Catheter system for introducing an expandable stent into the body of a patient

摘要

The invention relates to catheter system for introducing an expandable heart valve stent (150) into the body of a patient, the catheter system comprising: a catheter tip (10) having a seat portion for accommodating the stent (150) in its collapsed state and a stent holder (15) for releasably fixing the stent (150), wherein the seat portion is constituted by a first sleeve-shaped member (11) and a second sleeve-shaped member (21), said sleeve-shaped members (11, 21) being moveable relative to each other and relative to the stent holder (15), and a catheter shaft (30) for connecting the catheter tip (10) to a handle (70). The catheter shaft (30) comprising: first force transmitting means (31) connected to the first sleeve-shaped member (11), second force transmitting means (41) connected to the second sleeve-shaped member (21) and a distal end section connectable to second operating means (81) of the handle (70), and guiding means (51) having a passageway extending there between, wherein the first and second force transmitting means (31, 41) are at least partly received within the passageway such as to be moveable relative to the guiding means (51), and wherein the proximal end of the guiding means (51) terminates distal to the catheter tip (10).

主权项

1. A system for introducing an expandable stent into the body of a patient, comprising:
an end portion for accommodating the stent in a collapsed state, the end portion including a holder for releasably fixing the stent, a first sleeve, and a second sleeve, wherein the first and second sleeves have an equal outer cross-section diameter and are moveable relative to each other and relative to the holder, the first sleeve at least partially surrounding the holder; a handle including a first operating part and a second operating part; and a shaft including a first elongate member, a second elongate member, and a guiding tube having an outer cross-section diameter less than the outer-cross section diameter of the first and second sleeves, wherein the first elongate member and the second elongate member are at least partly receivable within the guiding tube; wherein the first elongate member is coupled to the first sleeve and to the first operating part, and the second elongate member is coupled to the second sleeve and to the second operating part; wherein the guiding tube is releasable from the handle independent of release of the first elongate member and the second elongate member from the handle; and wherein a distal end of the guiding tube is tapered and abuts the first elongate member.