Apparatus and methods for improved stent deployment

摘要

Apparatus for facilitating deployment of a an implantable medical device includes a control member (20) having at least one tine member (35-37). A proximal region (35b-37b) of at least one of the tine members (35-37) is configured to engage an associated portion of a stent (60). In use, the control member (20) comprises a contracted delivery configuration in which the proximal region of the at least one of the tine member (35-37) is radially contracted, to radially constrain the associated portion of the stent (60). The control member (20) also comprises an expanded configuration in which the proximal region of the at least one of the tine member (35-37) expands radially outward relative to the central longitudinal axis to allow the stent to engage a body passage.

主权项

1. An apparatus for deploying a stent, the apparatus comprising:
a control member having at least one tine member comprising proximal and distal regions, where the proximal region of the at least one tine member is configured to engage an associated portion of a stent, a sheath at least partially disposed over the at least one tine member in a constrained state, where the control member comprises a contracted delivery configuration in which the proximal region of the at least one tine member is radially contracted and an expanded configuration in which the proximal region of the at least one of the tine member is radially expanded relative to a central longitudinal axis, where the proximal region of the at least one tine member is selectively and incrementally movable between the contracted and expanded configurations to facilitate positioning of the stent within a body passage, where the proximal region of the at least one tine member has a bend towards the central longitudinal axis in a state unconstrained by the sheath, where the proximal region of the at least one tine member comprises a first width and a first length, and the distal region of the at least one tine member comprises a second width greater than the first width and a second length greater than the first length, such that a stepped portion is formed between the proximal and distal regions of the at least one tine member.