Laser ablated elastomer sheath profiles to enable stent securement

Abstract

The stent placement dilation balloon assembly comprises a catheter having a distal end, a distal end portion, and a proximal end, a balloon mounted to, about, and around the distal end portion of the catheter. The assembly further includes an elastic sheath positioned about and around the balloon. The outer surface of the sheath includes a profile which encourages stent securement. A stent is mounted on the sleeve for placement in a vessel in a human body.

1 . A catheter assembly comprising:
 a catheter, the catheter having a proximal portion and a distal portion;   a medical balloon coaxially mounted on the distal portion of the catheter, the medical balloon comprising a proximal waist, a proximal cone, a distal waist, a distal cone and a body portion, wherein the body portion is positioned between the proximal and distal cones, the balloon having a reduced diameter state and an expanded diameter state;   a sheath, the sheath being tubular and being coaxially mounted about at least a portion of the body portion of the medical balloon, wherein the sheath is elastic, such that it stretches with the medical balloon as the balloon is expanded from its reduced diameter state to its expanded diameter state, the sheath having an inner surface and an outer surface, wherein the outer surface comprises a plurality of notches, and wherein the notches extend at an angle relative to an angle that is perpendicular to the outer surface of the sheath; and   a medical device mounted about the sheath, the medical device having a reduced diameter configuration and an expanded diameter configuration.   
     
     
         2 . The catheter assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the notches are circumferentially oriented around the sheath. 
     
     
         3 . The catheter assembly of  claim 1 , wherein each notch at least partially defines a blade, each blade extending at an angle relative to the outer surface of the sheath. 
     
     
         4 . The catheter assembly of  claim 3 , wherein at least one blade extends in a first direction and at least one blade extends in a second direction, the first and second directions being opposingly situated. 
     
     
         5 . The catheter assembly of  claim 4 , wherein there are a plurality of blades extending in the first direction and a plurality of blades extending in the second direction. 
     
     
         6 . The catheter assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the notches are formed via selective laser ablation. 
     
     
         7 . The catheter assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the notches prevent axial movement of the medical device, but allow circumferential movement. 
     
     
         8 . The catheter assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the medical device is a bifurcated stent, the catheter assembly being arranged and constructed, such that the bifurcated stent may be manually rotated about the catheter, when the bifurcated stent is in reduced diameter configuration. 
     
     
         9 . The catheter assembly of  claim 8 , wherein the catheter assembly is constructed and arranged, such that the sheath is rotatable.