System and method for delivering and deploying an occluding device within a vessel
A system and method for deploying an occluding device that can be used to remodel an aneurysm within the vessel by, for example, neck reconstruction or balloon remodeling. The system comprises an introducer sheath and an assembly for carrying the occluding device. The assembly includes an elongated flexible member having an occluding device retaining member for receiving a first end of the occluding device, a proximally positioned retaining member for engaging a second end of the occluding device and a support surrounding a portion of the elongated flexible member over which the occluding device can be positioned.
1. A system for delivering a self-expanding device, the system comprising:
a sheath comprising an inner wall and a lumen surrounded by the inner wall;
a self-expanding device; and
an assembly comprising an elongate flexible member, a plurality of arms coupled at a first end to the elongate flexible member, and a protective coil coupled to the elongate flexible member distal of the arms, the arms having a second end that is configured (i) to deflect radially away from the elongate flexible member when unrestrained and (ii) to hold a proximal portion of the self-expanding device along the elongate flexible member in a position distal to the arms when (a) the self-expanding device and the arms are positioned within the lumen of the sheath and (b) the arms are positioned between the inner wall of the sheath and the self-expanding device, wherein in a collapsed state, the proximal portion of the self-expanding device is held by the arms and a distal portion of the self-expanding device is positioned within an interior portion of the protective coil, wherein movement of the arms distally beyond a distal end of the sheath causes the proximal and distal portions of the stent to become unrestrained.
2. The system according to claim 1 , wherein the arms comprise radially inwardly projecting members at the second ends.
3. The system according to claim 1 , wherein the arms are configured to engage a proximal portion of the self-expanding device when positioned within the lumen.
4. The system according to claim 1 , wherein the arms are connected to the elongate flexible member at the first ends of the arms.
5. The system according to claim 1 , wherein said elongate flexible member comprises a guidewire having a flexible atraumatic tip.
6. The system according to claim 5 , wherein said guidewire comprises at least two sections having different diameters.
7. The system according to claim 1 , wherein the self-expanding device is a stent.
8. The system according to claim 7 , wherein the stent is woven and porous.
9. The system according to claim 1 , wherein the protective coil is coupled to a tip coil.
10. The system according to claim 1 , wherein the protective coil is configured to rotatably release the distal portion of the self-expanding device from within the protective coil and away from the elongate flexible member via a rotary force applied to a proximal end portion of the elongate flexible member so as to rotate the protective coil about its longitudinal axis.
11. A system for delivering a self-expanding stent, the system comprising:
a sheath;
a self-expanding stent;
an assembly comprising an elongate flexible member, a plurality of arms attached to the elongate flexible member at a first end, and a protective coil coupled to the elongate flexible member distal of the arms, the arms having a second end that is (i) compressed inwardly toward the elongate flexible member by the sheath to engage the stent when the arms are in a constrained configuration, and (ii) spaced apart from the elongate flexible member by a distance greater than a width of the sheath when the arms are in an open configuration, the arms being biased toward the open configuration, wherein in the constrained configuration, a proximal portion of the self-expanding stent is held by the arms and a distal portion of the self-expanding stent is positioned within an interior portion of the protective coil, wherein movement of the arms to the open configuration causes the proximal and distal portions of the stent to become unrestrained.
12. The system according to claim 11 , wherein the spacing of the second ends of the arms from the elongate flexible member in the open configuration is sufficient to release the self-expanding stent from engagement with the arms.
13. The system according to claim 11 , wherein when the arms are in the constrained configuration, the arms engage a proximal portion of the stent.
14. The system according to claim 11 , wherein the arms comprise inwardly projecting members at the second ends of the arms.
15. The system according to claim 11 , wherein the protective coil is coupled to a tip coil.
16. The system according to claim 11 , wherein the protective coil is configured to rotatably release the distal portion of the self-expanding stent from within the protective coil and away from the elongate flexible member via a rotary force applied to a proximal end portion of the elongate flexible member so as to rotate the protective coil about its longitudinal axis.
17. A system for delivering a self-expanding stent through a catheter having a lumen, the system comprising:
a self-expanding stent;
an assembly comprising an elongate flexible member, a plurality of arms attached to the elongate flexible member at a first end, and a protective coil coupled to the elongate flexible member distal of the arms, the arms having second ends that are (i) compressed inwardly toward the elongate flexible member by the catheter to hold the stent when the arms are in a constrained configuration, and (ii) spaced apart from an opposing second end by a distance greater than a width of the lumen when the arms are in an open configuration, the arms being biased toward the open configuration, wherein in the constrained configuration, a proximal portion of the self-expanding stent is held by the arms and a distal portion of the self-expanding stent is positioned within an interior portion of the protective coil, wherein movement of the arms to the open configuration causes the proximal and distal portions of the stent to become unrestrained.
18. The system according to claim 17 , wherein the spacing apart of the second ends of the arms in the open configuration is sufficient to release the self-expanding stent from the arms.
19. The system according to claim 17 , wherein when the arms are in the constrained configuration, the arms hold a proximal portion of the stent.
20. The system according to claim 17 , wherein the arms comprise inwardly projecting members at the second ends of the arms.
21. The system according to claim 17 , wherein the protective coil is coupled to a tip coil.
22. The system according to claim 17 , wherein the protective coil is configured to rotatably release the distal portion of the self-expanding stent from within the protective coil and away from the elongate flexible member via a rotary force applied to a proximal end portion of the elongate flexible member so as to rotate the protective coil about its longitudinal axis.