Stent keeper for a self-expanding stent delivery system

Claim 2

A delivery apparatus for a self-expanding stent, said apparatus comprising: a) an outer sheath, comprising an elongated tubular member having distal and proximal ends; b) a self-expanding stent located within said distal end of said outer sheath along a load area, said self-expanding stent making frictional contact with an inner layer of said outer sheath; and c) a readily removable member disposed along said outer sheath along at least a portion of said load area, said readily removable member having a semi-tubular configuration with a substantially C-shaped cross section and having sufficient rigidity to substantially prevent said outer sheath from expanding along said load area prior to delivery of said self-expanding stent.

Claim 3

The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said readily removable member is made from materials selected from the group comprising: polyethylene, nickel-titanium alloy, stainless steel.

Claim 4

The apparatus according to claim 1 , further including a package enclosing said apparatus for storing and shipping said apparatus, and wherein said readily removable member is attached to said package.

Claim 5

The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said stent is made from a superelastic nickel-titanium alloy.

Claim 6

A delivery apparatus for a self-expanding stent, said apparatus comprising: a) an outer sheath, comprising an elongated tubular member having distal and proximal ends, an inner shaft located coaxially within said outer sheath, said inner shaft having a distal end, extending distal to said distal end of said outer sheath, and a proximal end, extending proximal to said proximal end of said outer sheath, said inner shaft further including a stop attached thereto, said stop being proximal to said distal end of said outer sheath; b) a self-expanding stent located within said outer sheath, said self-expanding stent making frictional contact with an inner layer of said outer sheath along a load area, said load area located between said stop and said distal end of said outer sheath with a portion of said inner shaft disposed coaxially within a lumen of said self-expanding stent; and c) a readily removable member disposed along said outer sheath along at least a portion of said load area, said readily removable member having a semi-tubular configuration with a substantially C-shaped cross section and having sufficient rigidity to substantially prevent said outer sheath from expanding along said load area prior to delivery of said self-expanding stent.

Claim 7

A delivery apparatus for a self-expanding stent, said apparatus comprising: a) an outer sheath, comprising an elongated tubular member having distal and proximal ends, an inner shaft located coaxially within said outer sheath, said inner shaft having a distal end, extending distal to said distal end of said outer sheath, and a proximal end, extending proximal to said proximal end of said outer sheath, said inner shaft further including a stop attached thereto, said stop being proximal to said distal end of said outer sheath; b) a self-expanding stent located within said outer sheath, said self-expanding stent making frictional contact with an inner layer of said outer sheath along a load area, said load area located between said stop and said distal end of said outer sheath with a portion of said inner shaft disposed coaxially within a lumen of said self-expanding stent; and c) a readily removable member disposed along said outer sheath along at least a portion of said load area, said readily removable member having a semi-tubular configuration with a substantially C-shaped cross section and having sufficient rigidity to substantially prevent said outer sheath from expanding along said load area prior to delivery of said self-expanding stent.

Claim 8

The apparatus according to claim 5 wherein said readily removable member is made from materials selected from the group comprising: polyethylene, nickel-titanium alloy, stainless steel.

Claim 9

The apparatus according to claim 5 , further including a package enclosing said apparatus for storing and shipping said apparatus, and wherein said readily removable member is attached to said package.

Claim 10

The apparatus of claim 5 wherein said stent is made from a superelastic nickel-titanium alloy.

Claim 11

The apparatus according to claim 5 wherein said readily removable member comprises a semi-tubular shaped member having a U-shaped cross-section which slides on and off said sheath.

Claim 12

The apparatus according to claim 5 , further including a package enclosing said apparatus for storing and shipping said apparatus, and wherein said readily removable member is attached to said package.

Claim 13

The apparatus of claim 5 wherein said stent is made from a superelastic nickel-titanium alloy.

Claim 14

A delivery apparatus for a self-expanding stent, said apparatus comprising: a) an outer sheath, comprising an elongated tubular member having distal and proximal ends; b) a self-expanding stent located within said distal end of said outer sheath along a load area, said self-expanding stent making frictional contact with an inner layer of said outer sheath; and c) a readily removable member disposed along said outer sheath along at least a portion of said load area, said readily removable member having a semi-tubular configuration with a substantially U-shaped cross section and having sufficient rigidity to substantially prevent said outer sheath from expanding along said load area prior to delivery of said self-expanding stent.

Claim 15

A delivery apparatus for a self-expanding stent, said apparatus comprising: a) an outer sheath, comprising an elongated tubular member having distal and proximal ends; b) a self-expanding stent located within said distal end of said outer sheath along a load area, said self-expanding stent making frictional contact with an inner layer of said outer sheath; and c) a readily removable member disposed along said outer sheath along at least a portion of said load area, said readily removable member having a semi-tubular configuration with a substantially U-shaped cross section and having sufficient rigidity to substantially prevent said outer sheath from expanding along said load area prior to delivery of said self-expanding stent.

Claim 16

A delivery apparatus for a self-expanding stent, said apparatus comprising: a) an outer sheath, comprising an elongated tubular member having distal and proximal ends, an inner shaft located coaxially within said outer sheath, said inner shaft having a distal end, extending distal to said distal end of said outer sheath, and a proximal end, extending proximal to said proximal end of said outer sheath, said inner shaft further including a stop attached thereto, said stop being proximal to said distal end of said outer sheath; b) a self expanding stent located within said outer sheath, said self-expanding stent making frictional contact with an inner layer of said outer sheath along a load area, said load area located between said stop and said distal end of said outer sheath with a portion of said inner shaft disposed coaxially within a lumen of said self-expanding stent; and c) a readily removable member disposed along said outer sheath along at least a portion of said load area, said readily removable member having a semi-tubular configuration with a substantially U-shaped cross section and having sufficient rigidity to substantially prevent said outer sheath from expanding along said load area prior to delivery of said self-expanding stent.

Claim 17

A delivery apparatus for a self-expanding stent, said apparatus comprising: a) an outer sheath, comprising an elongated tubular member having distal and proximal ends, an inner shaft located coaxially within said outer sheath, said inner shaft having a distal end, extending distal to said distal end of said outer sheath, and a proximal end, extending proximal to said proximal end of said outer sheath, said inner shaft further including a stop attached thereto, said stop being proximal to said distal end of said outer sheath; b) a self expanding stent located within said outer sheath, said self-expanding stent making frictional contact with an inner layer of said outer sheath along a load area, said load area located between said stop and said distal end of said outer sheath with a portion of said inner shaft disposed coaxially within a lumen of said self-expanding stent; and c) a readily removable member disposed along said outer sheath along at least a portion of said load area, said readily removable member having a semi-tubular configuration with a substantially U-shaped cross section and having sufficient rigidity to substantially prevent said outer sheath from expanding along said load area prior to delivery of said self-expanding stent.

Claim 18

A delivery apparatus for a self-expanding stent, said apparatus comprising: a) an outer sheath comprising an elongated tubular member having distal and proximal ends and an inside and outside diameter, said outer sheath having an enlarged section at its distal end, said enlarged section having a greater inside and outside diameter than said inside and outside diameter of said outer sheath proximal to said enlarged section; b) an inner shaft located coaxially within said outer sheath, said inner shaft having a distal end and a proximal end, said inner shaft further including a stop attached thereto, said stop being proximal to said distal end of said outer sheath; and c) a self-expanding stent located within said enlarged section of said outer sheath, said self-expanding stent making frictional contact with said outer sheath along a load area, said inner shaft disposed coaxially within a lumen of said self-expanding stent; and d) a readily removable member disposed along said outer sheath along at least a portion of said load area, said readily removable member having a semi-tubular configuration with a substantially U-shaped cross section and having sufficient rigidity to substantially prevent said outer sheath from expanding along said load area prior to delivery of said self-expanding stent.

Claim 19

A delivery apparatus for a self-expanding stent, said apparatus comprising: a) an outer sheath comprising an elongated tubular member having distal and proximal ends and an inside and outside diameter, said outer sheath having an enlarged section at its distal end, said enlarged section having a greater inside and outside diameter than said inside and outside diameter of said outer sheath proximal to said enlarged section; b) an inner shaft located coaxially within said outer sheath, said inner shaft having a distal end and a proximal end, said inner shaft further including a stop attached thereto, said stop being proximal to said distal end of said outer sheath; and c) a self-expanding stent located within said enlarged section of said outer sheath, said self-expanding stent making frictional contact with said outer sheath along a load area, said inner shaft disposed coaxially within a lumen of said self-expanding stent; and d) a readily removable member disposed along said outer sheath along at least a portion of said load area, said readily removable member having a semi-tubular configuration with a substantially U-shaped cross section and having sufficient rigidity to substantially prevent said outer sheath from expanding along said load area prior to delivery of said self-expanding stent.

Claim 20

A delivery apparatus for a self-expanding stent, said apparatus comprising: a) an outer sheath comprising an elongated tubular member having distal and proximal ends and an inside and outside diameter, said outer sheath having an enlarged section at its distal end, said enlarged section having a greater inside and outside diameter than said inside and outside diameter of said outer sheath proximal to said enlarged section; b) an inner shaft located coaxially within said outer sheath, said inner shaft having a distal end and a proximal end, said inner shaft further including a stop attached thereto, said stop being proximal to said distal end of said outer sheath; and c) a self-expanding stent located within said enlarged section of said outer sheath, said self-expanding stent making frictional contact with said outer sheath along a load area, said inner shaft disposed coaxially within a lumen of said self-expanding stent; and d) a readily removable member disposed along said outer sheath along at least a portion of said load area, said readily removable member having a semi-tubular configuration with a substantially C-shaped cross section and having sufficient rigidity to substantially prevent said outer sheath from expanding along said load area prior to delivery of said self-expanding stent.

Claim 21

A delivery apparatus for a self-expanding stent, said apparatus comprising: a) an outer sheath comprising an elongated tubular member having distal and proximal ends and an inside and outside diameter, said outer sheath having an enlarged section at its distal end, said enlarged section having a greater inside and outside diameter than said inside and outside diameter of said outer sheath proximal to said enlarged section; b) an inner shaft located coaxially within said outer sheath, said inner shaft having a distal end and a proximal end, said inner shaft further including a stop attached thereto, said stop being proximal to said distal end of said outer sheath; and c) a self-expanding stent located within said enlarged section of said outer sheath, said self-expanding stent making frictional contact with said outer sheath along a load area, said inner shaft disposed coaxially within a lumen of said self-expanding stent; and d) a readily removable member disposed along said outer sheath along at least a portion of said load area, said readily removable member having a semi-tubular configuration with a substantially C-shaped cross section and having sufficient rigidity to substantially prevent said outer sheath from expanding along said load area prior to delivery of said self-expanding stent.