Stent valve, delivery apparatus and method therefor

Abstract

A delivery catheter for a stent valve, the delivery catheter having a distal portion insertable into an anatomy, the distal portion comprising an accommodation region for accommodating a stent-valve for delivery into the anatomy, the delivery catheter further comprising at least one sheath that is translatable between a closed position for at least partly closing the accommodation region and an open position for at least partly opening the accommodation region.

What is claimed: 
     
         1 . A method of introducing a delivery catheter into an haemostasis valve of an arterial introducer, wherein the delivery catheter  5  is for introducing a stent-valve into the anatomy and comprises:
 a distal portion having a stent-valve accommodation region; 
 a flexible stem portion extending proximally from the distal portion, and comprising a plurality of control tubes nested one within another, and axially slidable relative to each other to manipulate the distal portion for deploying a stent-valve; and 
 a sleeve slidable on the stem portion, the sleeve having an interior configured for permitting substantially unobstructed sliding of the stem portion with respect to the sleeve; 
 wherein the sleeve slidable on the stem portion is advanced into the haemostasis valve of the arterial introducer. 
 
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the sleeve comprises a seal member for forming a substantially blood-tight seal between an interior surface of the sleeve and an exterior surface of the stem portion. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the seal member is formed by an O-ring. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the sleeve is slidably captive on the stem portion. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the sleeve is proximal of the distal portion and configured for insertion into an introducer after the distal portion has been inserted through the introducer. 
     
     
         6 . A delivery catheter for introducing a stent-valve into the anatomy, the delivery catheter comprising:
 a distal portion having a stent-valve accommodation region;   a flexible stem portion extending proximally from the distal portion, and comprising a plurality of control tubes nested one within another, and axially slidable relative to each other to manipulate the distal portion for deploying a stent-valve; and   a sleeve slidable on the stem portion, the sleeve having an interior configured for permitting substantially unobstructed sliding of the stem portion with respect to the sleeve.   
     
     
         7 . The delivery catheter of  claim 6 , wherein the sleeve comprises a seal member for forming a substantially blood-tight seal between an interior surface of the sleeve and an exterior surface of the stem portion. 
     
     
         8 . The delivery catheter of  claim 7 , wherein the seal member is formed by an O-ring. 
     
     
         9 . The delivery catheter of  claim 7 , wherein the sleeve is slidably captive on the stem portion. 
     
     
         10 . The delivery catheter of  claim 8 , wherein the sleeve is proximal of the distal portion and configured for insertion into an introducer after the distal portion has been inserted through the introducer.