Cardiac implant device tether system and method

• US 20030023262A1
• Filed: 07/16/2002
• Published: 01/30/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 07/18/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Boston Scientific Scimed (Boston Scientific Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Atritech Inc. (Boston Scientific Corporation)
• Inventors: Welch, Jeffrey
• Granted Patent: US 7,011,671 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 606/194
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/011 Instruments for their placement or removal
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2230/0006 circular

Abstract

Catheterization apparatus for implanting devices is provided with a device tether. The apparatus includes a device delivery tube that provides a pathway for moving implant devices through a patient'"'"'s vasculature to internal body cavities. The implant devices are carried or pushed through the device delivery tube by a tubular push rod. The implant devices are tethered to a line passing through the push rod lumen. After deployment, the implant devices may be retracted into the device delivery tube for repositioning or retrieval by pulling on the tether.

Claims

1. A catheterization apparatus for implanting a device in an internal body cavity, comprising:

a delivery tube for establishing a conduit for passage of said device to said body cavity;

a push rod for moving said device through said a delivery tube; and

a releasable tether attached to said device for mechanical control over said device after it has been placed in said body cavity.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said push rod comprises a hollow tube.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said tether comprises material selected from the group of metals, polymers, natural fibers, synthetic fibers and any combination thereof.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said push rod is connected to a hub disposed on an end of said push rod, and wherein said tether extends from said hub to said implant device disposed on the other end of said push rod.

5. The apparatus of claim 4 wherein said hub comprises a wire-anchoring fixture, and wherein said tether comprises a wire loop with a wire end secured at said wire-anchoring fixture.

6. A method for positioning a catheter-implanted device in a body cavity, comprising:

providing a catheterization apparatus comprising;

a delivery tube;

a push rod for moving said device through said a delivery tube; and

a releasable tether attached to said device for mechanical control over said device after it has been placed in said body cavity;

using said delivery tube to establish a conduit for passage of said device to said body cavity;

attaching said tether to said device,

using said push rod to move said tethered device through said delivery tube; and

expelling said tethered device into the body cavity.

7. The method of claim 6 further comprising detaching said tether.

8. The method of claim 6 further comprising assessing the position of said expelled device.

9. The method of claim 8 further comprising using said tether to mechanically retract said expelled device back into said delivery tube.

10. The method of claim 8 further comprising expelling said retracted device in said body cavity to reposition said device.

11. The method of claim 6 wherein said providing a catheterization apparatus further comprises providing said push rod with a hollow tubular structure.

12. The method of claim 6 further comprising releasably anchoring said releasable tether at one end of said push rod.

13. An apparatus for implanting a device in an atrial appendage, comprising:

a delivery tube for establishing a conduit through the body'"'"'s vasculature for passage of said device to said atrial appendage;

a shaft for transporting said device through said delivery tube, wherein said shaft comprises a device tether for mechanical control over said device after it has been placed in said body cavity.

14. The apparatus of claim 13 wherein said shaft comprises a hollow tube.

15. The apparatus of claim 13 wherein said tether comprises material selected from the group of metals, polymers, natural fibers, synthetic fibers, and any combination thereof.

16. The apparatus of claim 13 wherein said shaft is connected to a hub disposed on an end of said shaft, and wherein said tether extends from said hub to said implant device disposed on the other end of said shaft.

17. The apparatus of claim 16 wherein said hub comprises a wire-anchoring fixture, and wherein said tether comprises a wire loop with a wire end secured at said wire-anchoring fixture.

18. A method for implanting a device in an atrium'"'"'s appendage, comprising

providing a catheterization apparatus comprising:

a delivery tube for establishing a conduit through the body'"'"'s vasculature for passage of said device to said atrial appendage;

a shaft for transporting said device through said delivery tube, wherein said shaft comprises a device tether for mechanical control over said device after it has been placed in said atrial appendage;

percutaneously advancing said delivery tube through a blood vessel to said appendage;

attaching said tether to said device;

using said shaft to move said tethered device through said delivery tube; and

expelling said tethered device into said appendage.

19. The method of claim 18 further comprising untethering said expelled device.

20. The method of claim 18 further comprising assessing the position of said expelled device.

21. The method of claim 20 wherein said assessing comprises using an external imaging technique.

22. The method of claim 21 further comprising using said assessing to decide to retract said expelled device into said delivery tube.

23. The method of claim 18 further comprising using said tether to mechanically retract said expelled device back into said delivery tube device.

24. The method of claim 23 further comprising expelling said retracted device in said appendage to reposition said device.

25. The method of claim 18 wherein said providing a catheterization apparatus further comprises providing said shaft with a hollow tubular structure.

26. The method of claim 18 further comprising releasably anchoring said tether at one end of said push rod.