# US 8,784,472 B2 · Clutch driven stent delivery system > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 8,784,472 B2 - Document ID: US8784472B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 10/641,488 - Filed: 2003-08-15 - Published: 2005-02-17 - Granted: 2014-07-22 - Earliest claimed: 2003-08-15 - Assignees: Boston Scientific Scimed, Inc. - Applicants: Tracee Eidenschink - Inventors: Tracee Eidenschink - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US8784472B2 ## CPC - A61F 2/97: the outer sleeve being splittable - A61F 2/95: Instruments specially adapted for placement or removal of stents or stent-grafts - A61F 2002/9665: {with additional retaining means} - A61M 2025/1015: {having two or more independently movable balloons where the distance between the balloons can be adjusted, e.g. two balloon catheters concentric to each other forming an adjustable multiple balloon catheter system} - A61F: FILTERS IMPLANTABLE INTO BLOOD VESSELS; PROSTHESES; DEVICES PROVIDING PATENCY TO, OR PREVENTING COLLAPSING OF, TUBULAR STRUCTURES OF THE BODY, e.g. STENTS; ORTHOPAEDIC, NURSING OR CONTRACEPTIVE DEVICES; FOMENTATION; TREATMENT OR PROTECTION OF EYES OR EARS; BANDAGES, DRESSINGS OR ABSORBENT PADS; FIRST-AID KITS (dental prosthetics A61C) - A61M: DEVICES FOR INTRODUCING MEDIA INTO, OR ONTO, THE BODY (introducing media into or onto the bodies of animals A61D7/00; means for inserting tampons A61F13/26; devices for administering food or medicines orally A61J; containers for collecting, storing or administering blood or medical fluids A61J1/05); DEVICES FOR TRANSDUCING BODY MEDIA OR FOR TAKING MEDIA FROM THE BODY (surgery A61B; chemical aspects of surgical articles A61L); DEVICES FOR PRODUCING OR ENDING SLEEP OR STUPOR {(Electrotherapy, e.g. producing anaesthesia by the use of alternating or intermittent currents A61N1/36021)} ## Abstract A catheter assembly has an engaged state and an unengaged state comprising a proximal member having a longitudinal axis and a distal member having a longitudinal axis. A distal end of the proximal member is removably engageable to the distal member. The distal member has a first distal portion and a second distal portion, and the first distal portion is retractable from the second distal portion. In the engaged state the distal member is substantially freely rotatable about its longitudinal axis and in relation to the proximal member. In the engaged state the proximal member is constructed and arranged to be moved in a direction along the longitudinal axis such that proximal movement of the proximal member retracts at least the first distal portion of the distal member from at least the second distal portion. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A catheter assembly having a longitudinal axis and having an engaged state and an unengaged state when assembled, the catheter assembly comprising: a distal member including a stent and a sheath positioned around the stent, the sheath coupled to a clutch housing; a clutch extension configured to engage the clutch housing in the engaged state and to disengage the clutch housing in the unengaged state, wherein the sheath and the clutch extension are disengaged and substantially moveable independent of one another in the unengaged state, the clutch housing being freely rotatable about the longitudinal axis with respect to the clutch extension when the clutch extension is engaged with the clutch housing in the engaged state, the clutch extension configured to retract the clutch housing and the sheath away from the stent. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The catheter assembly of claim 1, wherein the clutch housing is rotatably coupled to a proximal end of the sheath. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The catheter assembly of claim 2, wherein the clutch extension is coupled to a wire. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The catheter assembly of claim 3, wherein the clutch extension retracts a proximal portion of the sheath from the stent in a proximal direction via the clutch housing. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The catheter assembly of claim 1, wherein the clutch extension is configured to disengage from the clutch housing. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The catheter assembly of claim 1, wherein the sheath includes a slit. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The catheter assembly of claim 6, wherein the slit extends substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The catheter assembly of claim 1, wherein the stent is configured as an expandable stent. ### Claim 9 A catheter assembly having a longitudinal axis and having an engaged state and an unengaged state when assembled, the catheter comprising: a distal member positioned along the longitudinal axis, the distal member including a sheath and a clutch housing secured to a proximal end of the sheath, the clutch housing configured to rotate substantially about the longitudinal axis; a clutch extension positioned proximal of the distal member, the clutch extension configured to move selectively in a proximal direction or in a distal direction relative to the clutch housing to selectively engage and disengage the clutch housing; wherein the clutch housing is configured to rotate about the longitudinal axis independent of the clutch extension, even when the clutch housing is engaged with the clutch extension when the catheter assembly is arranged in the engaged state; wherein the clutch extension entrains the sheath to move in the proximal direction or the distal direction when the clutch extension is engaged to the clutch housing when the clutch extension is moved in the proximal direction or the distal direction. ### Claim 10 A catheter assembly having a longitudinal axis and having an engaged state and an unengaged state when assembled, the catheter assembly comprising: a proximal member and a distal member, wherein a distal end of the proximal member is removably engageable to the distal member, wherein the distal member has a first distal portion and a second distal portion, the first distal portion constructed and arranged to be retractable from the second distal portion; wherein, when the catheter assembly is in the unengaged state, the distal member and the proximal member are substantially moveable independent of one another; and wherein, when the catheter assembly is in the engaged state, the distal end of the proximal member is engaged to at least the first distal portion of the distal member and the distal member is substantially freely rotatable about the longitudinal axis in relation to the proximal member, wherein the proximal member is constructed and arranged to be moved in a direction along the longitudinal axis such that proximal movement of the proximal member in the engaged state at least partially retracts the first distal portion of the distal member from the second distal portion. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The catheter assembly of claim 10, wherein the distal member comprises a retractable sheath. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The catheter assembly of claim 11, wherein the first distal portion comprises the sheath. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The catheter assembly of claim 12, wherein the sheath defines a slit, the sheath having edges along the length of the slit. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The catheter assembly of claim 13, wherein the slit extends distally from a position on the sheath distal to the proximal most portion of the sheath. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The catheter assembly of claim 14, wherein the slit is substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis. ### Claim 16 (depends on 10) The catheter assembly of claim 10, wherein the proximal member is a wire. ### Claim 17 (depends on 10) The catheter assembly of claim 10, wherein the assembly is in the engaged state prior to entry into a lumen. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The catheter assembly of claim 17, wherein the proximal member is engaged to the distal member such that the assembly is in the engaged state before entry into the lumen. ### Claim 19 (depends on 10) The catheter assembly of claim 10, wherein the proximal member includes a clutch extension. ### Claim 20 (depends on 10) The catheter assembly of claim 10, wherein the first portion of the distal member includes a clutch housing.