Method of loading a medical endoprosthesis through the side wall of an elongate member
Medical devices and related systems and methods.
1. A method, comprising:
providing an implantable medical endoprosthesis;
providing an elongate member having a sidewall, an outer surface, and a lumen; and
moving the implantable medical endoprosthesis from a position along the outer surface of the elongate member, through an aperture formed through the sidewall of the elongate member, and into the lumen of the elongate member;
wherein the elongate member of the medical device comprimises an outer sheath of a stent delivery system, and the implantable medical endoprosthesis comprises a stent.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the aperture is a slit.
3. The method of claim 2 , wherein the slit extends to a distal end of the elongate member.
4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the aperture has a length that is greater than alength of the implantable medical endoprsthesis.
5. The method of claim 1 , further comprising forming the aperture in the sidewall of the elomgate member.
6. The method of claim 1 , further comprising expanding the aperture prior to passing the implantable medical endoprosthesis therethrough.
7. The method of claim 1 , further comprising passing the implantable medical endoprosthesis through an aperture formed through a sidewall of an inner sleeve disposed within a lumen of the elongate member.
8. The method of claim 7 , further comprising axially displacing the inner sleeve and the implantable medical endoprosthesis disposed therin relative to the aperture of the elongate member.
9. The method of claim 1 , further comprising the seperating a region of the elongate member comprising the aperture from a remainder of the member.
10. The method of claim 1 , further comprising disposing an outer sleeve coaxially about the elongate member, the outer sleeve substantially covering the aperture.
11. The method of claim 1 , further comprising closing the aperture.
12. The method of claim 1 , further comprising passing the stent through an aperture formed through a sidewall of an inner sleeve disposed within a lumen of the outer sheath.