Patent US6206888B1 successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US6206888B1
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Stent delivery system using shape memory retraction
Assignee: Boston Scientific Scimed Inc
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Filing: 1999-04-01
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Granted: 2001-03-27
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Expires: 2019-04-01
Abstract
Abstract The inventive stent delivery system includes a catheter having a retractable outer sheath near its distal end. A shape memory contraction member having a memorized contracted shape is connected to the retractable outer sheath. A heat generating device connected to the shape memory contraction member causes the shape memory contraction member to heat up to its transition temperature and assume its contracted position, retracting the retractable outer sheath. Another embodiment utilizes 2 springs, a “normal” spring and a shape memory alloy (SMA) spring, the two springs selected and designed so that the “normal” has an expansion force which is less than SMA spring when the SMA spring is austenitic, but greater than the SMA spring when the SMA spring is martensitic. Yet another embodiment utilizes a shape memory latch which in its martensitic state abuts a stop to prevent a spring from moving the sheath proximally, but in its austenitic state releases the stop, allowing the spring to retract the sheath to release the stent for deployment.
Inventors
- 👤 Andrew D. Bicek
- 👤 Lance A. Monroe
- 👤 Anthony C. Vrba
- 👤 Steven E. Walak
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 19:49
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61F; A61F2/00; A61F2/95; A61F2/962; A61F2/966; A61F2/958; A61F2002/9583; A61F2210/00; A61F2210/0014; A61F2210/0023
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 32
Claim 1
Independent Claim
82 words
A catheter comprising: a catheter body having proximal and distal ends and including a retractable outer sheath near the distal end of the catheter body; a shape memory contraction member having an elongate shape and a memorized contracted shape operatively connected to the retractable outer sheath; a heat generating device operatively connected to the shape memory contraction member for heating the shape memory contraction member, causing the shape memory contraction member to assume its memorized contracted shape, retracting the retractable outer sheath.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
82 words
A catheter comprising: a catheter body having proximal and distal ends and including a retractable outer sheath near the distal end of the catheter body; a shape memory contraction member having an elongate shape and a memorized contracted shape operatively connected to the retractable outer sheath; a heat generating device operatively connected to the shape memory contraction member for heating the shape memory contraction member, causing the shape memory contraction member to assume its memorized contracted shape, retracting the retractable outer sheath.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
31 words
The catheter of claim 1 further including a medical device surrounded by the retractable outer sheath, the catheter for delivering the medical device to a predetermined location in a body lumen.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
12 words
The catheter of claim 2 wherein the medical device is a stent.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
10 words
The catheter of claim 3 wherein the stent is self-expanding.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
30 words
The catheter of claim 3 further including an expansion balloon positioned under the stent, whereby when the retractable outer sheath is retracted, the balloon is expanded to deliver the stent.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
14 words
The catheter of claim 2 wherein the medical device is a vena cava filter.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
14 words
The catheter of claim 2 wherein the medical device is a endovascular stent graft.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
15 words
The catheter of claim 3 wherein the catheter body is configured as a SOE catheter.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
15 words
The catheter of claim 3 wherein the catheter body is configured as an OTW catheter.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
16 words
The catheter of claim 3 wherein the catheter body is configured as a fixed wire catheter.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
22 words
The catheter of claim 1 wherein the retractable outer sheath is comprised of a distal retraction portion and a proximal collapsible portion.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
16 words
The catheter of claim 1 wherein the shape memory contraction member is a shape memory spring.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
17 words
The catheter of claim 1 wherein the shape memory contraction member is an elongate shape memory wire.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
30 words
The catheter of claim 1 wherein the heat generating device provides current to the shape memory contraction member, which acts as a resistor and heats up to its transition temperature.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
91 words
A catheter comprising: a catheter body having proximal and distal ends and including an outer sheath near the distal end of the catheter body; a shape memory actuator having a distal end operatively connected to the outer sheath and having a normal first length and a memorized second length wherein a transition causes the change between lengths; a heat generating device operatively connected to the shape memory actuator for heating the shape memory actuator to transition, causing the shape memory actuator to assume its memorized shape and move the outer sheath.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
91 words
A catheter comprising: a catheter body having proximal and distal ends and including an outer sheath near the distal end of the catheter body; a shape memory actuator having a distal end operatively connected to the outer sheath and having a normal first length and a memorized second length wherein a transition causes the change between lengths; a heat generating device operatively connected to the shape memory actuator for heating the shape memory actuator to transition, causing the shape memory actuator to assume its memorized shape and move the outer sheath.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
17 words
The catheter of claim 15 wherein the memorized second length is shorter than the normal first length.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
17 words
The catheter of claim 15 wherein the memorized second length is longer than the normal first length.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
29 words
The catheter of claim 16 wherein the heat generating device provides current to the shape memory actuator, which acts as a resistor and heats up to its transition temperature.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
34 words
The catheter of claim 16 wherein the heat generating device is a heat source which is conductively connected to the shape memory actuator and which heats the shape memory actuator to its transition temperature.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
25 words
The catheter of claim 16 wherein the heat generating device is a warm fluid bath which heats the shape memory actuator to its transition temperature.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
16 words
The catheter of claim 15 wherein the shape memory actuator has more than one memorized length.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
13 words
The catheter of claim 15 wherein the actuator is a single wire coil.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
17 words
The catheter of claim 15 wherein the actuator is at least two wires twisted or braided together.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
16 words
The catheter of claim 15 wherein the actuator is at least two wires coiled in parallel.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
13 words
The catheter of claim 15 wherein the actuator is a braided wire tube.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
15 words
The catheter of claim 15 wherein the outer sheath is retractable and retracts by collapsing.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
16 words
The catheter of claim 15 wherein the outer sheath is retractable and retracts by sliding proximally.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
14 words
The catheter of claim 4 further including an expansion balloon positioned under the stent.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
92 words
A catheter comprising: a catheter body having proximal and distal ends and including a retractable outer sheath near the distal end of the catheter body; a shape memory retraction device having a first state below a predetermined temperature and a second state above the predetermined temperature, the shape memory retraction device operatively connected to the retractable outer sheath and being constructed and arranged so that in the first state the retractable outer sheath is in an undeployed state and in the second state the retractable outer sheath is in a deployed state.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
92 words
A catheter comprising: a catheter body having proximal and distal ends and including a retractable outer sheath near the distal end of the catheter body; a shape memory retraction device having a first state below a predetermined temperature and a second state above the predetermined temperature, the shape memory retraction device operatively connected to the retractable outer sheath and being constructed and arranged so that in the first state the retractable outer sheath is in an undeployed state and in the second state the retractable outer sheath is in a deployed state.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2004-03-26 | 2004-09-25 | 2005-03-27 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2008-03-26 | 2008-09-25 | 2009-03-27 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2012-03-26 | 2012-09-25 | 2013-03-27 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |