Stent-graft delivery having a tip capture mechanism with elongated cables for gradual deployment and repositioning

摘要

Stent-graft delivery systems having a tip capture mechanism with a plurality of elongated cables that allow for gradual deployment and repositioning of a stent-graft prosthesis. The tip capture mechanism includes a guiding assembly, a distal tip assembly, and a plurality of cables. In a first relative position, the distal tip assembly extends the guiding assembly to temporarily constrain the distal ends of the cables and an intermediate portion of each cable constrains an endmost crown of the prosthesis. In this first relative position, tension on the cables may be selectively adjusted to allow for both gradual continuous radial expansion and contraction of the endmost crowns of the stent-graft prosthesis. In a second relative position, the distal tip assembly does not extend over the guiding assembly and thus does not constrain the distal ends of the cables, and thereby the cables do not constrain the endmost crowns.

主权项

1. A stent-graft delivery system comprising:
an elongate shaft; a plurality of elongate cables, wherein each cable extends over the elongate shaft and includes a first end, an intermediate portion configured to engage endmost crowns of a stent of a stent-graft prosthesis, and a second end that extends distally beyond the stent-graft prosthesis; a guiding assembly disposed over the elongate shaft; a distal tip assembly coupled to a distal end of the elongate shaft, the distal tip assembly and the guiding assembly being moveable relative to each other, wherein a portion of the distal tip assembly extends proximally over an outer surface of a distal portion of the guiding assembly and constrains the second ends of the cables between the outer surface of the distal portion of the guiding assembly and an inner surface of the portion of the distal tip assembly in a first relative position of the distal tip assembly and the guiding assembly and wherein the distal tip assembly does not constrain the second ends of the cables in a second relative position of the distal tip assembly and the guiding assembly, wherein, in the first relative position of the distal tip assembly and the guiding assembly, tension on the cables can be selectively reduced for gradual continuous expansion of the endmost crowns of the stent or can be selectively increased for gradual continuous radial contraction of the endmost crowns of the stent.