Neurovascular Stent Delivery Apparatus

A stent delivery apparatus comprising:

• a self-expanding stent comprising a plurality of intersecting stent struts defining a plurality of stent gaps between the interconnecting stent struts along a length of the stent, the stent configured for moving between one of an elongated undeployed shape—wherein an outer stent diameter of the stent is small enough to allow the stent to be inserted into a catheter—and a relatively larger deployed shape—wherein the outer stent diameter is sized and configured for allowing the stent to effectively a target site;
• and
• a delivery mechanism configured for being selectively positionable coaxially within and removably engageable with the stent, the delivery mechanism comprising:
• a proximal push wire engaged with a proximal end of the delivery mechanism and configured for moving each of the delivery mechanism and the stent through the catheter;
• a distal push wire positioned at an opposing distal end of the delivery mechanism and configured for assisting in guiding each of the delivery mechanism and the stent through the catheter;
• and
• an at least one self-expanding delivery sleeve positioned between the proximal push wire and the distal push wire, each of the at least one delivery sleeve comprising:
• a plurality of individual sleeve strands braided together so as to define plurality of sleeve gaps between the intersecting sleeve strands along a length of said delivery sleeve, said delivery sleeve configured for moving between one of an elongated undeployed shape—wherein an outer sleeve diameter of said delivery sleeve is smaller than an inner stent diameter of the stent for allowing said delivery sleeve to be coaxially positioned within the stent when the stent is in its undeployed shape—and a relatively larger deployed shape;
• a proximal end cap positioned at a proximal end of said delivery sleeve for maintaining the braided arrangement of the sleeve strands of said delivery sleeve;
• a distal end cap positioned at an opposing distal end of said delivery sleeve for maintaining the braided arrangement of the sleeve strands of said delivery sleeve;
• and
• an engagement mechanism positioned coaxially within said delivery sleeve, the engagement mechanism providing:
• an elongate engagement shaft engaged with the proximal end cap and extending a distance toward the distal end cap;
• and
• an at least one stent catch positioned substantially on a distal end of the engagement shaft and configured for removable engagement with the stent when said delivery sleeve and the stent are each in their undeployed shapes, the at least one stent catch having a length that is less than a radius of said delivery sleeve when said delivery sleeve is in its deployed shape, such that the at least one stent catch becomes disengaged from said delivery sleeve when said delivery sleeve and the stent are each in their undeployed shapes;
• whereby, during use of the apparatus, with the at least one delivery sleeve positioned within the stent and the stent positioned within the catheter in their respective undeployed shapes, upon the catheter reaching the target site, the proximal push wire is used to push the delivery mechanism which, in turn, advances the at least one delivery sleeve and stent via the at least one stent catch through the catheter, and upon each of the at least one delivery sleeve and stent exiting the catheter, each of the at least one delivery sleeve and stent automatically change into their respective deployed shapes, thereby causing the at least one stent catch to become disengaged from both the at least one delivery sleeve and the stent.

A stent delivery apparatus configured for selectively positioning a self-expanding stent relative to a target site, the stent comprising a plurality of intersecting stent struts defining a plurality of stent gaps between the interconnecting stent struts along a length of the stent, the stent configured for moving between one of an elongated undeployed shape—wherein an outer stent diameter of the stent is smaller than an inner catheter diameter of a catheter—and a relatively larger deployed shape—wherein the outer stent diameter is sized and configured for allowing the stent to effectively fill the target site, the apparatus comprising:

• a delivery mechanism configured for being selectively positionable coaxially within and removably engageable with the stent, the delivery mechanism comprising:
• a proximal push wire engaged with a proximal end of the delivery mechanism and configured for moving each of the delivery mechanism and the stent through the catheter;
• a distal push wire positioned at an opposing distal end of the delivery mechanism and configured for assisting in guiding each of the delivery mechanism and the stent through the catheter;
• and
• a plurality of self-expanding delivery sleeves linearly arranged and interconnected in series along a length of the delivery mechanism, between the proximal push wire and the distal push wire, each of the delivery sleeves comprising:
• a plurality of individual sleeve strands braided together so as to define plurality of sleeve gaps between the intersecting sleeve strands along a length of said delivery sleeve, said delivery sleeve configured for moving between one of an elongated undeployed shape—wherein an outer sleeve diameter of said delivery sleeve is smaller than an inner stent diameter of the stent for allowing said delivery sleeve to be coaxially positioned within the stent when the stent is in its undeployed shape—and a relatively larger deployed shape;
• a proximal end cap positioned at a proximal end of said delivery sleeve for maintaining the braided arrangement of the sleeve strands of said delivery sleeve;
• a distal end cap positioned at an opposing distal end of said delivery sleeve for maintaining the braided arrangement of the sleeve strands of said delivery sleeve;
• and
• an engagement mechanism positioned coaxially within said delivery sleeve, the engagement mechanism providing:
• an elongate engagement shaft engaged with the proximal end cap and extending a distance toward the distal end cap;
• and
• an at least one stent catch positioned substantially on a distal end of the engagement shaft and configured for removable engagement with the stent when said delivery sleeve and the stent are each in their undeployed shapes, the at least one stent catch having a length that is less than a radius of said delivery sleeve when said delivery sleeve is in its deployed shape, such that the at least one stent catch becomes disengaged from said delivery sleeve when said delivery sleeve and the stent are each in their undeployed shapes;
• whereby, during use of the apparatus, with the delivery sleeves positioned within the stent and the stent positioned within the catheter in their respective undeployed shapes, upon the catheter reaching the target site, the proximal push wire is used to push the delivery mechanism which, in turn, advances the delivery sleeves and stent via the at least one stent catch through the catheter, and upon each of the delivery sleeves and stent exiting the catheter, each of the delivery sleeves and stent automatically change into their respective deployed shapes, thereby causing the at least one stent catch to become disengaged from both the corresponding delivery sleeve and the stent.