The reconstrainment band 10 is preferably secured to the delivery tube 14 of the delivery device 12 such that the reconstrainment band is located around the delivery tube in coaxial relation therewith. The reconstrainment band 10 may be removably secured to the delivery tube, if desired. The securing of the reconstrainment band 10 to the delivery tube 14 obstructs axial displacement of the reconstrainment band relative to the delivery tube. The securing of the reconstrainment band 10 to the delivery tube 14 may further provide for obstruction of transverse or rotational displacement of the reconstrainment band relative to the delivery tube.

The stent 16 may be located around the reconstrainment band 10 in coaxial relation therewith. The stent 16 has one or more voids in which the fins 26 extend to obstruct axial displacement of the stent 16 relative to the reconstrainment band 10. Consequently, axial displacement of the stent 16 relative to the delivery tube 14 is obstructed. The sheath 28 of the delivery device 12 is located around the stent 16 in coaxial relation therewith.

During longitudinal displacement of the sheath 28 relative to the delivery tube 14, possible longitudinal displacement of the stent 16 associated with the sheath is resisted by the fins 26 which extend into the one or more voids in the stent. Consequently, the axial position of the stent 16 relative to the delivery tube 14 is maintained such that longitudinal retraction of the sheath 28 relative to the delivery tube may provide for the uncovering of an axial portion or the entire outer surface of the stent which was previously covered by the sheath. Also, the maintenance of the axial position of the stent 16 relative to the delivery tube 14 which is provided by the extension of the fins 26 into the one or more voids in the stent results in forward longitudinal displacement of the sheath 28 relative to the delivery tube enabling the sheath to cover an axial portion of the stent or the entire stent. The recovering of the stent 16 by the sheath 28 is referred to as reconstrainment of the stent.

Uncovering of the outer surface of the stent 16 results in the radial expansion of the stent away from the band 34. The sheath 28 may be sufficiently refracted relative to the stent 16 such that the distal end 30 is located proximally relative to the proximal end 30. The proximal location of the distal end 30 relative to the proximal end 18 results in the radial expansion of the entire stent 16 away from the band 34.

Alternatively, the sheath 28 may be retracted from a position in which the distal end 30 is located distally relative to the proximal end 18 to a position in which the distal end 30 is closer to the proximal end 18 but still located distally thereof. Consequently, an axial portion of the stent 16 is uncovered by the sheath 28 resulting in the radial expansion of the uncovered portion of the stent. The sheath 28 may be displaced distally relative to the delivery tube 14 such that the distal end 30 is moved closer to the distal end 20 of the stent 16. Consequently, an axial portion of the stent 16 is recovered by the sheath 28 resulting in the inward radial compression of the recovered portion of the stent. The recovering of the stent 16 by the sheath 28 requires the axial position of the stent 16 relative to the delivery tube 14 to be maintained during the distal or forward longitudinal displacement of the sheath 28 relative to the delivery tube. The axial position of the stent 16 relative to the delivery tube 14 is maintained by the extension of the fins 26 into the voids in the stent 16.

The stent 16 may be loaded in the delivery device 12 by locating the stent around the reconstrainment band 10 in coaxial relation therewith. The sheath 28 may then be located around the delivery tube 14 in coaxial relation therewith such that the distal end 30 has a proximal location relative to the proximal end 18. The sheath 28 is then longitudinally displaced in the distal direction relative to the delivery tube 14 such that the distal end 30 engages the proximal end 18. Before the engagement between the proximal and distal ends 18, 30, the proximal end 18 is radially compressed in the inward direction sufficiently such that following the engagement of the distal end 30 with the proximal end 18, the interior surface 32 rides up on the exterior surface 22 such that continued distal or forward longitudinal displacement of the sheath 28 relative to the delivery tube 14 results in the inward radial compression of the axial portion of the stent 16 which is within the sheath. The inward radial compression of the stent 16 by the sheath 28 results in the fins 26 extending in the radial direction into the voids in the stent. Typically, the distal or forward longitudinal displacement of the sheath 28 relative to the delivery tube 14 is sufficient such that the distal end 30 has a longitudinal position relative to the delivery tube which coincides with the distal end 20 resulting in the entire stent 16 being located within the sheath.

The delivery device 12, including the stent 16 located between the sheath 28 and delivery tube 14, is inserted into and through a bodily lumen and displaced therein such that the stent is positioned at a desired location within the bodily lumen. When the delivery device 12 has positioned the stent 16 at the desired location within the body lumen, the stent is released from the delivery device 12 by maintaining the position of the delivery tube 14 within the bodily lumen and retracting or proximally displacing the sheath 28 relative to the delivery tube to uncover the stent. The sheath 28 is sufficiently retracted or rearwardly displaced relative to the delivery tube 14 such that the distal end 30 has a proximal or rearward location relative to the proximal end 18 of the stent 16. Consequently, the entire stent 16 radially expands away from the band 34 and engages the inner surface of the bodily lumen, typically, for implantation therein. During the retraction of the sheath 28, the axial position of the stent 16 relative to the delivery tube 14 is maintained by the engagement of the stent by the fins 26 of the reconstrainment band 10. The engagement between the fins 26 and the stent 16 resists the stent from being carried by the sheath 28 in the direction of the retraction thereof. The stent 16 is thereby deployed from the delivery device 12 into the bodily lumen.

Following the radial expansion of the entire stent 16, the delivery tube 14 and reconstrainment band 10 mounted thereon are retracted or longitudinally displaced in the distal direction relative to the stent for removal of the delivery tube and reconstrainment band from the bodily lumen. The radial expansion of the stent 16 may be sufficiently limited such that the radial clearance between the interior surface 24 is less than the maximum radial dimension of the fins 26. Consequently, the retraction or rearward longitudinal displacement of the reconstrainment band 10 relative to the stent 16 may result in contact between the obtusely shaped surfaces 46 and stent 16. The inclination of the obtusely shaped surfaces 46 reduces the likelihood of the contact between the fins 26 and stent 16 resulting in catching of the stent by the fins. Catching of the stent 16 by the fins 26 may impede the removal of the reconstrainment band 10 and the attached delivery tube 14 from the bodily lumen. Also, catching of the stent 16 by the fins 26 may dislodge the stent from the inner surface of the bodily lumen and displace the stent relative thereto.

Following the loading of the stent 16 in the delivery device 12, and the insertion and displacement thereof through a bodily lumen such that the stent is positioned at the desired location in the bodily lumen, the sheath 28 may be retracted or longitudinally displaced in the rearward direction relative to the delivery tube 14 such that the distal end 30 remains positioned distally relative to the proximal end 18. Consequently, retraction of the sheath 28 uncovers an axial portion of the stent 16 resulting in the radial expansion of the uncovered axial portion thereof. The radial expansion of the stent 16 results in the radial displacement of the sections thereof which are adjacent to the fins 26 toward the ends thereof. The radial displacement of the stent 16 may be sufficient such that the ends of the fins 26 are located adjacent to the interior surface 24 of the stent. Subsequently, the sheath 28 may be displaced in the distal or longitudinally forward direction relative to the delivery tube 14 such that a portion or the entire uncovered axial portion of the stent 16 is recovered by the sheath. During the recovering of the stent 16 or reconstrainment, the axial position of the stent relative to the reconstrainment band 10 and delivery tube 14 is maintained by the engagement of the stent by the fins 26. The engagement between the fins 26 and stent 16 obstructs the stent from being carried by the sheath 28 in the distal or longitudinally forward direction relative to the delivery tube 14. Reconstrainment may be required after determining that further displacement of the delivery device 12 within the body lumen is necessary to position the stent 16 at a different location within the body lumen. The axial portion of the stent 16 which is recovered by the sheath 28 is radially compressed in the inward direction by the sheath.

The radial expansion of the stent 16 and longitudinal displacement of the sheath 28 may cause one or more of the fins 26 to become displaced from alignment with the voids in the stent. A fin 26 which is not aligned with any void in the stent 16 will normally contact the interior surface 24 as a result of the inward radial compression of the stent in the vicinity of the fin. The inclination of the obtusely shaped surfaces 46, 48 reduces the likelihood of contact between the fins 26 and interior surface 24 causing the stent 16 to catch on the fins 26. Catching of the stent 16 on one or more of the fins 26 can impede the inward radial displacement of the stent toward the band 34 and the associated inward radial compression of the stent. Consequently, the longitudinal displacement of the sheath 28 in the distal or forward direction relative to the delivery tube 14 is impeded. Impeding the longitudinal displacement of the sheath 28 in the distal or forward direction relative to the delivery tube 14 interferes with the reconstrainment of the stent 16, and with the initial loading thereof between the sheath and reconstrainment band 10 in the delivery device 12.

An alternative embodiment of the reconstrainment band 10a is shown in FIGS. 5 to 7. Parts illustrated in FIGS. 5 to 7 which correspond to parts illustrated in FIGS. 1 to 4 have, in FIGS. 5 to 7, the same reference numeral as in FIGS. 1 to 4 with the addition of a suffix “a”. In this alternative embodiment, the reconstrainment band 10a has four fins 26a. The fins 26a extend longitudinally in the same direction as the longitudinal axis 44a. The fins 26a are located relative to a transverse plane through the band 34a such that the adjacent pairs of fins are separated by arcuate dimensions which are the same. The obtusely shaped surfaces 46a intersect the exterior surface 40a at the proximal end 36a of the band 34a. The obtusely shaped surfaces 48a intersect the exterior surface 40a at the distal end 38a of the band 34a.

The exterior surfaces 50a each have a pair of lateral regions 52 which intersect the exterior surface 40a of the band 34a on opposite sides of the corresponding fin 26a, as shown in FIGS. 5 and 7. The lateral regions 52 extend longitudinally in a direction which is parallel to the longitudinal axis 44a. The lateral regions 52 each have corresponding contours which differ from the contour of the exterior surface 40a such that the intersections between the lateral regions and exterior surface define discontinuities. The exterior surfaces 50a each have a shoulder region 54 which is located between the corresponding lateral regions 52, as shown in FIG. 5. The shoulder regions 54 each extend longitudinally in a direction which is parallel to the longitudinal axis 44a. The shoulder regions 54 each have corresponding contours which differ from the contours of the lateral regions 52 such that the intersections between the shoulder and lateral regions define discontinuities.

An alternative embodiment of the reconstrainment band 10b is shown in FIGS. 8 to 10. Parts illustrated in FIGS. 8 to 10 which correspond to parts illustrated in FIGS. 1 to 4 have, in FIGS. 8 to 10, the same reference numeral as in FIGS. 1 to 4 with the addition of the suffix “b”. In this alternative embodiment, the reconstrainment band 10b has a pair of fins 26b which project from diametrically opposed locations on the exterior surface 40b. The fins 26b extend longitudinally in the same direction as the longitudinal axis 44b. The obtusely shaped surfaces 46b intersect the exterior surface 40b at the proximal end 36b of the band 34b. The obtusely shaped surfaces 48b intersect the exterior surface 40b at the distal end 38b of the band 34b.

The exterior surfaces 50b each have a pair of lateral regions 56 which intersect the exterior surface 40b of the band 34b on opposite sides of the corresponding fin 26b, as shown in FIGS.