System and method for accurately deploying a stent

6,425,915 Bl * 7/2002 Khosravi et al 623/1.22

6,428,462 Bl * 8/2002 Mawad 600/3

6,443,980 Bl * 9/2002 Wang et al 623/1.11

6,461,383 Bl * 10/2002 Gesswein et al 623/6.11

6,471,718 Bl * 10/2002 Staehle et al 623/1.11

6,478,814 B2 * 11/2002 Wang et al 623/1.12

FOREIGN PATENT DOCUMENTS

WO WO 95/11055 4/1995

* cited by examiner

Primary Examiner—David H. Willse

Assistant Examiner—Suzette J. Jackson

(74) Attorney, Agent, or Firm—Fulwider Patton Lee &

Utecht, LLP

(57) ABSTRACT

A system used in a blood vessel when an interventional procedure is being performed in a stenosed or occluded region, which is capable of accurately treating an affected area in a blood vessel while preventing adverse effects for healthy tissue. The system includes a catheter which is positionable in a blood vessel at the interventional procedure site. The system further includes an interventional instrument such as a self-expandable stent which may be deployed in the blood vessel at the interventional procedure site. The system also includes an extendable member, adapted to be about the interventional instrument for delivery of the interventional instrument to the interventional procedure site, and to be retractable from extending about the interventional instrument for enabling the interventional instrument to expand at the interventional procedure site. The system further includes movement preventing elements, for preventing axial movement of the interventional instrument in a support region of a catheter elongated shaft, during retraction of the extendable member from extending about the interventional instrument, for enabling accurate deployment of the interventional instrument.

22 Claims, 3 Drawing Sheets