Importance

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Abstract

A stent delivery system having a stent pusher for delivering and implanting stents is disclosed. The stent delivery system has a tubular catheter with a tapered distal end, and the stent pusher is disposed coaxially therein so that the leading edge is adjacent to the tapered region. A recessed diameter region at the distal end of the stent pusher allows a self-expanding stent to be mounted to the stent pusher and covered by the catheter. As the stent pusher passes through the tapered region, the leading edge bears the resisting load instead of the distal end of the stent during deployment. In another embodiment, an inner sleeve is passed coaxially through an inner lumen of the stent pusher and extends from the distal end of the stent pusher. It is attached to the distal end of the catheter linking movement of the catheter and the inner sleeve. The stent is deployed by pushing on the inner sleeve while holding the stent pusher immobile, which retracts the catheter to expand the stent proximal to distal instead of distal to proximal.

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First Claim