Stent delivery catheter and method of use

Abstract

A deformable sheath is attached to a catheter and introduced intravascularly to be expanded against an arterial wall and entrap plaque therebetween. A stent is subsequently deployed within the expanded sheath and the sheath is then withdrawn from within the vasculature to leave the stent expanded against the arterial wall with the plaque entrapped therebetween.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0001] 1. Field of the Invention [0002] The present invention relates to angioplasty procedures, and more particularly to a device and method to prevent arterial plaque from being dislodged from the arterial wall in procedures such as, for example, percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty (PTCA) or percutaneous transluminal angioplasty (PTA), especially carotid PTA, and migrating into the patient's vasculature. [0003] In typical carotid PTA procedures, a guiding catheter or sheath is percutaneously introduced into the cardiovascular system of a patient through the femoral arteries and advanced through the vasculature until the distal end of the guiding catheter is in the common carotid artery. A guidewire and a dilatation catheter having a balloon on the distal end are introduced through the guiding catheter with the guidewire sliding within the dilatation catheter. The guidewire is first advanced out of the guiding catheter into the patient's carot...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

"The present invention provides a device and method for trapping plaque against a vascular wall. The device includes an expandable sheath mounted to the distal end of an elongated tube such as a catheter, which can be expanded against a mass of atherosclerotic plaque site lining the intima of a body vessel. The sheath can be reinforced by an expandable element embedded within it. An assembly is also provided that includes an expandable sheath, a delivery catheter, and a self-expanding intravascular device such as a stent or intravascular graft. The method involves expanding the sheath against the plaque, inserting the delivery catheter with the self-expanding intravascular device and pusher rod into the expanded sheath, partially withdrawing the delivery catheter to allow the intravascular device to expand against the vessel wall at a location distal of the plaque, withdrawing the expanded sheath, and withdrawing the delivery catheter to expose the rest of the intravascular device and allow it to fully expand and trap the plaque against the vessel wall."

Problems solved by technology

Most devices of this type are intended for permanent deployment within the patient's body, and thus pose the risk of trapping sufficient emboli to adversely affect the flow of blood within the vessel in which they are deployed.

Furthermore, any foreign object in the body tends to provoke a response from the immune system and over time can lead to endothelial cell formation.

This device, and others like it, are not adapted for permanent deployment within the body and can only be used for limited periods of time, limiting their efficacy.

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