Importance

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Abstract

A stent delivery system with a stabilizing manipulator handle is disclosed. The system has a self-expanding stent in a contracted condition disposed on the distal end of a delivery catheter and a retractable sheath covering the stent. The delivery catheter is advanced through a guide catheter to a desired location within a patient's body lumen. The manipulator handle at the proximal end of the delivery catheter is attached to the guide catheter. The handle has a slidable stem connected to the sheath, and features a screw down spacer between the distal end of the handle and the proximal end of the guide catheter. The spacer situates the position of the guide catheter relative to the delivery catheter even during deployment of the stent. Once the stent is at the target site, the sheath is retracted by pulling back on the stem to expose the self-expanding stent. A stop on the interior of the delivery catheter positioned proximal to the stent further prevents the latter from moving out of position when the sheath is retracted.

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First Claim