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 on 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 ...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

"The present invention provides a stent deployment system for deploying stents in body lumens, particularly in long vascular lesions with tapers or curves. The system includes an expandable member with a proximal and distal end, and a plurality of independent stent segments that can be expanded separately. The system allows for in situ customization of stent length and can be used in a variety of body vessels including the coronary arteries, saphenous veins, and peripheral arteries. The system also includes a pusher for advancing stent segments and a sheath for restraining the expansion of stent segments. The technical effects of the invention include improved flexibility, customization of stent length, and ease of use in a variety of body vessels."

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.

Likewise, current stent deployment catheters function effectively to deliver stents of relatively short length in shorter vascular lesions, but they do not perform well in treating longer, tapered, and / or curved vessels.

For example in tapered vessels, current stent deployment catheters may fail to fully expand the stent at its proximal end, while potentially over-expanding the stent at its distal end.

Moreover, current stent and stent delivery technology is limited to deploying stents of predetermined length, requiring advance selection of a stent and associated catheter to match the lesion to be treated.

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