DELIVERY SYSTEM FOR BRANCHED STENT GRAFT
A delivery system for a branched stent graft comprises a double-layer sheath ( 3, 13 ) containing the stent graft and a towing and releasing mechanism which tows and releases the stent graft from the double-layer sheath ( 3, 13 ). After being bound, a stent main body ( 8 ) and a stent branch ( 11 ) of the stent graft are movably and entirely positioned within the double-layer sheath ( 3, 13 ). The stent main body ( 8 ) is connected with a control guiding assembly and is towed and released by the control guiding assembly. The stent branch ( 11 ) is towed by a branch guiding assembly and is connected with the control guiding assembly, so as to be released by the control guiding assembly.
1 . A delivery system for a branched stent graft, comprising a double-layer sheath containing the stent graft and a towing and releasing mechanism which tows and releases the stent graft from the sheath, wherein:
after being bound, a stent main body and a stent branch of the stent graft are movably positioned within the double-layer sheath;
the towing and releasing mechanism includes a control guiding assembly and a branch guiding assembly;
the control guiding assembly is detachably connected with the stent main body, and tows and releases the stent main body; and
the branch guiding assembly is detachably connected with the stent branch and the control guiding assembly respectively, so that the stent branch is towed by the branch guiding assembly and the stent branch is released by the control guiding assembly.
2 . The delivery system for a branched stent graft according to claim 1 , characterized in that:
the double-layer sheath comprises an outer-layer sheath and an inner-layer graft sleeve, wherein after movably encapsulating the stent branch and the stent main body in a complete or semi-complete manner, the graft sleeve is positioned in the outer-layer sheath.
3 . The delivery system for a branched stent graft according to claim 2 , characterized in that:
before being positioned in the double-layer sheath, the stent branch is enclosed in a branch sheath and is bound by the branch sheath, so that the stent branch and the stent main body are isolated from each other.
4 . The delivery system for a branched stent graft according to claim 3 , characterized in that:
the control guiding assembly comprises a control guide wire and a corresponding control mechanism, and a main body coil detachably binds the stent main body and is connected to the control guide wire; and
the branch guiding assembly comprises a branch guide wire and a corresponding control mechanism, the branch sheath is detachably connected to the control guide wire, and the branch guide wire connects and tows the branch sheath.
5 . The delivery system for a branched stent graft according to claim 4 , characterized in that:
the branch sheath is detachably connected to the control guide wire via a branch safety buckle on the branch sheath.
6 . The delivery system for a branched stent graft according to claim 5 , characterized in that:
the graft sleeve is made of a flexible polymer material.
7 . The delivery system for a branched stent graft according to claim 6 , characterized in that:
the flexible polymer material is PET or PTFE.
8 . The delivery system for a branched stent graft according to claim 5 , characterized in that:
the outer-layer sheath is made of a polymer material.
9 . The delivery system for a branched stent graft according to claim 8 , characterized in that:
the polymer material is HDPE or Pebax.
10 . A method for delivering a branched stent graft to inside of a blood vessel using the delivery system for a branched stent graft according to any one of claim 1 , comprising:
a) a towing step for towing the stent graft to inside of an artery by the control guiding assembly, and moving the stent graft out of the double-layer sheath;
b) a positioning step for respectively adjusting positions of the stent main body and the stent branch by the control guiding assembly and the branch guiding assembly according to a location of a lesion; and
c) a releasing step for making the control guiding assembly loosen binding of the stent graft to thereby release the stent graft.
11 . The method according to claim 10 , characterized in that:
in the step a), the inner-layer sheath encapsulating the stent graft is moved out of the outer-layer sheath, and then the stent graft is moved out of the inner-layer sheath.
12 . The method according to claim 11 , characterized in that:
a pre-releasing step b′) is further included between the steps b) and c), wherein in the step b′), the stent branch is still being bound, and the branch guiding assembly tows the stent branch to make the stent branch be separated from the stent main body and enter a branch blood vessel.