenestrated stent graft;
• positioning a wire guide in a wire guide channel of the delivery balloon catheter so that a distal end of the wire guide is positioned at, or proximally displaced from, a wire guide exit located proximal to the balloon;
• moving the sheath in a proximal direction to uncover a covered stent graft that is crimped about the balloon, while maintaining a position of the stent delivery balloon catheter;
• expanding the covered stent graft by inflating the balloon;
• deflating the balloon;
• advancing the distal end of the wire guide out through the wire guide exit, along an outer surface of the balloon, into the expanded covered stent graft and out through a distal end of the covered stent graft;
• and
• withdrawing the stent delivery balloon catheter in a proximal direction along the wire guide, while maintaining the wire guide in place.