Patent ID: 6790221
Filing Date: 2004-09-14
Classification: A61F,A61M

Abstract:
A method for assembling a loaded, self-expanding stent delivery catheter comprising the steps of:providing a shaft, a retractable sheath, a self-expanding tubular stent, said shaft, stent, and sheath cooperatively sized so as to allow co-axially receiving said stent between said shaft and said sheath, said shaft having a distal region and a distal end with at least one outward projection in said distal region, said sheath having a distal region and a distal end, said stent having a distal end; providing a tapered tip having a lumen therethrough, a proximal region, and a proximal end; positioning said sheath co-axially over said shaft such that said sheath distal end is positioned near said shaft distal region; positioning said compressed stent proximally co-axially over said shaft such that said stent distal end is disposed near said shaft distal region and said stent is radially constrained by said sheath distal region; disposing said tip co-axially over said shaft such that said tip proximal end is positioned near said shaft distal region; and forcing said tip proximal region co-axially over said shaft outward projections such that said tip is caught on said projections and secured to said shaft.