Tubular medical device

Abstract

Apparatus for progressively dilating the lumen of a narrow natural vessel such as an iliac artery and implanting a tubular device enabling access through the dilated lumen to conduct subsequent procedures via the dilated lumen, includes an inflatable integrated balloon locatable at least partially within the tubular device, the tubular device having a length L1 providing a self-expanding tubular body having at least a portion including stents, so that when the integrated balloon is removed the dilated lumen of the natural vessel remains dilated and supported by the tubular device.

1 . A delivery system, comprising:
 a) an operator handle ( 220 ), including a splitter mechanism ( 224 );   b) a delivery shaft ( 249 ) extending from the operator handle ( 220 );   c) a pull handle ( 232 ) at the operator handle ( 220 ); and   d) straps ( 233 ) extending from the pull handle ( 232 ).   
     
     
         2 . The delivery system of  claim 1 , further including a self-expanding tubular body ( 31 ,  243 ) that includes a stented tubular length portion (L 1 ) that includes self-expanding stents, and a crimped tubular length portion (L 2 ), the crimped tubular length portion (L 2 ) being secured to the stented tubular length portion (L 1 ). 
     
     
         3 . The delivery system of  claim 2 , further including a removable sheath ( 230 ,  241 ) radially constricting the stented tubular length portion (L 1 ) that extends through the operator handle, wherein the delivery shaft extends to the removable sheath ( 230 , 241 ), whereby the removable sheath ( 230 , 241 ) is split by pulling on the pull handle ( 232 ). 
     
     
         4 . The delivery system of  claim 3 , further including an integrated balloon ( 15 ,  245 ) within the self-expanding tubular body ( 31 ,  243 ), whereby inflation of the integrated balloon ( 15 ,  245 ) after removal of the removable sheath ( 230 ,  241 ) enables further radial expansion of the stented tubular length portion (L 1 ) of the self-expanding tubular body ( 31 ,  243 ) 
     
     
         5 . The tubular medical device of  claim 4 , wherein the integrated balloon ( 15 ,  245 ) is one that is undersized in relation to the maximum potential expanded dimension of the tubular body ( 31 ,  243 ). 
     
     
         6 . The tubular medical device of  claim 2 , further including an internal valve at the crimped tubular length portion (L 1 ). 
     
     
         7 . The tubular medical device of  claim 6 , wherein the valve includes an introducer seal. 
     
     
         8 . The tubular medical device of  claim 2 , wherein the stented tubular length portion (L 1 ) includes saddle-shaped ring stents ( 244 ), each of which has peak ( 252 ) and valley portions ( 253 ). 
     
     
         9 . The tubular medical device of  claim 2 , wherein the stented tubular length portion (L 1 ) includes a lining of a polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE).