Patent ID: 6413269
Filing Date: 2002-07-02
Classification: A61F

Abstract:
A stent delivery catheter for delivering a stent into a lumen of the body, wherein said stent has a distal end and a proximal end and a small diameter insertion configuration, said stent delivery catheter comprising:a first tube having a distal end and a proximal end, said first tube characterized by a tube wall, a central lumen, and at least one side lumen extending from the distal end to the proximal end thereof; a second tube having a distal end and a proximal end, said second tube characterized by a tube wall, a central lumen, and at least one side lumen extending from the distal end to the proximal end thereof, said second tube being coaxially disposed over the first tube, said distal end of the second tube terminating proximally of the distal end of the first tube; a third tube having a distal end and a proximal end, said third tube being coaxially disposed over the second tube; said first and second tubes being rotatable relative to each other; said third tube being longitudinally slidable relative to the first and second tubes; wherein the distal end of first tube has a recess extending from the outer surface of the first tube wall at least partially through the wall of the first tube and to a depth sufficient to communicate with the side lumen of the first tube, said recess adapted to receive the distal end of the stent; wherein the distal end of second tube has a recess extending from the outer surface of the second tube wall at least partially through the wall of the first tube and to a depth sufficient to communicate with the side lumen of the first tube, said recess adapted to receive the proximal end of the stent; a first retaining wire disposed within the side lumen of the first tube, said first retaining wire extending from the proximal end of the first tube to the distal end of the first tube and being longitudinally translatable within the side lumen so as to be capable of extending into the recess of the first tube; a second retaining wire disposed within the side lumen of the second tube, said second retaining wire extending from the proximal end of the second tube to the distal end of the second tube and being longitudinally translatable within the side lumen so as to be capable of extending into the recess of the second tube.