Stent deployment systems and methods

Abstract

A stent deployment system includes a catheter shaft, an expandable member mounted to the catheter shaft, and one or more stents or stent segments slidably positioned on the expandable member. The stent deployment system is adapted for deployment of stents or stent segments in very long lesions and in tapered and curved vessels. The stent deployment system facilitates slidable movement of a stent in a distal direction relative to the expandable member while inhibiting slidable movement in a proximal direction relative to the expandable member.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS [0001] This application is a divisional of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10 / 458,062 (Attorney Docket No. 021629-001800US), filed Jun. 9, 2003, the full disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0002] In coronary artery disease, stenotic plaques form within the coronary arteries, restricting and in some cases completely blocking blood flow to the heart muscle. In recent years, a number of different catheter-based interventions have been developed to treat coronary artery disease, including percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty (PTCA) and stenting. PTCA involves the placement of an endovascular catheter into the diseased coronary artery and expanding a balloon within the stenotic lesion to dilate the lumen, thereby improving blood flow through the treated area. One drawback of PTCA has been the tendency in some cases for the coronary artery lumen to “restenose” following dil...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0007] The present invention provides stent delivery catheters, systems and methods for deploying stents in body lumens. While the invention will have application in a number of different vessels in various parts of the body, the invention is particularly well-suited for stenting of the coronary arteries, saphenous veins and other grafts, and peripheral arteries including

Problems solved by technology

One drawback of PTCA has been the tendency in some cases for the coronary artery lumen to “restenose” following dilatation, wherein plaque reforms at the treatment site to narrow or block the lumen.

Even after stenting, however, some patients experience restenosis.

Current stents and stent deployment devices, however, are not well-suited to address these new potential applications for stents.

For example, current stents are designed for treating relatively short lesions, and often are not suitable for longer lesions through which the vessel may be curved, tapered or have other complex geometries.

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