Apparatus and methods for delivery of braided prostheses

#1. Field of the Invention.

#The present invention relates generally to medical devices and methods. More particularly, the present invention relates to apparatus and methods for delivering braided and other everting prostheses within a body lumen, such as a blood vessel.

#Coronary artery disease is the leading cause of death and morbidity in the United States and Western society. In particular, atherosclerosis in the coronary arteries can cause myocardial infarction, commonly referred to as a heart attack, which can be immediately fatal or even if survived, cause damage to the heart which can incapacitate the patient.

#FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating a stent delivery catheter constructed in accordance with the principles of the present invention.

#FIGS. 2A–2D illustrate use of the catheter in FIG. 1 for deploying a braided stent within a stenosed region in a blood vessel.

#Referring now to FIG. 1, the stent delivery catheter 10 comprises a catheter body 12 having a proximal end 14 and a distal end 16. The catheter body 12 is formed from a conventional catheter material, such as a natural or synthetic polymer, such as silicone rubber, polyethylene, polyvinylchloride, polyurethane, polyester, polytetrafluoroethylene, nylon, and the like. The body may be formed as a composite having one or more reinforcement layers incorporated within a polymeric shell in order to enhance strength, flexibility, and toughness. For intravascular use, the catheter body will typically have a length in the range from 40 cm to 150 cm, usually being between 40 cm and 120 cm for peripheral blood vessels and between 110 cm and 150 cm for coronary arteries. The outer diameter of the catheter body may vary depending on the intended use, typically being between 3 French and 15 French, usually from 5 French to 9 French (one French=0.33 mm).

#Catheter 10 further comprises a handle 18 at its proximal end 14. The handle has a guidewire port 20 at its distal end as well as a handle grip 24 which is actuable to extend and release evertible prosthesis 30 from the distal end 16. The catheter body 12 comprises an outer tube 32, a middle tube 34 which coaxially and slidably mounted within a lumen of the outer tube 32, and an inner tube 36 which is slidably and coaxially mounted within a lumen of the middle tube 34. Inner tube 36 has a central lumen for receiving a guidewire, as described in detail below.

#Referring now to FIGS. 2A–2D, delivery of the prosthesis 30 within a stenosed region SR of a blood vessel BV is described. The distal end 16 of the catheter 10 is introduced over a guidewire GW to the stenosed region SR as shown in FIG. 2A.