| 摘要 |
An apparatus and method for deploying one or more stents within a body lumen comprises a catheter (such as a dilation catheter) having a removable proximal p ortion. Detaching the removable proximal portion from the catheter shaft allows a substa ntially tubular sheath to be slidably received over the proximal end of the catheter sha ft. The tubular sheath has one or more substantially tubular stents positioned in a deli very configuration over a distal portion of the sheath. The sheath preferably has a proximal portion that is resistant to compressive forces, so that a user may advance the sheath along the catheter by pushing the sheath proximal end, thereby positioning the stent o r stents at a desired deployment location within the body lumen. With the stents in position, the catheter proximal end can be attached to the catheter shaft, and the stents can be deployed at the desired position. After the stents have been deployed, the removable pro ximal hub can be removed, the first sheath slidably removed from the catheter shaft, a sec ond sheath containing additional stents slidably introduced over the catheter shaft, the re movable proximal hub then can be reattached, and the additional stents can be deployed. Thus, multiple stents can be deployed without necessitating removal of the catheter sh aft until the procedure is completed. |
