Self-expanding stent delivery system

A method of mounting an intravascular stent on a delivery catheter, the method comprising:

• providing a delivery catheter having an elongated catheter body and a proximal end and an distal end, the catheter having an inner member and an outer member extending along a longitudinal axis, the inner member and the outer member having a coaxial configuration and dimensioned for relative axial movement, and control handles for providing relative axial movement between the inner member and the outer member;
• positioning a self-expanding stent within an inner lumen of the outer member;
• manipulating the control handles to slide the inner member distal end within an inner lumen of the self-expanding stent;
• and
• heating the inner member distal end so that it conforms and fills the open lattice structure of the self-expanding stent with a plurality of attachment projections, thereby removably attaching the self-expanding stent to the inner member distal end.

A method of implanting a self-expanding stent in a body lumen, the method comprising:

• providing an elongated catheter having a proximal end and a distal end, the catheter having an inner member and an outer member extending along a longitudinal axis, the inner member and the outer member having a coaxial configuration and dimensioned for relative axial movement, control handles for providing relative axial movement between the inner member and the outer member and a self-expanding stent having an open lattice structure mounted on a distal end of the inner member with the distal end of the outer member forming a sheath around the self-expanding stent;
• manipulating the control handles to simultaneously move the inner member axially in a distal direction and the outer member axially in a proximal direction;
• permitting the stent to self-expand radially outwardly into contact with the body lumen while preventing axial movement of the stent on the catheter by providing means for conforming a distal end of the inner member to removably attach the stent to the inner member distal end, the means engaging the proximal edge of the stent and extending distally;
• and
• withdrawing the catheter from the body lumen.

A method of implanting a self-expanding stent in a body lumen, the method comprising:

• providing an elongated catheter having a proximal end and a distal end, the catheter having an inner member and an outer member extending along a longitudinal axis, the inner member and the outer member having a coaxial configuration and dimensioned for relative axial movement, control handles for providing relative axial movement between the inner member and the outer member and a self-expanding stent having an open lattice structure mounted on a distal end of the inner member with the distal end of the outer member forming a sheath around the self-expanding stent;
• manipulating the control handles to move the outer member axially in a proximal direction while maintaining the inner member stationary;
• permitting the stent to self-expand radially outwardly into contact with the body lumen while preventing axial movement of the stent on the catheter by providing means for conforming a distal end of the inner member to removably attach the stent to the inner member distal end, the means engaging the proximal edge of the stent and extending distally;
• and
• withdrawing the catheter from the body lumen.

A catheter assembly, comprising:

• an elongated catheter having a proximal end and a distal end;
• the catheter having an inner member and an outer member extending along a longitudinal axis, the inner member and the outer member having a coaxial configuration and dimensioned for relative axial movement;
• a control handle positioned at the catheter proximal end for providing relative axial movement between the inner member and the outer member;
• a self-expanding stent having an open, flexible structural member configured to be biased from a delivery configuration having a reduced cross-section and a predetermined length to an open configuration with an enlarged cross-section and being positioned within a distal end of the outer member in the delivery configuration;
• and
• wherein the inner member distal end is formed of a polymeric material which naturally conforms and fills in the open stent structural member with attachment projections without the application of heat, the attachment projections engaging the proximal edge of the stent and extending distally.