Patent ID: 6136006
Filing Date: 2000-10-24
Classification: A61F,A61M

Abstract:
An apparatus for deploying a radially expandable stent within a body lumen, including:a stent confining device adapted to maintain a radially expandable stent in a delivery configuration in which the radially expandable stent has a reduced radius;an elongate and flexible stent delivery device having a proximal end, a distal end, and a distal region near the distal end for use in delivering the radially expandable stent into a body lumen and in positioning the stent at a treatment site within the body lumen with the stent surrounding the delivery device along the distal region, while the proximal device along the distal region, while the proximal end of the stent delivery device remains outside of the body;an axial stent restraining apparatus disposed along the distal region of the delivery device, wherein friction between said restraining apparatus and said stent is greater than friction between said stent confining device and said stent; anda position control apparatus operably associated with the delivery device and the confining device for moving the confining device axially relative to the delivery device toward and away from a confinement position in which the confining device maintains the radially expandable stent in the delivery configuration and urges the stent into a surface engagement with the axial stent restraining apparatus;wherein the axial stent restraining apparatus, during said surface engagement, tends to maintain the radially expandable stent axially aligned with the deployment device as the confining device is moved axially away from the confinement position to release the stent for radial expansion; anda cylindrically shaped detent device, cut axially for removable mounting to the stent delivery device portion near the proximal end, for preventing any substantial axial movement of the stent delivery device relative to the stent confining device, to maintain the stent confining device in the confinement position.