Delivery systems and methods for deploying expandable intraluminal medical devices
Methods and devices for delivering and deploying expandable intraluminal medical devices at a desired point of treatment within a body vessel are provided. A delivery device is provided, inserted into a body vessel, and navigated through the vessel to place an associated expandable intraluminal medical device at a desired point of treatment. Once the desired location is reached, an elongate member on which the expandable intraluminal medical device is disposed is spaced from a wall surface of the body vessel using an expandable wire basket, balloon, or other suitable structure. The expandable intraluminal medical device is deployed from the delivery system, which can ultimately be withdrawn from the body vessel.
1. A method for delivering and deploying an expandable intraluminal medical device, comprising:
providing a delivery system comprising an elongate member having proximal and distal ends and defining a lumen, the delivery system further comprising an ancillary delivery device adapted to be inserted into and advanced through the lumen and having a means for spacing a portion of the elongate member from a wall surface of a body vessel, said expandable intraluminal medical device circumferentially disposed about a portion of the elongate member and having a distal end, said means for spacing having a proximal end and a distal end;
the means for spacing comprising a basket formed from at least two wire members having expanded and collapsed configurations, each of the at least two wire members having a proximal wire end and a distal wire end, the at least two wire members not crossing each other and contacting each other only at the respective proximal and distal wire ends to define open spaces between the at least two wire members;
placing a guidewire in the body vessel;
inserting the distal end of the elongate member over the guidewire and into the body vessel;
advancing the distal end of the elongate member over the guidewire and through the body vessel and to a desired point of treatment;
removing the guidewire from the body vessel by retracting the guidewire through the lumen of the elongate member;
inserting the ancillary delivery device into the proximal end of the elongate member and into the lumen;
advancing the ancillary delivery device through the lumen until the means for spacing exits the distal end of the elongate member;
spacing a portion of the elongate member from a wall surface of the body vessel at a point distal to said expandable intraluminal medical device by activating the means for spacing such that an axial portion of the elongate member disposed between the proximal end of the means for spacing and the distal end of the intraluminal medical device is free of contact with the wall surface of the body vessel;
deploying said expandable intraluminal medical device from the elongate member while the elongate member is being spaced from a wall surface of the body vessel;
retracting the means for spacing into the lumen of the elongate member while maintaining the position of the distal end of the elongate member relative to the deployed expandable intraluminal medical device; and
withdrawing the elongate member from the body vessel;
wherein the deploying step is performed while the spacing step is being performed.
2. The method for delivering and deploying an expandable intraluminal medical device according to claim 1 , wherein the step of spacing a portion of the elongate member from a wall surface of the body vessel comprises spacing a portion of the elongate member that includes said expandable intraluminal medical device.
3. The method for delivering and deploying an expandable intraluminal medical device according to claim 1 , wherein the delivery system further comprises a sheath circumferentially disposed about the elongate member and movable along the elongate member, and wherein the step of deploying the expandable intraluminal medical device comprises retracting the sheath from a position about the expandable intraluminal medical device.
4. The method for delivering and deploying an expandable intraluminal medical device according to claim 3 , wherein the activating the means for spacing includes retracting the sheath from a position about the means for spacing.
5. The method for delivering and deploying an expandable intraluminal medical device according to claim 1 , wherein said expandable intraluminal medical device comprises a prosthetic venous valve.