Soluble fixation device and method for stent delivery catheters

Abstract

A soluble capsule, fairing or adherent material for a stent catheter or other device to inserted into the human body. The capsule, fairing or adherent material is made of a material which dissolves within the body in a convenient time, for example ten or fifteen minutes, allowing a convenient time for placement of the device and protecting the blood vessel from any sharp surfaces of the device.

I claim:  
     
         1 . A device suitable for insertion into a lumen of the body, said device comprising: 
 a stent;    a fairing surface applied to the stent, said fairing surface comprising an intra-operatively dissolvable material.    
     
     
         2 . The device of  claim 1  wherein the fairing surface is isodiametric with the stent.  
     
     
         3 . The device of  claim 1  wherein the material of the fairing comprises at least one of the following materials: 
 carbohydrates, starch, sugar, polysaccharide, monosacharride, disaccharide, mannitol, maltitol, sorbitol, xylitol, fructose, sucrose, dextrose, glucose, glucosamine, lactose, gellan, curdlan, XM-6, xanthan, agar, algin, carrageenan, furcelleran, gums, biopolymers, dextrans, dextranes, dextrins, polyethylene glycol, polyethylene oxide, polypropyline oxide, lipids, sodium chloride, potassium chloride, sodium carbonate, polyvinylpyrrolidone, polyvinyl acetate, and acetate.  
 
     
     
         4 . The device of  claim 3  wherein the fairing surface is isodiametric with the stent.  
     
     
         5 . A device suitable for insertion into a lumen of the body, said device comprising: 
 a stent;    a fairing surface applied to the stent, said faring surface comprising a material which is dissolvable over a period which in practice is between 1 and 30 minutes.    
     
     
         6 . The device of  claim 5  wherein the fairing surface is isodiametric with the stent.  
     
     
         7 . The device of  claim 5  wherein the material of the fairing comprises at least one of the following materials: 
 carbohydrates, starch, sugar, polysaccharide, monosacharride, disaccharide, mannitol, maltitol, sorbitol, xylitol, fructose, sucrose, dextrose, glucose, glucosamine, lactose, gellan, curdlan, XM-6, xanthan, agar, algin, carrageenan, furcelleran, gums, biopolymers, dextrans, dextranes, dextrins, polyethylene glycol, polyethylene oxide, polypropyline oxide, lipids, sodium chloride, potassium chloride, sodium carbonate, polyvinylpyrrolidone, polyvinyl acetate, and acetate.  
 
     
     
         8 . The device of  claim 5  wherein the fairing surface is isodiametric with the stent.  
     
     
         9 . A device suitable for insertion into a lumen of the body, said device comprising: 
 a stent;    a fairing structure mounted on the stent, said fairing structure sized and dimensioned to provide a smooth surface for at least a portion of the stent thereby facilitating intravascular movement of the stent, said fairing structure soluble within the body and having a thickness to allow at least a predetermined minimum amount of time for the intravascular insertion of the stent before the fairing structure dissolves to expose the stent.    
     
     
         10 . A device suitable for insertion into a lumen of the body, said device comprising: 
 a stent, said stent having a distal end, a proximal end, and a center portion;    a fairing cap covering the distal end of the stent, said fairing cap comprising a dissolvable material, said faring cap terminating proximally from the distal end of the stent so as to leave the center portion of the stent uncovered by the cap.    
     
     
         11 . The device of  claim 10  further comprising a second fairing cap covering the proximal end of the stent, said second fairing cap terminating distally of the proximal end of the stent so as to leave the center portion of the stent uncovered by the cap.  
     
     
         12 . The device of  claim 10  wherein the fairing cap is isodiametric with the stent.  
     
     
         13 . The device of  claim 11  wherein the first fairing cap and the second fairing cap are isodiametric with the stent.  
     
     
         14 . The device of  claim 11  wherein the first fairing cap is comprised of at least one of the following materials and wherein the second fairing cap is comprised of at least one of the following materials: 
 carbohydrates, starch, sugar, polysaccharide, monosacharride, disaccharide, mannitol, maltitol, sorbitol, xylitol, fructose, sucrose, dextrose, glucose, glucosamine, lactose, gellan, curdlan, XM-6, xanthan, agar, algin, carrageenan, furcelleran, gums, biopolymers, dextrans, dextranes, dextrins, polyethylene glycol, polyethylene oxide, polypropyline oxide, lipids, sodium chloride, potassium chloride, sodium carbonate, polyvinylpyrrolidone, polyvinyl acetate, and acetate.  
 
     
     
         15 . The device of  claim 14  wherein the first fairing cap and the second fairing cap are isodiametric with the stent.  
     
     
         16 . A method of performing a medical procedure comprising the steps of: 
 providing a catheter having a distal end, said catheter comprising: 
 a stent mounted on the distal end of the catheter;  
 a fairing surface surrounding at least a portion of the stent for facilitating intravascular movement of the stent, said covering soluble within the body and having a thickness to allow at least a predetermined minimum amount of time for the intravascular insertion of the stent before the covering dissolves to expose the stent; and  
   inserting the catheter into a lumen of the body.    
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16  wherein the fairing surface is isodiametric with the stent.  
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 16  wherein the material of the fairing comprises at least one of the following materials: 
 carbohydrates, starch, sugar, polysaccharide, monosacharride, disaccharide, mannitol, maltitol, sorbitol, xylitol, fructose, sucrose, dextrose, glucose, glucosamine, lactose, gellan, curdlan, XM-6, xanthan, agar, algin, carrageenan, furcelleran, gums, biopolymers, dextrans, dextranes, dextrins, polyethylene glycol, polyethylene oxide, polypropyline oxide, lipids, sodium chloride, potassium chloride, sodium carbonate, polyvinylpyrrolidone, polyvinyl acetate, and acetate.  
 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18  wherein the fairing surface is isodiametric with the stent.