Abstract:
Disclosed are stent delivery apparatus (200) and methods for moving a balloon (204) catheter carrying a stent (206) through a body vessel without the stent slipping from the balloon are provided. In general, the stent delivery system includes a stent stopper (208, 408, 600) that impedes the stent from slipping from the balloon. The stent stopper is sized to serve as a barrier to the stent as it is carried on the balloon. In a specific embodiment, the stent stopper is formed from a material that encircles the proximal end of the balloon and abuts the proximal end of the stent. The stent stopper material expands with expansion of the balloon and collapses with deflation of the balloon. In some embodiments, the stent stopper material has a thickness (302, 502) that is about equal to or greater than the thickness of the stent so as to form a barrier against the stent and impede the stent from slipping off the proximal end of the balloon.
Abstract:
Zum lösbaren Befestigen der Abformkappe (72) am Zahnimplantat (10) ist an diesem mittels einer Schraubverbindung das Sekundärteil (40) befestigt. Das Sekundärteil (40) weist elastisch verformbare Federfinger (44) auf, welche mit der Wand (76) der Abformkappe (72) zusammenwirken. Die Wand (76) ist dabei formfest ausgebildet. Die Vorrichtung kann dadurch, bei gutem Sitz der Abformkappe, schlank ausgebildet werden, sodass sie sich insbesondere auch für die Anwendung im vorderen Bereich des Unterkiefers eignet.
Abstract:
Disclosed are stent delivery apparatus (200) and methods for moving a balloon (204) catheter carrying a stent (206) through a body vessel without the stent slipping from the balloon are provided. In general, the stent delivery system includes a stent stopper (208, 408, 600) that impedes the stent from slipping from the balloon. The stent stopper is sized to serve as a barrier to the stent as it is carried on the balloon. In a specific embodiment, the stent stopper is formed from a material that encircles the proximal end of the balloon and abuts the proximal end of the stent. The stent stopper material expands with expansion of the balloon and collapses with deflation of the balloon. In some embodiments, the stent stopper material has a thickness (302, 502) that is about equal to or greater than the thickness of the stent so as to form a barrier against the stent and impede the stent from slipping off the proximal end of the balloon.
Abstract:
A dilatation balloon (10) is fabricated according to a process that forms cavities and indentations in the balloon and/or catheter sections . A length of tubing is axially elongated and radially expanded in a form to provide the requisite biaxial orientation and strength. Then, an excimer laser or another type of laser or mechanical material removal tool is used to remove the polymeric material, virtually without thermal effects. Cavities in the sleeve sections (13, 12) of the balloon are defined and if desired, indentations in the cone sections (15, 14) are defined. Material removal, particularly near the balloon sleeves enables a thinner, more flexible bonding area between the catheter shaft and the balloon. Further, the indentations along the cone sections enables tighter wrapping of the balloon for a reduced delivery profile. Rigidity near the sleeves is reduced for better maneuverability of the catheter in tortuous passageways.
Abstract:
A guidewire apparatus for a medical device that includes an expandable guidewire section that can be locked in an expanded state. In one use, the expandable section can be temporarily locked to a working element of a medical device to facilitate the transmission of torque from the guidewire to the medical device. Hence, this configuration may be utilized to aid in orientation of the working element with a vessel side branch by providing the user with the ability to apply a rotational force to the distal end of the stent delivery system. Another use includes docking the expandable section near an opening into a guidewire lumen at the catheter tip. This configuration is particularly useful in forming a smooth transition between the guidewire and the catheter tip to reduce the phenomenon of fish-mouthing.
Abstract:
A stent delivery system (40), is disclosed for delivering and deploying a radially expandable stent (41) at a strategic orientation and location in a body vessel. The delivery system includes an elongated flexible tubular shaft (43) sized suitably for insertion into the body vessel. A stent deployment assembly includes a distal transition portion (45) supporting a dilator device (47) adapted for radial expansion about a longitudinal axis of the deployment assembly (45) from a non-expanded condition to a radially expanded condtion. The dilator device is configured to support the stent thereon in the non-expanded condition and in predetermined orientation relative the deployment assembly. A rotational clutch assembly (48) rotatably mounts the transition portion to a distal portion of the tubular shaft such that the deployment assembly is substantially torsionally isolated from the tubular shaft, about a longitudinal axis of the clutch assembly. This enables the stent deployment to rotate substantially independently of the tubular shaft for strategic orientation of the dilator device during advancement through the body vessel .
Abstract:
The present invention involves porous polymer membranes, suitable for use in medical implants, having controlled pore sizes, pore densities and mechanical properties. Methods of manufacturing such porous membranes are described in which a continuous fiber of polymer is extruded through a reciprocating extrusion head and deposited onto a substrate in a predetermined pattern. When cured, the polymeric material forms a stable, porous membrane suitable for a variety of applications, including reducing emboli release during and after stent delivery, and providing a source for release of bioactive substance to a vessel or organ and surrounding tissue.
Abstract:
Es wird eine Einrichtung und ein Verfahren zur Bereitstellung eines Stents zur Implantation in ein Körperlumen vorgesehen, wobei der Stent (3) ein proximales Ende (31) und ein distales Ende (32) aufweist, zwischen denen sich ein Stentlumen mit komprimierbarem Durchmesser d erstreckt. Die Einrichtung umfasst eine Crimpvorrichtung (4) mit Elementen (40), die um eine Achse angeordnet und zumindest zum Teil relativ zu einander radial zur Achse beweglich sind, und einen Aktivator (42) zur Betätigung der Crimpvorrichtung (4). Die Elemente (40) der Crimpvorrichtung umfassen den Stent (3) und können mittels des Aktivators (42) von einer aufgeweiteten Position, in der der Stent (3) ungecrimpt ist, in eine geschlossene Position, in der der Stent (3) im Durchmesser d komprimiert ist, radial bewegt werden. Erfindungsgemäss wird ein Lagerraum bestehend aus einem inerten Medium, bzw. mit einer inerten Füllung vorgesehen, der eine Umhüllung bildet, in der der Stent (3), während die Elemente (40) den Stent (3) umfassen und von der aufgeweiteten Position in die geschlossene Position bewegt werden, zumindest die überwiegende Zeit inert gelagert ist. Die inerte Umhüllung kann während dem Komprimieren des Stents unterbrochen werden.
Abstract:
A catheter arrangement is arranged to permit a guide wire to be fed laterally from the region of an expandable working element. The catheter includes an elongate flexible tubular member and an inflatable structure carried by a distal portion of the flexible tubular member. The flexible tubular member has a guide wire lumen and at least one fluid supply lumen that is in fluid communication with the inflatable structure. The inflatable structure includes at least one, and preferably two, inflatable members. In this case, the inflatable members are radially spaced about the guide wire lumen such that at least one gap is formed between them. The distal end of a guide wire is then advanced through the guide lumen and out of a side opening such that it passes laterally between the inflatable members and can readily be directed into a second branch of a vessel bifurcation while the device is positioned in a first branch.
Abstract:
A catheter arrangement is described that is arranged to permit a guide wire or other structure to be fed laterally from the region of an expandable working element. The catheter includes an elongate flexible tubular member and an inflatable structure carried by a distal portion of the flexible tubular member. The flexible tubular member has a guide wire lumen and at least one fluid supply lumen that is in fluid communication with the inflatable structure. The inflatable structure includes at least one, and preferably two, inflatable members (which may take the form of balloons). In the case of two inflatable members, the first and second inflatable members are radially spaced about the guide wire lumen such that at least one gap is formed between the inflatable members. With this arrangement, the distal end of a guide wire may be advanced through the guide lumen and out of a side opening such that the guide wire passes laterally between the first and second inflatable members. With such an arrangement, a guide wire passing out of the side opening in the region between the inflatable members can readily be directed into a second branch of a vessel bifurcation while the device is positioned in a first branch.