Delivery device with viewing window and associated method

• US 20060258972A1
• Filed: 05/13/2005
• Published: 11/16/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 05/13/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Merit Medical Systems, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Alveolus, Inc. (Merit Medical Systems, Inc.)
• Inventors: Reynolds, Jason M., Mangiardi, Eric K., Reuther, Jeff
• Granted Patent: US 7,731,654 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 604/15
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/95 Instruments specially adapted for placement or removal of stents or stent-grafts
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2250/0091 transparent or translucent

Abstract

A delivery device for positioning and deploying an implantable device within a lumen is provided. The device includes an inner tube positioned within an outer tube and capable of sliding therein, wherein the inner and outer tubes have proximal and distal ends. A side opening is defined in each of the inner and outer tubes, wherein each side opening is defined proximate to the implantable device and is capable of substantially aligning with the other side opening. The device includes an optical device capable of viewing at least a portion of the lumen prior to deploying the implantable device when the side openings are aligned with each other. A mechanism is coupled to at least one of the inner and outer tubes and is operable to deploy the implantable device within the lumen.

Claims

1. A delivery device for positioning and deploying an implantable device within a lumen comprising:

a longitudinal outer tube having proximal and distal ends, wherein the implantable device is positioned proximate to the distal end of the outer tube;

a longitudinal inner tube positioned within the outer tube and having proximal and distal ends, wherein the outer tube is capable of sliding over the inner tube;

a side opening defined in each of the inner and outer tubes, wherein each side opening is defined proximate to the implantable device and is capable of substantially aligning with the other side opening;

an optical device positioned within the inner tube and proximate to each side opening such that the optical device is capable of viewing at least a portion of the lumen prior to deploying the implantable device when the side openings are aligned with each other; and

a mechanism coupled to at least one of the inner and outer tubes and operable to deploy the implantable device within the lumen.

2. The delivery device according to claim 1, further comprising a coil positioned within the inner tube, wherein the side opening of the inner tube is defined distally of the coil.

3. The delivery device according to claim 2, wherein the side opening of the inner tube is defined longitudinally between the coil and the implantable device.

4. The delivery device according to claim 1, further comprising a coil positioned within the outer tube, wherein the side opening of the outer tube is defined distally of the coil.

5. The delivery device according to claim 1, wherein each of the inner and outer tubes comprises a semi-transparent polymeric material.

6. The delivery device according to claim 5, wherein the polymeric material comprises at least one of a polytetrafluoroethylene and a polyether block amide.

7. The delivery device according to claim 1, wherein each of the side openings comprises an oval having a major and a minor axis.

8. The delivery device according to claim 7, wherein the major axis of each of the side openings extends substantially parallel to a longitudinal axis of the respective inner and outer tubes.

9. The delivery device according to claim 1, wherein each of the side openings extends less than midway about a circumference of each of the inner and outer tubes.

10. The delivery device according to claim 1, wherein each of the side openings aligns with each other proximate to the proximal end of the implantable device.

11. The delivery device according to claim 1, wherein the optical device is capable of viewing, through the side openings, at least a proximal end of a target area within the lumen.

12. The delivery device according to claim 1, wherein the optical device is capable of extending through each of the side openings to view a target area within the lumen.

13. The delivery device according to claim 1, further comprising a pusher at the distal end of the inner tube and positioned adjacent to a proximal end of the implantable device.

14. The delivery device according to claim 13, wherein each of the side openings align with each other proximally of the pusher.

15. The delivery device according to claim 13, wherein the side opening of the inner tubular member is defined proximally of the pusher.

16. The delivery device according to claim 1, wherein the mechanism comprises at least one actuator coupled to the outer tube.

17. A device for viewing a target area within a lumen comprising:

a longitudinal inner tube positioned within a longitudinal outer tube, each of the inner and outer tubes having proximal and distal ends;

a side opening defined in each of the inner and outer tubes, wherein the outer tube is capable of sliding over the inner tube to substantially align each of the side openings with each other;

an optical device positioned within the inner tube and proximate to each side opening such that the optical device is capable of viewing at least a portion of the target area when the side openings are aligned with each other; and

an instrument positioned within the inner tube and capable of performing a procedure when the side openings are aligned.

18. The device according to claim 17, wherein the instrument is capable of performing the procedure through a distal opening defined in each of the inner and outer tubes.

19. The device according to claim 17, wherein the instrument is capable of performing the procedure through the side openings when the side openings are aligned.

20. A method for deploying an implantable device within a lumen proximate to a target area comprising:

positioning the implantable device within an outer tube;

sliding the outer tube over an inner tube to substantially align a pair of side openings defined in each of the inner and outer tubes;

positioning the inner and outer tubes within the lumen;

positioning an optical device within the inner tube and proximate to each of the side openings to view at least a portion of the target area; and

deploying the implantable device with a mechanism proximate to the target area.

21. The method according to claim 20, wherein positioning the optical device comprises positioning the optical device proximate to a proximal end of the target area.

22. The method according to claim 20, wherein sliding comprises sliding the outer tube such that the side opening of the outer tube aligns with the side opening of the inner tube proximally of a pusher positioned on a distal end of the inner tube.

23. The method according to claim 20, wherein deploying comprises sliding the outer tube proximally over the inner tube with the mechanism.

24. A method for manufacturing a delivery device comprising:

punching a side opening through a wall in each of an inner tube and an outer tube; and

positioning the inner tube within the outer tube such that each of the side openings is capable of aligning with one another.

25. The method according to claim 24, further comprising attaching a coil circumferentially and longitudinally within each of the inner and outer tubes.

26. The method according to claim 25, wherein attaching comprises etching a surface of each of the inner and outer tubes such that the coil attaches to a respective inner and outer tube.

27. The method according to claim 24, further comprising attaching a pusher to a distal end of the inner tube such that the side opening of the inner tube is positioned proximally of the pusher.

28. A delivery device for positioning and deploying an implantable device within a lumen comprising:

a longitudinal outer tube having proximal and distal ends, wherein the implantable device is positioned proximate to the distal end of the outer tube;

a longitudinal inner tube positioned within the outer tube and having proximal and distal ends, wherein the outer tube is capable of sliding over the inner tube;

a side opening defined in each of the inner and outer tubes, wherein each side opening is defined proximate to the implantable device and is capable of substantially aligning with the other side opening prior to deploying the implantable device; and

a mechanism coupled to at least one of the inner and outer tubes and operable to deploy the implantable device within the lumen.

29. The device according to claim 28, further comprising an optical device positioned within the inner tube and proximate to each side opening such that the optical device is capable of viewing at least a portion of the lumen when the side openings are aligned with each other.

30. The device according to claim 28, further comprising a pusher at the distal end of the inner tube and positioned adjacent to a proximal end of the implantable device.

31. The delivery device according to claim 30, wherein each of the side openings align with each other proximally of the pusher.

32. The delivery device according to claim 30, wherein the side opening of the inner tubular member is defined proximally of the pusher.

33. The delivery device according to claim 28, further comprising a coil positioned within each of the inner and outer tubes, wherein a respective side opening of the inner and outer tubes is defined distally of the coil.

34. The delivery device according to claim 28, wherein the side opening of the inner tube is defined longitudinally between the coil and the implantable device.

35. The delivery device according to claim 28, wherein each of the side openings aligns with each other proximate to the proximal end of the implantable device