Device for implantation and a method of implantation in a vessel using such device
AssigneeMedinvent S.A.
InventorsHans I. Wallsten, Christian Imbert
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Abstract
A device and method for implantation of a prosthesis provides for insertion of the prosthesis in a location which is difficult to access. The prosthesis is held in a radially contracted state by the device. An expandable chamber within the device permits relative movements between elements of the devices as to permit the prosthesis to be inserted and radially expanded in the location.
Claims20
A device for implantation by insertion in a difficultly accessible location of a substantially tubular, radially expandable prosthesis, including in combination said radially expandable prosthesis surrounding and concentric with a flexible probe and means for maintaining said prosthesis in a radially contracted state and for releasing said expandable prosthesis in the difficultly accessible location, wherein said means for maintaining and releasing the prosthesis comprises a hose concentrically surrounding said probe with one end of said hose being connected to the probe, the hose being folded inside itself, a double-walled section of said hose formed by said hose being folded inside itself, said double-walled section radially surrounding the prosthesis, a fluid-tight chamber provided between and defined by said probe and said hose, means for introducing and pressurizing a fluid in said chamber to reduce contact pressure and friction between said double-walled section of the hose, the prosthesis being released from the hose by axial relative movement of said one end of the hose with respect to an opposite end of said hose, said opposite end of said hose connected to an element of said device.
A method of implantation in a vessel of a substantially tubular, radially expandable prosthesis, comprising the steps of:
- (a) radially contracting the radially expandable prosthesis around one end of a flexible elongated probe and within a double-walled section of a hose radially surrounding said probe;
- (b) forming said double walled section by folding one end of said hose inside itself, said end being attached to said probe;
- (c) positioning a combination of said prosthesis, said probe and said hose at a desired location in said vessel;
- (d) providing a chamber defined between said hose and said probe;
- (e) pressurizing said chamber to friction between walls of said double-walled section;
- (f) releasing said prosthesis at said location by axial movement of an opposite end of the hose relative to the probe so as to allow radial expansion and engagement of the prosthesis with wall sections of said vessel of said location;
- and
- (g) withdrawing said probe and said hose from said vessel location while leaving said prosthesis at said vessel location.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.