Stent delivery system

Abstract

An stent delivery system may include a delivery device and a tubular body having a lumen sized to slidably fit about an outer diameter of the delivery device and a drainage stent having an anchoring mechanism, wherein the delivery device includes a constraining member configured to engage an external portion of the tubular body at the proximal end of the delivery device. A method of delivering a stent may include inserting a tubular body into the port of an endoscope, inserting a stent delivery device and a stent having an anchoring mechanism into the tubular body, wherein the delivery device includes a constraining member configured to engage and retain the tubular body at the proximal end of the delivery device, advancing the drainage stent distally through the tubular body, sliding the tubular body proximally, and engaging an external portion of the tubular body with the constraining member.

What is claimed: 
     
         1 . (canceled) 
     
     
         2 . A stent delivery system, comprising:
 an elongate pusher shaft including a proximal end, a distal end, and a lumen extending therebetween;   a stent having an anchoring mechanism comprising a proximal portion and a distal portion; and   a tubular body fixedly attached to the distal end of the pusher shaft;   wherein the tubular body extends distally of the distal end of the pusher shaft; and   wherein the tubular body covers the proximal portion of the anchoring mechanism.   
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein the proximal portion of the anchoring mechanism comprises at least one at least one distally-facing flap and the distal portion of the anchoring mechanism comprises at least one at least one proximally-facing flap. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein the distal portion of the anchoring mechanism is not covered by the tubular body. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein the stent is disposed in abutting contact with the distal end of the pusher shaft. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein the stent has an outer diameter that is similar to an outer diameter of the elongate pusher shaft. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein the stent is a drainage stent that is configured be deployed at a target site within the biliary and/or pancreatic tree. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein the tubular body has an inner diameter that is about the same as or slightly larger than an outer diameter of the stent. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein an inner surface of the tubular body is mated to and fixedly attached to an outer surface of the pusher shaft. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 9 , wherein the tubular body is fixedly attached to the pusher shaft by adhesive bonding, welding, friction fit, or interlocking fit. 
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein the pusher shaft comprises a guidewire port and the guidewire port is disposed adjacent to the proximal end of the pusher shaft. 
     
     
         12 . A stent delivery system, comprising:
 an elongate pusher shaft including a proximal end, a distal end, and a lumen extending therebetween;   a stent having an anchoring mechanism comprising a proximal portion and a distal portion, the stent disposed in abutting contact with the distal end of the pusher shaft; and   a tubular body fixedly attached to the distal end of the pusher shaft;   wherein an inner surface of the tubular body is mated to and fixedly attached to an outer surface of the pusher shaft;   wherein the tubular body extends distally of the distal end of the pusher shaft; and   wherein the tubular body covers the proximal portion of the anchoring mechanism.   
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 13 , wherein the tubular body is fixedly attached to the pusher shaft by adhesive bonding, welding, friction fit, or interlocking fit. 
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 13 , wherein the proximal portion of the anchoring mechanism comprises at least one at least one distally-facing flap and the distal portion of the anchoring mechanism comprises at least one at least one proximally-facing flap. 
     
     
         15 . A stent delivery system, comprising:
 an elongate pusher shaft including a proximal end, a distal end, and a lumen extending therebetween;   a stent having an anchoring mechanism comprising a proximal portion that comprises at least one at least one distally-facing flap and a distal portion that comprises at least one at least one proximally-facing flap; and   a tubular body fixedly attached to the distal end of the pusher shaft;   a guidewire configured to be slidably disposed within the lumen of the pusher shaft,   wherein the tubular body extends distally of the distal end of the pusher shaft and   wherein the tubular body covers the proximal portion of the anchoring mechanism but does not cover the distal portion of the anchoring mechanism.   
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 16 , wherein the pusher shaft comprises a guidewire port. 
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 16 , wherein the guidewire port is disposed adjacent to the proximal end of the pusher shaft. 
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 16 , wherein the stent is a drainage stent that is configured be deployed at a target site within the biliary and/or pancreatic tree. 
     
     
         19 . A method of delivering a stent to a patient using the system of  claim 13 , the method comprising:
 inserting the guidewire intraluminally to a target site;   inserting the elongate pusher shaft, the tubular body and the stent over the guidewire to the target site, wherein the at least one proximally-facing flap engages with surrounding tissue at the target site;   withdrawing the elongate pusher shaft proximally, wherein the at least one proximally-facing flap prevents the stent from withdrawing from the target site along with the elongate pusher shaft and wherein withdrawing the elongate pusher shaft causes the at least one distally-facing flap to be uncovered and engage with surrounding tissue; and   removing the guidewire, the pusher shaft and the tubular body from the patient.   
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 20 , wherein the elongate pusher shaft, the tubular body and the stent are inserted over the guidewire intralumenally. 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 20 , wherein the elongate pusher shaft, the tubular body and the stent are inserted over the guidewire through an endoscope