Methods for delivering, repositioning and/or retrieving self-expanding stents

Abstract

Methods for delivery and deploying a stent formed of a shape memory alloy to a desired position in a tubular area of the body, and/or for repositioning and/or retrieving a stent formed of a two-way shape memory alloy. An arrangement is provided by which the temperature of the stent is locally adjusted during delivery, repositioning and/or retrieval in a safe and controlled manner by engagement with an expandable and collapsible thermal transfer member situated on a catheter assembly.

1 . to  36 . (Cancelled).  
     
     
         37 . A method of delivering a shape memory stent to, and deploying the stent at, a diseased tubular area in the body, comprising the steps of: 
 mounting a stent in a collapsed condition on a thermal transfer device coupled to a catheter assembly, said thermal transfer device including a thermal transfer surface such that the thermal transfer surface is in local heat transfer relationship with the stent;    delivering the stent in its collapsed condition on the thermal transfer device to a region of the diseased tubular area in the body;    after delivery adjusting the temperature of the thermal transfer surface to adjust the temperature of the stent in local thermal transfer relationship to control the expansion of said stent to an expanded condition whereupon the stent is deployed,    wherein said temperature adjusting step comprises adjusting the temperature and/or rate of inflow of cooling thermal fluid into a chamber of said thermal transfer device, and    wherein said transfer device includes electrical heating wires in the chamber and said temperature adjusting step comprises adjusting the current flow through the heating wires.    
     
     
         38 . A method of delivering a shape memory stent to, and deploying the stent at, a diseased tubular area in the body comprising the steps of: 
 mounting a stent in a collapsed condition on a thermal transfer device coupled to a catheter assembly, said thermal transfer device including a thermal transfer surface such that the thermal transfer surface is in local heat transfer relationship with the stent;    delivering the stent in its collapsed condition on the thermal transfer device to a region of the diseased tubular area in the body;    after delivery, adjusting the temperature of the thermal transfer surface to adjust the temperature of the stent in local thermal transfer relationship to control the expansion of said stent to an expanded condition whereupon the stent is deployed;    wherein said temperature adjusting step comprises adjusting the temperature and/or rate of inflow of cooling thermal fluid into a chamber of said thermal transfer device, and    wherein said temperature adjusting step comprises directing ultrasonic energy into the chamber.    
     
     
         39 . A method of delivering a shape memory stent to, and deploying the stent at, a diseased tubular area in the body, comprising the steps of: 
 mounting a stent in a collapsed condition on a thermal transfer device coupled to a catheter assembly, said thermal transfer device including a thermal transfer surface such that the thermal transfer surface is in local heat transfer relationship with the stent;    delivering the stent in its collapsed condition on the thermal transfer device to a region of the diseased tubular area in the body;    after delivery, adjusting the temperature of the thermal transfer surface to adjust the temperature of the stent in local thermal transfer relationship to control the expansion of said stent to an expanded condition whereupon the stent is deployed,    wherein said temperature adjusting step comprises adjusting the temperature and/or rate of inflow of cooling thermal fluid into a chamber of said thermal transfer device, and    wherein said temperature adjusting step comprises directing laser energy into the chamber.    
     
     
         40 . A method of delivering a shape memory stent to, and deploying the stent at, a diseased tubular area in the body, comprising the steps of: 
 mounting a stent in a collapsed condition on a thermal transfer device coupled to a catheter assembly, said thermal transfer device including a thermal transfer surface such that the thermal transfer surface is in local heat transfer relationship with the stent;    delivering the stent in its collapsed condition on the thermal transfer device to a region of the diseased tubular area in the body;    after delivery, adjusting the temperature of the thermal transfer surface to adjust the temperature of the stent in local thermal transfer relationship to control the expansion of said stent to an expanded condition whereupon the stent is deployed,    wherein said temperature adjusting step comprises directly controlling the temperature of the thermal transfer surface.    
     
     
         41 . The method of  claim 40  wherein the thermal transfer surface includes conductive heating wires and wherein said step of directly controlling the temperature of the thermal transfer surface comprises adjusting the current flowing through said heating wires.  
     
     
         42 . The method of  claim 40  said step of directly controlling the temperature of the thermal transfer surface comprises directly laser energy onto said thermal transfer surface.  
     
     
         43 . to  64 . (Cancelled).  
     
     
         65 . A method of capturing a two-way shape memory stent which is already deployed in supporting engagement with a vessel wall, for repositioning or retrieval comprising the steps of: 
 providing a thermal transfer device on a catheter assembly, said thermal transfer device having a thermal transfer surface;    introducing the thermal transfer device into the lumen of the deployed stent.