Pinless release mechanism

• US 10,179,041 B2
• Filed: 07/26/2016
• Issued: 01/15/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 08/12/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Boston Scientific Scimed (Boston Scientific Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Boston Scientific Scimed Incorporated
• Inventors: Backus, Andrew J. H.
• Primary Examiner(s): Mathew, Seema
• Application Number:
  US15/219,869
• Publication Number:
  US 20170042669A1
• Time in Patent Office: 903 Days
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/2409 Support rings therefor, e.g. for connecting valves to tissue annuloplasty rings A61F2/2442
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/2412 with soft flexible valve members, e.g. tissue valves shaped like natural valves check valves with flexible valve members in general F16K15/14
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/2418 Scaffolds therefor, e.g. support stents
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/2427 Devices for manipulating or deploying heart valves during implantation
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/2436 Deployment by retracting a sheath

Abstract

A locking mechanism for a medical implant may comprise a buckle member fixedly attached to a tubular anchor member, a post member axially translatable relative to the buckle member, wherein the post member includes a first proximal portion and a second proximal portion, the first proximal portion being disposed adjacent to the tubular anchor member and the second proximal portion being disposed radially inward of the first proximal portion, and an actuator element including a lateral protrusion proximate a distal end thereof, the actuator element being releasably coupled to the post member. The post member may include an engagement portion configured to engage the buckle member such that movement of the post member distally relative to the buckle member is prevented. The second proximal portion may be configured to deflect away from the first proximal portion to release the actuator element.

Claims

1. A locking mechanism for a medical implant, comprising:

a buckle member fixedly attached to a tubular anchor member, the tubular anchor member defining a central longitudinal axis;

a post member axially translatable relative to the buckle member generally parallel to the central longitudinal axis when the post member is at least partially disposed within the buckle member, wherein the post member includes a first proximal portion and a second proximal portion disposed parallel to a longitudinal axis of the post member, the first proximal portion being disposed adjacent to the tubular anchor member and the second proximal portion being disposed radially inward of the first proximal portion; and

an actuator element including a lateral protrusion proximate a distal end thereof, the actuator element being releasably coupled to the post member;

wherein the post member includes an engagement portion configured to engage the buckle member such that movement of the post member distally relative to the buckle member is prevented;

wherein the second proximal portion is configured to deflect away from the first proximal portion to release the actuator element.

2. The locking mechanism of claim 1, wherein at least a portion of the actuator element extends between the first proximal portion and the second proximal portion.

3. The locking mechanism of claim 1, wherein the lateral protrusion is configured to engage with an aperture disposed within the second proximal portion.

4. The locking mechanism of claim 3, wherein the aperture extends through the second proximal portion.

5. The locking mechanism of claim 1, wherein the first proximal portion and the second proximal portion are configured to splay apart as the post member is translated proximally.

6. The locking mechanism of claim 1, wherein the second proximal portion is self-biased toward the first proximal portion.

7. The locking mechanism of claim 1, wherein the post member is coupled to a distal end of the tubular anchor member.

8. The locking mechanism of claim 1, wherein the actuator element includes a longitudinally-oriented rib extending distally from the lateral protrusion.

9. The locking mechanism of claim 8, wherein the buckle member includes a deflectable flap portion configured to engage the engagement portion of the post member, the longitudinally-oriented rib being configured to prevent the flap portion of the buckle member from engaging the engagement portion prior to decoupling the actuator element from the post member.

10. A medical implant, comprising:

a tubular anchor member actuatable between an elongated delivery configuration and an expanded deployed configuration, the tubular anchor member defining a central longitudinal axis;

a buckle member fixedly attached to the tubular anchor member;

a post member axially translatable relative to the buckle member, the post member including an engagement portion configured to engage the buckle member when the anchor member is in the deployed configuration, a first proximal portion, and a second proximal portion disposed closer to the central longitudinal axis than the first proximal portion;

an actuator element including a lateral protrusion proximate a distal end thereof, the actuator element being releasably connected to the post member; and

a valve leaflet attached to the post member;

wherein the post member is disposed distal of the anchor member when the anchor member is in the elongated delivery configuration;

wherein the second proximal portion is configured to deflect away from the first proximal portion to release the actuator element.

11. The medical implant of claim 10, wherein the second proximal portion includes a ramp facing towards the first proximal portion, the ramp being angled away from the first proximal portion in a proximal direction.

12. The medical implant of claim 10, wherein at least a portion of the actuator element extends between the first proximal portion and the second proximal portion.

13. The medical implant of claim 10, wherein the second proximal portion includes an aperture extending therethrough, the aperture being configured to engage with the lateral protrusion.

14. The medical implant of claim 10, wherein the second proximal portion extends alongside and is offset radially inward from the first proximal portion.

15. A medical implant system, comprising:

the medical implant of claim 10;

a delivery system having a handle attached at a proximal end thereof; and

a deployment member extending from the delivery system to the medical implant, the deployment member being releasably coupled to the buckle member;

wherein proximal retraction of the post member through the buckle member engages the post member with the deployment member.

16. The medical implant system of claim 15, wherein proximal retraction of the post member through the buckle member disposes the deployment member between the first proximal portion and the second proximal portion.

17. The medical implant system of claim 16, further wherein the deployment member urges the second proximal portion away from the first proximal portion.

18. The medical implant system of claim 15, wherein proximal retraction of the post member through the buckle member deflects the second proximal portion toward the central longitudinal axis.

19. The medical implant system of claim 15, wherein the actuator element includes a second lateral protrusion extending opposite the lateral protrusion.

20. The medical implant system of claim 19, wherein the first proximal portion includes an aperture extending therethrough, the aperture of the first proximal portion being configured to receive the second lateral protrusion therein when the actuator element is releasably coupled to the post member.