Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 30
Claim 1
Independent Claim
149 words
An elongate stent delivery assembly, the assembly comprising: a delivery tube having a distal region, a proximal region, and a lumen therethrough; a stent including a stent body having a distal region, a proximal region, and an intermediate region disposed between the distal region and the proximal region, the stent body having a lumen therethrough, wherein the stent body distal region is disposed over the delivery tube distal region, and everted over a delivery tube distal end, such that a stent body distal end is disposed within the delivery tube lumen; and an elongate release member having a proximal region, a distal region, and a distal end, wherein the release member distal region is releasably coupled to the everted stent body distal region, such that releasing the releasable coupling between the release member distal region and the everted stent body distal region frees the stent from the delivery tube.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
149 words
An elongate stent delivery assembly, the assembly comprising: a delivery tube having a distal region, a proximal region, and a lumen therethrough; a stent including a stent body having a distal region, a proximal region, and an intermediate region disposed between the distal region and the proximal region, the stent body having a lumen therethrough, wherein the stent body distal region is disposed over the delivery tube distal region, and everted over a delivery tube distal end, such that a stent body distal end is disposed within the delivery tube lumen; and an elongate release member having a proximal region, a distal region, and a distal end, wherein the release member distal region is releasably coupled to the everted stent body distal region, such that releasing the releasable coupling between the release member distal region and the everted stent body distal region frees the stent from the delivery tube.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
21 words
An assembly as in claim 1 , wherein the stent is biased to radially expand when freed from the delivery tube.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
67 words
An assembly as in claim 1 , wherein the elongate release member distal region has a distal profile dimensioned to form a friction fit between the everted stent body distal region and the delivery tube distal region, the everted stent body distal region being disposed about the elongate release member distal region, and the delivery tube distal region being disposed about the everted stent body distal region.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
46 words
An assembly as in claim 3 , wherein the elongate release member has sufficient strength in compression to allow for advancing the release member distal region distally from the delivery tube distal region, such that the everted stent is released from the delivery tube distal end.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
16 words
An assembly as in claim 4 , wherein the release member proximal region is externally accessible.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
43 words
An assembly as in claim 3 , wherein the elongate release member has sufficient strength in tension to allow for retracting the release member distal region proximally free of the everted stent body distal region, thereby releasing the stent from the delivery tube.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
16 words
An assembly as in claim 6 , wherein the release member proximal region is externally accessible.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
44 words
An assembly as in claim 3 , wherein the delivery tube has an intermediate region disposed between the delivery tube distal and proximal regions, wherein the delivery tube intermediate region has an inside diameter dimensioned to provide columnar support for the enclosed release member.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
40 words
An assembly as in claim 1 , further comprising a microcatheter having a distal region, a proximal region, and a lumen through at least the distal region, wherein the microcatheter distal region is disposed over the delivery tube distal region.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
39 words
An assembly as in claim 1 , wherein the release member distal region has an outer diameter, the everted stent body distal region being captured between the outer diameter of the release member distal region and the delivery tube.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
210 words
A method for delivering a tubular stent to a target vessel region, the method comprising the steps of: providing a stent having a substantially tubular body, a distal region, a proximal region, an intermediate region disposed between the distal and proximal regions, and a distal end; providing a delivery shaft having a distal region, a proximal region, and a distal end, wherein the distal region has a lumen therethrough, wherein the stent distal region is everted over the delivery shaft distal end such that the stent proximal and intermediate regions are disposed over the delivery shaft while the stent distal end is disposed inside the delivery tube distal region lumen; providing an elongate release member having a distal region, a proximal region, an intermediate region disposed between the distal and proximal regions, and a distal end, wherein the release member distal region is releasably coupled to the everted stent distal region to secure the everted stent in relation to the release member and the delivery shaft; advancing the everted stent, delivery shaft, and release member distally to a location near the target vessel region; and releasing the release member from the stent distal region such that the stent is no longer secured in relation to the delivery shaft distal region.
Claim 13
Independent Claim
210 words
A method for delivering a tubular stent to a target vessel region, the method comprising the steps of: providing a stent having a substantially tubular body, a distal region, a proximal region, an intermediate region disposed between the distal and proximal regions, and a distal end; providing a delivery shaft having a distal region, a proximal region, and a distal end, wherein the distal region has a lumen therethrough, wherein the stent distal region is everted over the delivery shaft distal end such that the stent proximal and intermediate regions are disposed over the delivery shaft while the stent distal end is disposed inside the delivery tube distal region lumen; providing an elongate release member having a distal region, a proximal region, an intermediate region disposed between the distal and proximal regions, and a distal end, wherein the release member distal region is releasably coupled to the everted stent distal region to secure the everted stent in relation to the release member and the delivery shaft; advancing the everted stent, delivery shaft, and release member distally to a location near the target vessel region; and releasing the release member from the stent distal region such that the stent is no longer secured in relation to the delivery shaft distal region.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
40 words
A method as in claim 11 , wherein the releasing step includes proximally retracting the release member such that the everted stent distal region is no longer captured between the release member distal region and the delivery shaft distal region.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
32 words
A method as in claim 12 , wherein the release member proximal region is externally accessible, wherein the proximally retracting step includes manipulating the release member from the release member proximal region.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
43 words
A method as in claim 11 , wherein the releasing step includes distally advancing the release member distal region, such that the everted stent distal region is no longer captured between the elongate release member distal region and the delivery shaft distal region.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
32 words
A method as in claim 14 , wherein the release member proximal region is externally accessible, wherein the distally advancing step includes manipulating the release member from the release member proximal region.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
17 words
A method as in claim 11 , further comprising radially expanding the stent after the releasing step.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
38 words
A method as in claim 16 , wherein the radially expanding step includes allowing the stent to radially expand upon release, wherein the provided stent is biased to expand radially when freed from the delivery shaft distal region.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
26 words
A method as in claim 16 , wherein the radially expanding step includes radially expanding the stent from within a stent lumen after the releasing step.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
64 words
A method as in claim 18 , wherein the radially expanding step includes providing an inflatable balloon catheter having a distal region and a proximal region, and an inflatable balloon disposed about the distal region of the catheter, wherein the radially expanding step includes inflating the balloon within the stent after the releasing step to radially expand the stent at the target vessel region.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
79 words
A method as in claim 11 , further comprising: providing a microcatheter having a distal region, a proximal region, an intermediate region disposed between the distal and proximal regions, a distal end, and a lumen therethrough; advancing the microcatheter toward the target vessel region; and distally advancing the everted stent, delivery shaft, and release member within the microcatheter; and advancing the everted stent, delivery shaft, and release member distally from the microcatheter distal end across the target vessel region.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
103 words
A method as in claim 11 , further comprising: providing a microcatheter having a distal region, a proximal region, an intermediate region disposed between the distal and proximal regions, a distal end, and a lumen therethrough; advancing the microcatheter toward the target vessel region; and distally advancing the everted stent, delivery shaft, and release member within the microcatheter; advancing the microcatheter, everted stent, delivery shaft, and release member distally across the target vessel region; proximally retracting the microcatheter from the target vessel region to expose the stent; and manipulating the release member to release the stent from the release member and delivery shaft.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
173 words
An elongate stent delivery assembly, the assembly comprising: a delivery tube having a tapered distal region, an intermediate region, a proximal region, and a lumen therethrough, the tapered distal region having a smaller outer diameter at the distal region than in the intermediate region; a stent including a stent body having a distal region, a proximal region, and an intermediate region disposed between the distal region and the proximal region, the stent body having a lumen therethrough, wherein the stent body distal region is disposed over the delivery tube distal region, and everted over the delivery tube distal end, such that the stent body distal end is disposed within the delivery tube distal region lumen; and an elongate release member having a proximal region, a distal region, and a distal end, wherein the release member distal region is releasably coupled to the everted stent body distal region, such that releasing the releasable coupling between the release member distal region and the everted stent body distal region frees the stent from the delivery tube.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
173 words
An elongate stent delivery assembly, the assembly comprising: a delivery tube having a tapered distal region, an intermediate region, a proximal region, and a lumen therethrough, the tapered distal region having a smaller outer diameter at the distal region than in the intermediate region; a stent including a stent body having a distal region, a proximal region, and an intermediate region disposed between the distal region and the proximal region, the stent body having a lumen therethrough, wherein the stent body distal region is disposed over the delivery tube distal region, and everted over the delivery tube distal end, such that the stent body distal end is disposed within the delivery tube distal region lumen; and an elongate release member having a proximal region, a distal region, and a distal end, wherein the release member distal region is releasably coupled to the everted stent body distal region, such that releasing the releasable coupling between the release member distal region and the everted stent body distal region frees the stent from the delivery tube.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
87 words
A stent delivery assembly, the assembly comprising: a delivery tube having a distal region, a proximal region, and a lumen therethrough; a release member positioned within the lumen of the delivery tube; and a stent releasably captured between the release member and the delivery tube, the stent having a distal region and a proximal region, the distal region of the stern being everted over the distal region of the delivery tube such that a portion of the stent is disposed within the lumen of the delivery tube.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
87 words
A stent delivery assembly, the assembly comprising: a delivery tube having a distal region, a proximal region, and a lumen therethrough; a release member positioned within the lumen of the delivery tube; and a stent releasably captured between the release member and the delivery tube, the stent having a distal region and a proximal region, the distal region of the stern being everted over the distal region of the delivery tube such that a portion of the stent is disposed within the lumen of the delivery tube.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
37 words
An assembly as in claim 23 , wherein the release member has an outer diameter, the distal region of the everted stent body being captured between the outer diameter of the release member and the delivery tube.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
40 words
An assembly as in claim 23 , wherein the distal region of the delivery tube tapers from a first outer diameter to a smaller outer diameter, the smaller outer diameter being located at a distal end of the delivery tube.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
21 words
An assembly as in claim 23 , further including a catheter positioned over at least a portion of the delivery tube.