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  Balloon catheter for multiple adjustable stent deploymentUSPTO Application #: 20070118204Title: Balloon catheter for multiple adjustable stent deployment Abstract: A catheter configured to carry one or more stents and having an inflatable balloon for expanding a stent surrounding the balloon. The catheter is characterized in having a positioner for moving the one or more stents relative to the balloon from a first position in which the stent does not surround the balloon to a second position in which the stent surrounds the balloon. Also disclosed is a method for deploying a stent at a desired location in the vascular system. (end of abstract) Agent: Levine Bagade Han LLP - Palo Alto, CA, US Inventor: Israel Chermoni USPTO Applicaton #: 20070118204 - Class: 623001110 (USPTO) Related Patent Categories: Prosthesis (i.e., Artificial Body Members), Parts Thereof, Or Aids And Accessories Therefor, Arterial Prosthesis (i.e., Blood Vessel), Stent Combined With Surgical Delivery System (e.g., Surgical Tools, Delivery Sheath, Etc.) The Patent Description & Claims data below is from USPTO Patent Application 20070118204. Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims
RELATED APPLICATION DATA [0001] This application is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No. 11/421,653 filed Jun. 1, 2006, which is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No. 10/108,985 filed Mar. 29, 2002, which claims the benefit of foreign priority to IL 142332 filed Mar. 29, 2001, each of which application is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety. FIELD OF THE INVENTION [0002] This invention relates to catheters and more specifically to such catheters that are used to implant a stent in an artery. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0003] Blood vessels, and particularly arteries, may become stenotic or occluded due to various atherosclerotic processes. A stenotic artery may be treated by balloon angioplasty in which an inflatable balloon mounted on a catheter tip is inserted into the arterial system and navigated through the arterial system to the diseased artery. The balloon is then inflated by means of a pressurized fluid. This causes the balloon to press radially on the arterial wall so as to open the stenosis. A stent may be crimped onto the balloon before insertion so that when the balloon is inflated the stent becomes expanded, The balloon is deflated and withdrawn leaving the expanded stent in the artery. These and other similar methods are well known to the skilled man of the art. [0004] It is often necessary to treat several stenoses in a single angioplastic session. For example, it may be necessary to insert a large diameter stent at one location, a small diameter stent at a second location and to perform a balloon angioplasty without a stent at a third location. This could be accomplished by sequential insertion and withdrawal of a catheter, the catheter being loaded each time with the appropriate stent prior to insertion. This however would cause much discomfort to the patient, prolongs the duration of the procedure and increases the chances of damaging a blood vessel. [0005] U.S. Pat. No. 6,027,519 discloses a catheter for deploying one or more stents. The stent has one or more individually expandable segments along its length. A stent, in its unexpanded state, is loaded onto each expandable segment of the catheter. The catheter is inserted into the vascular system and positioned with the first expandable segment in a stenosis. An axial force is then applied to the segment causing it to buckle outwards and expand the stent. The force is then removed causing the segment to unbuckle leaving the stent in its expanded state. The catheter is then navigated to another stenosis. This process is repeated until all of the stents have been deployed. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION [0006] The present invention provides a catheter for deploying one or more stents in a cardiovascular system. The catheter is configured to carry one or more stents. Preferably, the catheter carries a plurality of stents. The stents may be of different or the same widths. An inflatable balloon is used to expand a stent surrounding the balloon. The catheter comprises a positioner for moving a stent relative to the balloon from a position in which the stent does not surround the balloon to a position that it does surround the balloon in order to prime the stent for expansion by the balloon. The phrase "for moving a stent relative to the balloon" includes two possibilities, i.e. moving the positioner relative to the balloon and moving the balloon relative to the positioner. [0007] In one, embodiment of the invention the positioner comprises an element configured to slide along the catheter and push the stents distally along the catheter so as to move a stent adjacent to the balloon into a position in which it surrounds the balloon. The sliding element is pushed along the catheter by means of a wire extending along the catheter from its proximal end to the sliding element. In this embodiment, the stents are deployed in the order in which they are carried by the catheter, starting with the stent closest to the balloon. [0008] In another embodiment, the positioner comprises a flexible carriage configured to carry the one or more stents. The carriage is capable of sliding along the catheter in order to bring one of the stents from a position in which the stent does not surround the balloon to a position in which the stent surrounds the balloon. The carriage is moved in either direction along the catheter by means of a wire extending along the catheter from its proximal end to the carriage. It is also possible to position the stent opposite a desired location in the vascular system and slide the balloon through the carriage to a position opposite the stent. In this embodiment the stents may be deployed in the vascular system in any order. [0009] It a third embodiment, the catheter comprises two positioners, one posterior positioner as described above in the first embodiment positioned posterior to the balloon, and a second anterior positioner positioned anterior to the balloon. In this embodiment, the anterior positioner may be distanced from the balloon so as to provide a storage space between the anterior positioner and the balloon. The balloon in this embodiment may be a conventional balloon used in balloon angioplasty. In this embodiment also, the stents may be deployed in the vascular system in any order, and may be of different lengths. [0010] In use, the catheter is loaded with one or more stents and inserted into a vascular system. The catheter is navigated through the vascular system until the balloon or stent is positioned at a first desired location, typically the site of a stenosis. The stent or balloon is then moved by the positioner so that the stent surrounds the balloon and the balloon is inflated so as to expand the stent. The balloon is then deflated, leaving the expanded stent at the fist desired location. This process may be repeated, each time deploying a different stent at a different location. After one or more of the stents have been deployed, the catheter may be removed from the vascular system. [0011] The invention also provides a method for deploying a stent in a desired location of a vascular system comprising the steps of: [0012] (a) inserting a catheter according to the invention carrying one or more stents into the vascular system, [0013] (b) navigating the catheter through the vascular system until the balloon is positioned in the desired location; [0014] (c) moving a stent from a first position in which it does not surround the balloon to a second position in which it surrounds the balloon; [0015] (d) inflating the balloon so as to expand the stent; and [0016] (e) deflating the balloon. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS [0017] In order to understand the invention and to see how it may be carried out in practice, a preferred embodiment will now be described, by way of non-limiting examples only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: [0018] FIG. 1 shows a catheter in accordance with one embodiment of the invention; [0019] FIG. 2 shows the catheter of FIG. 1 carrying stents; Continue reading... Full patent description for Balloon catheter for multiple adjustable stent deployment Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims Click on the above for other options relating to this Balloon catheter for multiple adjustable stent deployment patent application. ###  How KEYWORD MONITOR works... a FREE service from FreshPatents1. Sign up (takes 30 seconds). 2. Fill in the keywords to be monitored. 3. Each week you receive an email with patent applications related to your keywords. Start now! - Receive info on patent apps like Balloon catheter for multiple adjustable stent deployment or other areas of interest. ### Previous Patent Application: Balloon catheter for multiple adjustable stent deployment Next Patent Application: Bifurcation stent delivery system Industry Class: Prosthesis (i.e., artificial body members), parts thereof, or aids and accessories therefor ### FreshPatents.com Support Thank you for viewing the Balloon catheter for multiple adjustable stent deployment patent info. IP-related news and info Results in 0.34802 seconds Other interesting Feshpatents.com categories: Software: Finance , AI , Databases , Development , Document , Navigation , Error |
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