Patent ID: 6183505
Filing Date: 2001-02-06
Classification: A61F

Abstract:
A system for selectively holding a stent on a delivery catheter which comprises:an inflatable balloon defining a longitudinal axis;a first plurality of mutually juxtaposed filaments;a second plurality of mutually juxtaposed filaments woven with said first plurality of filaments to create a retainer having a proximal end and a distal end with a length therebetween;means for anchoring said proximal end of said retainer to said balloon to position said distal end of said retainer over a proximal portion of said stent when said stent is mounted on said balloon to hold said stent against said balloon, said retainer being positioned with said filaments of said first plurality helically disposed with a positive pitch relative to said axis and said filaments of said second plurality helically disposed with a negative pitch relative to said axis; andmeans for inflating said balloon to urge said balloon against said retainer to increase said positive pitch and increase said negative pitch of respective said filaments to shorten said length of said retainer to withdraw said retainer from said stent to release said stent from said balloon.