Stent delivery catheter with rapid exchange capabilities

A stent delivery system having rapid exchange capabilities, the stent delivery system comprising:

• a delivery catheter, comprising
• an elongate shaft extending distally from a hub assembly, the elongate shaft defining a lumen extending therethrough from a proximal end of the elongate shaft to a distal end of the elongate shaft, the elongate shaft further defining a guidewire port extending through a sidewall thereof at a location between the proximal and distal ends of the elongate shaft, wherein the guidewire port is configured to provide access to the lumen for advancement of the delivery catheter over a guidewire extending through the lumen between the guidewire port and the distal end of the elongate shaft and external of the elongate shaft proximal of the guidewire port, and
• an inwardly deflectable member extending across the guidewire port, the deflectable member configured to close the guidewire port when a guidewire is not extending therethrough, so as to allow a stent to be passed through the shaft lumen without interference from the guidewire port;
• and
• a stent introducer sheath slidably disposed in the lumen of the elongate shaft.

A stent delivery system, comprising:

• a delivery catheter, comprising
• an inner sheath defining a lumen, wherein a distal end of the inner sheath is deflectable in a radially inward direction,
• an outer tubular member disposed concentrically around the inner sheath, the outer tubular member defining a guidewire port in a sidewall thereof, wherein the guidewire port overlies the distal end of the inner sheath, and
• a hub assembly attached to a proximal end of the outer tubular member;
• and
• an introducer sheath slidably disposed in the lumen of the inner sheath,
• wherein the distal end of the inner sheath is configured to deflect away from the outer tubular member to enable fluid communication between the guidewire port and the lumen of the inner sheath, and
• wherein the distal end of the inner sheath is also configured to deflect toward the guidewire port to close the guidewire port, thereby allowing a stent to be passed through the lumen of the inner sheath without interference from the guidewire port.