Importance

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Abstract

An apparatus and method for deploying one or more stents within a body lumen comprises a catheter (such as a dilatation catheter) having a detachable proximal portion. Detaching the proximal portion from the catheter shaft allows a substantially tubular sheath to be slidably received over the proximal end of the catheter shaft. The tubular sheath has one or more substantially tubular stents positioned in a delivery configuration over a distal portion of the sheath. The sheath preferably has a proximal portion that is resistant to compressive forces, so that a user may advance the sheath along the catheter by pushing the sheath proximal end, thereby positioning the stent or stents at a desired deployment location within the body lumen. With the stents in position, the catheter proximal portion can be attached to the catheter shaft, and the stents can be deployed at the desired position. After the stents have been deployed, the catheter proximal hub can be removed, the first sheath slidably removed from the catheter shaft, a second sheath (containing additional stents) slidably introduced over the catheter shaft, the catheter proximal hub reattached, and the additional stents deployed. Thus, multiple stents can be deployed without necessitating removal of the catheter shaft until the procedure is completed.

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First Claim