Granted Patent B2

US 12,638,121 · App. 17/712,895 · Granted May 26, 2026

Inventor: Aurelian Ioan Furcoiu (Chattanooga, TN)

F16L55/163A61F2002/9505

Abstract

Claims (55)

1 . A deployment probe for deploying a stent, the deployment probe comprising:

a probe body defining a probe void therethrough and an outer surface, the outer surface defining a recessed portion; and

a release mechanism comprising a stent retainer positioned within the probe void, the stent retainer configured to engage and retain a stent in a compressed configuration on the recessed portion of the probe body;

wherein the deployment probe further defines a front shoulder formed proximate to a front end of the probe body and extending radially outward from the recessed portion; and

wherein a diameter of the deployment probe at the front shoulder is greater than a diameter of the deployment probe at the recessed portion.

2 . The deployment probe of claim 1 , further defining a rear shoulder formed proximate to a rear end of the probe body, the rear end opposite the front end, the recessed portion extending substantially between the front shoulder and the rear shoulder, wherein a diameter of the deployment probe at the rear shoulder is greater than the diameter of the deployment probe at the recessed portion.

3 . The deployment probe of claim 2 , wherein the front shoulder is a substantially annular front shoulder and the rear shoulder is a substantially annular rear shoulder.

4 . The deployment probe of claim 1 , wherein the probe body further defines an inner surface, the inner surface defining the probe void, the probe void defining a probe axis extending centrally therethrough.

5 . The deployment probe of claim 4 , wherein:

the probe body further defines a rear end opposite the front end;

the deployment probe comprises a probe head at the front end;

at least one front opening is formed through the probe head;

at least one rear opening is formed at the rear end; and

the at least one front opening and the at least one rear opening are in fluid communication with the probe void.

6 . The deployment probe of claim 5 , wherein the probe head defines the front shoulder.

7 . The deployment probe of claim 5 , wherein the probe head defines a substantially annular flange, the substantially annular flange defining the front shoulder, a plurality of ball bearings mounted to the substantially annular flange.

8 . The deployment probe of claim 4 , wherein:

a slot is formed through the recessed portion of the probe body;

the release mechanism further comprises a retainer body received within the probe void; and

the stent retainer is coupled to the retainer body and substantially aligned with the slot.

9 . The deployment probe of claim 8 , further comprising the stent mounted to the probe body within the recessed portion in the compressed configuration, the stent comprising an engagement tab, the engagement tab extending through the slot and engaging the stent retainer.

10 . The deployment probe of claim 9 , wherein an outer diameter of the stent in the compressed configuration is about equal to or less than the diameter of the deployment probe at the front shoulder.

11 . The deployment probe of claim 9 , wherein:

the slot extends along the recessed portion in an axial direction relative to the probe axis; and

the release mechanism is axially movable within the probe void between an engaged position and a disengaged position.

12 . The deployment probe of claim 11 , further comprising a release cable, the release cable operatively coupled to the release mechanism to move the release mechanism between the engaged position and the disengaged position.

13 . The deployment probe of claim 12 , wherein:

the retainer body is a retainer wheel defining at least one retainer wheel opening in fluid communication with the probe void;

the stent retainer is a retainer clip mounted to a radially outward portion of the retainer wheel; and

the retainer clip comprising a first spring leg and a second spring leg, the first spring leg and the second spring leg biased towards one another.

14 . A deployment probe for deploying a stent, the deployment probe comprising:

a probe body defining a probe void therethrough and at least one slot in fluid communication with the probe void; and

a release mechanism disposed within the probe void and comprising a retainer wheel and at least one stent retainer mounted to a radially outward portion of the retainer wheel, each stent retainer substantially aligned with a corresponding one of the slots;

wherein the retainer wheel is axially movable within the probe void.

15 . The deployment probe of claim 14 , wherein:

the probe void defines a probe axis extending centrally therethrough;

each slot of the at least one slot is an elongated slot extending in an axial direction relative to the probe axis; and

the release mechanism is axially movable within the probe void between an engaged position and a disengaged position.

16 . The deployment probe of claim 15 , further comprising a release cable, the release cable operatively coupled to the release mechanism to move the release mechanism between the engaged position and the disengaged position.

17 . The deployment probe of claim 15 , further comprising the stent, the stent comprising an engagement tab extending through the slot and engaging the stent retainer in a compressed configuration of the stent.

18 . The deployment probe of claim 17 , wherein each of the stent retainers is a retainer clip, each retainer clip comprising a first spring leg and a second spring leg, the first spring leg biased towards the second spring leg.

19 . The deployment probe of claim 18 , wherein:

the first spring leg and the second spring leg are bent towards one another to define a pinched middle section of the retainer clip;

the pinched middle section engages a tab opening of the engagement tab in the engaged position to retain the stent in the compressed configuration; and

the pinched middle section disengages the tab opening in the disengaged position to permit the stent to expand to an expanded configuration of the stent.

20 . A deployment probe for deploying a stent, the deployment probe comprising:

a probe body defining a probe void therethrough and at least one slot in fluid communication with the probe void; and

a release mechanism disposed within the probe void and comprising a retainer wheel and at least one stent retainer mounted to a radially outward portion of the retainer wheel, each stent retainer substantially aligned with a corresponding one of the slots;

wherein the retainer wheel defines a plurality of radially outer spokes, each stent retainer of the at least one stent retainer disposed between an adjacent pair of the radially outer spokes.

21 . The deployment probe of claim 20 , wherein the retainer wheel further comprises a plurality of radially inner spokes, wherein a retainer opening is defined between each adjacent pair of radially inner spokes, and wherein each of the retainer openings is in fluid communication with the probe void.

22 . The deployment probe of claim 21 , wherein:

the probe body further defines a front end and a rear end opposite the front end;

the deployment probe comprises a probe head at the front end;

at least one front opening is formed through the probe head and is in fluid communication with the probe void; and

at least one rear opening is formed at the rear end and is in fluid communication with the probe void.

Continuity (3)

References Cited (244)