Patent ID: 6530949
Filing Date: 2003-03-11
Classification: A61F

Abstract:
A method of treating a body lumen, said method comprising:providing a guiding catheter having at least one lumen; providing a delivery catheter, said delivery catheter having a distal end, a proximal end, and at least one lumen within the delivery catheter, the delivery catheter having a first aperture near the distal end and a second aperture proximal to the distal end, said delivery catheter further having a sliding ring slidably mounted on the proximal end of the delivery catheter; providing a stent, comprising a plurality of hoops connected by radially opposing struts, said stent having an unconstrained diameter and a longitudinally stretched diameter wherein said longitudinally stretched diameter is smaller than the unconstrained diameter, and mounting the stent upon the delivery catheter in the longitudinally stretched condition; providing a first retainer, located within said at least one lumen of the delivery catheter and extending out the first aperture, for securing the stent to the delivery catheter; providing a second retainer, located within said at least one lumen in the delivery catheter and extending out the second aperture, for securing the stent to the delivery catheter, said second retainer secured to the sliding ring;inserting the guiding catheter into the body lumen to be treated; advancing the delivery catheter with mounted stent into the lumen of the guiding catheter; advancing the delivery catheter with mounted stent into the body lumen to be treated; sliding the sliding ring distally along the delivery catheter and allowing the stent to take on its unconstrained diameter; operating the first retainer to release the stent; cutting the second retainer; removing the first retainer and second retainer; and removing the guide catheter and delivery catheter.