Granted Patent B2

US 12,447,030 · App. 17/558,961 · Granted Oct 21, 2025

Inventors: Edward H. Cully (Flagstaff, AZ); Craig W. Irwin (Parks, AZ); James D. Silverman (Flagstaff, AZ)

Assignee: W. L. Gore & Associates, Inc.

A61F2/958A61F2/9526A61F2/966A61F2002/826A61F2/9522

Abstract

Claims (31)

1. A constraining sheath comprising:

an inverted sheath having an inner layer and an outer layer, the layers at least partially defining a chamber;

a restraining member fitted between the inner layer and the outer layer of the inverted sheath; and

a medical device covered by or contained in the inverted sheath in a first profile;

wherein the chamber of the inverted sheath is pressurizable via introduction of fluid into the chamber, the inverted sheath is evertable and retractable along the medical device by foreshortening of the inverted sheath to assume a second profile in response to pressurizing the chamber, and the restraining member is movable in a proximal direction in response to everting the inverted sheath.

2. The constraining sheath of claim 1 , wherein the inverted sheath is axially displaced when the chamber is pressurized.

3. The constraining sheath of claim 1 , wherein the inverted sheath comprises a helically wrapped tape.

4. The constraining sheath of claim 3 , wherein the tape comprises anisotropic ePTFE.

5. The constraining sheath of claim 3 , wherein the helically wrapped tape is neckable.

6. The constraining sheath of claim 1 , wherein at least the outer layer comprises at least two constrictions, wherein at the constrictions the outer layer cannot increase in diameter.

7. The constraining sheath of claim 6 , wherein the constrictions are selected from the group consisting of sutures, shrink tubes, adhesives, ePTFE, and FEP.

8. The constraining sheath of claim 1 , wherein the inverted sheath comprises a braided filament.

9. The constraining sheath of claim 1 , wherein the inverted sheath has a fixed seal.

10. The constraining sheath of claim 1 , wherein the inverted sheath further comprises a retracting member.

11. The constraining sheath of claim 10 , wherein the retracting member is selected from the group consisting of a wire, a polymeric tether, and a polymeric tubes.

12. The constraining sheath of claim 1 , wherein the inverted sheath comprises a balloon.

13. The constraining sheath of claim 1 , wherein the restraining member comprises a flexible band or a flexible O-ring.

14. A method of loading a medical device comprising:

radially compressing a medical device about an elongate element;

providing a sheath that is inverted to define an inner layer and an outer layer and a pressurizable chamber defined between the inner and outer layers, the sheath having a restraining member fitted between the inner layer and the outer layer of the sheath, the sheath being configured to transition transitionable between a delivery profile and a deployment profile by pressurizing the pressurizable chamber, such that the sheath is evertable by expanding in diameter and shortening in length relative to the delivery profile and the restraining member is movable in a proximal direction in response to everting the sheath; and

disposing the sheath about the radially compressed medical device with the sheath in the delivery profile.

15. The method of claim 14 , wherein the medical device is completely uncovered and deployable in response to the sheath transitioning to the deployment profile such that deployment of the medical device does not require eversion of the sheath beyond the deployment profile.

16. The method of claim 14 , further comprising fixing a proximal end of the inner and outer layers to the elongate element, wherein the proximal end of the outer layer corresponds to a distal end of the sheath, and wherein the proximal end of the inner layer corresponds to a proximal end of the sheath.

17. A method of loading a medical device comprising:

disposing a medical device about an elongate element;

disposing a sheath about the medical device;

causing a diameter of the sheath to be reduced to cause the medical device to be radially compressed about the elongate element; and

inverting a portion of the sheath to define an inner layer and an outer layer of the sheath such that a restraining member is fitted between the inner layer and the outer layer of the sheath, wherein the inner and outer layers define a pressurizable chamber such that the sheath is transitionable between a delivery profile and a deployment profile by pressurizing the pressurizable chamber, the sheath is evertable by expanding in diameter and shortening in length relative to the delivery profile, and the restraining member is movable in a proximal direction in response to everting the sheath.

18. The method of claim 17 , further comprising fixing a proximal end of the inner and outer layers to the elongate element, wherein the proximal end of the outer layer corresponds to a distal end of the sheath, and wherein the proximal end of the inner layer corresponds to a proximal end of the sheath.

19. The method of claim 17 , wherein causing the diameter of the sheath to be reduced comprises applying tension to the sheath to cause a portion of the sheath surrounding the medical device to neck down.

20. The method of claim 17 , wherein the medical device is completely uncovered and deployable in response to the sheath transitioning to the deployment profile such that deployment of the medical device does not require eversion of the sheath beyond the deployment profile.

Assignments (1)

Continuity (4)

References Cited (299)