Controlled deployable medical device and method of making the same

Abstract

Controlled deployable medical devices that are retained inside a body passage and in one particular application to vascular devices used in repairing arterial dilations, e.g., aneurysms. Such devices can be adjusted during deployment, thereby allowing at least one of a longitudinal or radial re-positioning, resulting in precise alignment of the device to an implant target site.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A medical apparatus, comprising:
 a catheter having a proximal end portion and a distal end portion;   a stent member having a trunk and a leg portion and arranged on the proximal end portion of the catheter, wherein the stent member has an inner surface and an outer surface;   a first sheath material covering the trunk portion of the stent member, wherein the first sheath material is configured to maintain the stent member at a first diameter suitable for endoluminal delivery;   a second sheath material covering the stent member, wherein the second sheath material is configured to maintain the stent member at a second diameter, wherein the second diameter is greater than the first diameter and less than a fully expanded deployed diameter; and   a third sheath material covering at least a portion of the leg portion, wherein the third sheath material is configured to maintain the leg portion of the stent member at the first diameter.   
     
     
         2 . The medical apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the first sheath material extends over both the stent member and the second sheath material. 
     
     
         3 . The medical apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein the second sheath material is disposed between the stent member and the first sheath material, wherein the stent member is configured to expand to the second diameter upon a release of the first sheath material, the second sheath material configured to maintain the stent member at the second diameter. 
     
     
         4 . The medical apparatus of  claim 3 , wherein the stent member is configured such that the trunk expands upon the release of the first sheath material. 
     
     
         5 . The medical apparatus of  claim 3 , wherein the stent member includes anchors along the distal end thereof for engaging a vessel. 
     
     
         6 . The medical apparatus of  claim 5 , wherein the second sheath material is configured to constrain the anchors after the release of the first sheath material and prior to the stent member expanding to the fully expanded deployed diameter. 
     
     
         7 . The medical apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein one or more of the first and second sheaths is formed from ePTFE film. 
     
     
         8 . An apparatus, comprising:
 a catheter having a proximal end portion and a distal end portion;   a stent member arranged on the proximal end portion of the catheter, wherein the stent member has an inner surface and an outer surface;   a first sheath material covering at least a first portion of the stent member, wherein the first sheath material is configured to maintain the first portion of the stent member at a first diameter; and   a second sheath material covering at least a second portion of the stent member, wherein the second sheath material is configured to maintain the second portion of the stent member at a second diameter, wherein the second diameter is greater than the first diameter.   
     
     
         9 . The apparatus of  claim 8 , wherein a length of the first sheath material is substantially longer than a length of the second sheath material. 
     
     
         10 . The apparatus of  claim 8 , wherein the stent member is self-expandable. 
     
     
         11 . The apparatus of  claim 8 , wherein one or more of the first and second sheath materials are configured for removal from an implantation site. 
     
     
         12 . The apparatus of  claim 8 , wherein a length of the first sheath material is substantially equal to a length of the second sheath material. 
     
     
         13 . The apparatus of  claim 8 , wherein the first and second portions are the same portion. 
     
     
         14 . The apparatus of  claim 8 , wherein the first diameter is a compacted delivery diameter, the apparatus further comprising a third sheath material that is configured to maintain a third portion of the stent member at the compacted delivery diameter while the second sheath material is configured to simultaneously maintain the stent member at the second diameter. 
     
     
         15 . The apparatus of  claim 14 , wherein one or more of the first and second and third sheath materials are removable from an implantation site.