Cord locking mechanism for use in small systems

• US 20040133274A1
• Filed: 12/17/2003
• Published: 07/08/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 11/15/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Advanced Cardiovascular Systems Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Advanced Cardiovascular Systems Incorporated
• Inventors: Webler, William E., Ambat, Dwight A.
• Granted Patent: US 7,828,819 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 623/2.11
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/2451 Inserts in the coronary sinus for correcting the valve shape
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/91 made from perforated sheet material or tubes, e.g. perforated by laser cuts or etched holes
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/828 Means for connecting a plurality of stents allowing flexibility of the whole structure
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2250/001 for adjusting a diameter
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 24/39 Cord and rope holders

Abstract

A locking device that can be used to adjust a cord of a small system or a medical device. The locking device includes an outer housing having a first lumen. A cord is disposed within the first lumen where the cord is freely moveable through the first lumen. A locking mechanism is disposed within the first lumen and over the cord. The locking mechanism is configured to lock or unlock the cord relative to the outer housing. An actuator is configured to move the locking mechanism to lock or unlock the cord relative to the outer housing.

Claims

1. A locking device comprising:

an outer housing having a first lumen;

a cord disposed within the first lumen, the cord being freely moveable through the first lumen;

a locking mechanism disposed within the first lumen and over the cord, the locking mechanism configured to lock or unlock the cord relative to the outer housing; and

an actuator configured to move the locking mechanism to lock or unlock the cord relative to the outer housing.

2. The locking device of claim 1 wherein the locking mechanism further comprises:

an inner housing having a second lumen;

the cord being disposed within the second lumen;

the inner housing having an opening cutting through a lateral axis of the inner housing, the opening exposes a portion of the cord; and

a locking member disposed on the outer surface of the inner housing, the locking member configured to lock or unlock the cord through the opening.

3. The locking device of claim 2 wherein the actuator is configured to engage or disengage the locking member to move the locking member over the cord to lock or unlock the cord relative to the outer housing.

4. The locking device of claim 2 further comprises:

a locking pin disposed over the opening;

a detent included within the locking member wherein the detent is engageable with the locking pin and wherein the locking pin is configured to allow the locking member to glide across the outer surface of the inner housing without disengaging the inner housing.

5. The locking device of claim 4 wherein the locking pin is configured to sit in the opening without being lodged into the second lumen.

6. The locking device of claim 4 wherein the locking member further includes an incline, the detent is included at a lower region of the incline, the locking pin engages the detent to lock the cord in position relative to the outer housing.

7. The locking device of claim 4 wherein the cord is configured with a set of one or more interferences, the set of one or more interferences cooperates with the locking pin through the opening to lock the cord relative to the outer housing, when the locking pin engaging the detent, the locking pin pressing down onto the cord one of the interferences to lock.

8. The locking device of claim 3 wherein the locking member further comprises an actuator engagement member configured to engage or disengage with the actuator.

9. The locking device of claim 3 wherein the locking member further comprises an actuator engagement member configured to engage the actuator, the actuator engagement member further comprising a loophole wherethrough a thread is disposed, pushing on the actuator advances the locking member in the direction of the actuator and pulling on the thread retracts the locking member in the direction of the pulling.

10. The locking device of claim 1 wherein the cord is configured with a set of one or more interferences, the set of one or more interferences cooperates with the locking mechanism to lock the cord relative to the outer housing.

11. A locking device comprising:

an outer housing having a first lumen;

an inner housing having a second lumen, the inner housing disposed within the first lumen and attached to the outer housing on one side;

a cord disposed through the second lumen;

an opening created across a section of the inner housing, the opening being perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the inner housing;

a pin disposed within the opening, the pin and the opening being configured to prevent the pin from lodging into the second lumen; and

a locking member disposed on the outer surface of the inner housing and within the first lumen, the locking member engageable with the pin to cause the pin to lock or unlock the cord.

12. The locking device of claim 11 wherein the inner housing has one side of the outer surface attached to one side of the inner surface of the housing.

13. The locking device of claim 11 further comprising:

an actuator capable of engaging the locking member to move the locking member to engage or disengage the pin to lock or unlock the cord.

14. The locking device of claim 11 further comprising:

an actuator engagement member coupling to the locking member to allow the actuator to engage or disengage the locking member.

15. The locking device of claim 11 further comprising:

an actuator engagement member coupling to the locking member to allow the actuator to engage the locking member, the actuator engagement member further includes a loophole wherethrough a thread is disposed, wherein pushing on the actuator advances the locking member in the direction of the actuator and puling on the thread retracts the locking member in the direction of the pulling.

16. The locking device of claim 11 wherein the locking member includes an incline and a detent positioned at a lower point of the incline, the pin engages the detent to lock the cord in position relative to the outer housing and the pin disengages the detent to release the cord.

17. The locking device of claim 11 wherein the cord is configured with a set of one or more interferences, the set of one or more interferences cooperates with the locking member to lock the cord in position relative to the outer housing.

18. The locking device of claim 11 wherein the cord includes a deformable layer to facilitate locking of the cord in position relative to the outer housing.

19. A medical device comprising:

an implantable device coupling to a cord; and

a locking device configured to lock or unlock the cord, the locking device having an outer housing and a first lumen, the cord is disposed within the first lumen and freely moveable through the first lumen, the locking device further having a locking mechanism disposed within the first lumen and over the cord, the locking mechanism configured to lock or unlock the cord relative to the outer housing, wherein an actuator is used move the locking mechanism in order to lock or unlock the cord relative to the locking device.

20. The medical device of claim 19 wherein the locking mechanism further comprises:

an inner housing having a second lumen;

the cord being disposed within the second lumen;

the inner housing having an opening cutting through a longitudinal axis of the inner housing, the opening exposes a portion of the cord; and

a locking member disposed on the outer surface of the inner housing, the locking member configured to lock or unlock the cord through the opening.

21. The medical device of claim 20 wherein the actuator is configured to engage or disengage the locking member to move the locking member over the cord to lock or unlock the cord relative to the outer housing.

22. The medical device of claim 21 wherein the locking member further comprises an actuator engagement member configured to engage or disengage with the actuator.

23. The medial device of claim 21 wherein the locking member further comprises an actuator engagement member configured to engage the actuator, the actuator engagement member further comprising a hole wherethrough a thread is disposed, pushing on the actuator advances the locking member in the direction of the actuator and pulling on the thread retracts the locking member in the direction of the pulling.

24. The medical device of claim 20 further comprises:

a locking pin disposed over the opening;

a detent included within the locking member wherein the detent is engageable with the locking pin and wherein the locking pin is configured to allow the locking member to glide across the outer surface of the inner housing without disengaging the inner housing.

25. The medical device of claim 24 wherein the locking pin is configured to engage the opening without being dislodge into the second lumen.

26. The medical device of claim 24 wherein the locking member further includes an incline, the detent is included at a lower region of the incline, the locking pin engages the detent to lock the cord in position relative to the outer housing.

27. The medical device of claim 19 wherein the cord is configured with a set of one or more interferences, the set of one or more interferences cooperates with the locking mechanism to lock the cord relative to the outer housing.

28. The medical device of claim 19 wherein the cord is configured with a set of one or more interferences, the set of one or more interferences cooperates with the locking pin through the opening to lock the cord relative to the outer housing, when the locking pin engaging the detent, the locking pin pressing down onto the cord one of the interferences to lock.

29. A medical device comprising:

a member actuated by a cord, the member being implantable within a patient; and

a locking device configured to lock or unlock the cord, the locking device having an outer housing and a first lumen, the cord is disposed within the first lumen and freely moveable through the first lumen, the locking device further having a locking mechanism disposed within the first lumen and over the cord, the locking mechanism configured to lock or unlock the cord relative to the outer housing, wherein an actuator is used move the locking mechanism in order to lock or unlock the cord relative to the locking device.

30. The medical device of claim 29 wherein the locking device is coupled to the member at a proximal end of the member.

31. The medical device of claim 29 wherein the medical device and the locking device are configured to be deployed within a patient vascularture.

32. A method comprising:

delivering a medical device into a patient blood vessel, the medical device to comprises an outer housing having a first lumen;

a cord disposed within the first lumen, the cord being freely moveable through the first lumen;

a locking mechanism disposed within the first lumen and over the cord, the locking mechanism configured to lock or unlock the cord relative to the outer housing; and

an actuator configured to move the locking mechanism to lock or unlock the cord relative to the outer housing;

locking components of the medical device in place using the locking mechanism

33. The method claim 32 wherein the locking mechanism further comprises:

an inner housing having a second lumen;

the cord being disposed within the second lumen;

the inner housing having an opening cutting through a lateral axis of the inner housing, the opening exposes a portion of the cord; and

a locking member disposed on the outer surface of the inner housing, the locking member configured to lock or unlock the cord through the opening.

34. The method claim 32 further comprises engaging the actuator to the locking member to move the locking member over the cord to lock or unlock the cord relative to the outer housing.

35. The method claim 33 further comprises:

disposing a locking pin over the opening;

providing a detent within the locking member wherein the detent is engageable with the locking pin and wherein the locking pin is configured to allow the locking member to glide across the outer surface of the inner housing without disengaging the inner housing.

36. The method claim 32 wherein the medical device is delivered into the heart of the patient.

37. The method claim 32 wherein the medical device is delivered into a coronary sinus the patient.