Delivery device with shortened inner tube and associated method

• US 20070043421A1
• Filed: 05/12/2006
• Published: 02/22/2007
• 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, Reuther, Jeff, Mangiardi, Eric
• Granted Patent: US 8,986,360 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 623/1.110
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/95 Instruments specially adapted for placement or removal of stents or stent-grafts
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/966 with relative longitudinal movement between outer sleeve and prosthesis, e.g. using a push rod
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2250/0091 transparent or translucent
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2025/0004 having two or more concentrically arranged tubes for forming a concentric catheter system

Abstract

A delivery device for positioning and deploying an implantable device within a lumen is provided. The device includes a longitudinal outer tube having proximal and distal ends, wherein the implantable device is positioned proximate to the distal end of the outer tube. The device also includes a longitudinal inner tube slidably disposed within the outer tube and having proximal and distal ends, wherein at least a portion of the distal end of the inner tube is configured to underlie at least a portion of a proximal end of the implantable device. The distal end of the inner tube is located proximally of the distal end of the outer tube to define a gap for accommodating at least a portion of the implantable device. A mechanism is coupled to the inner and/or 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 a proximal end and a distal end, wherein the implantable device is capable of being positioned proximate to the distal end of the outer tube;

a longitudinal inner tube slidably disposed within the outer tube and having a proximal end and a distal end, wherein at least a portion of the distal end of the inner tube is configured to underlie at least a portion of a proximal end of the implantable device, and wherein the distal end of the inner tube is located proximally of the distal end of the outer tube to define a gap for accommodating at least a portion of 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.

2. The delivery device according to claim 1, further comprising an optical device capable of being positioned within the gap to view at least a portion of the implantable device and lumen.

3. The delivery device according to claim 1, wherein each of the inner and outer tubes comprises a side opening defined therein, and wherein the outer tube is capable of sliding over the inner tube to substantially align each of the side openings with one another.

4. The delivery device according to claim 1, wherein each of the inner and outer tubes comprises a coil positioned therein.

5. The delivery device according to claim 4, wherein the coil of the inner tube extends proximate to its distal end, and wherein the coil of the outer tube extends proximally of its distal end such that the coils are capable of aligning with one another prior to deploying the implantable device.

6. The delivery device according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the inner and outer tubes comprises a semi-transparent polymeric material.

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

8. The delivery device according to claim 6, wherein the outer tube comprises a semi-transparent polymeric material and the inner tube comprises a side opening defined therein, and wherein an optical instrument is capable of viewing the lumen through the side opening and the outer tube.

9. The delivery device according to claim 1, further comprising a distal portion coupled to the inner tube with a collar, wherein the distal portion is configured to underlie at least a portion of the proximal end of the implantable device.

10. The delivery device according to claim 9, wherein the distal portion comprises at least one anchor to engage at least a portion of the proximal end of the implantable device.

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

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

positioning an inner tube within an outer tube such that a gap is defined between respective distal ends of each of the inner and outer tubes;

positioning the implantable device at least partially within the gap;

positioning at least a portion of the distal end of the inner tube within at least a portion of a proximal end of the implantable device;

positioning the inner and outer tubes within the lumen; and

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

13. The method according to claim 12, further comprising positioning an optical device within the gap to view at least a portion of at least one of the implantable device and target area.

14. The method according to claim 12, further comprising positioning the implantable device over at least one anchor defined proximate to the distal end of the inner tube.

15. The method according to claim 12, wherein deploying comprises sliding the outer tube proximally over the inner tube with the mechanism.

16. The method according to claim 12, further comprising moving the inner and outer tubes proximally within the lumen while the implantable device is positioned within the gap to reposition the implantable device.

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

a longitudinal outer tube having a proximal end and a distal end, wherein at least a portion of the implantable device is capable of being positioned in direct contact with the outer tube proximate to the distal end of the outer tube prior to deploying the implantable device;

a shortened inner tube slidably disposed within the outer tube and having a proximal end and a distal end, wherein at least a portion of the distal end of the inner tube comprises at least one anchor configured for interiorly engaging at least a portion of a proximal end of 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.

18. The delivery device according to claim 17, wherein the distal end of the inner tube is located proximally of the distal end of the outer tube to define a gap for accommodating at least a portion of the implantable device.

19. The delivery device according to claim 18, further comprising an optical device capable of being positioned within the gap to view at least a portion of the implantable device and lumen.

20. The delivery device according to claim 17, wherein the inner tube further comprises a distal portion coupled thereto with a collar, wherein the distal portion is configured to underlie at least a portion of the proximal end of the implantable device.

21. The delivery device according to claim 20, wherein the distal portion comprises the at least one anchor.

22. The delivery device according to claim 17, wherein at least one of the inner and outer tubes comprises a semi-transparent polymeric material.

23. The delivery device according to claim 22, wherein the outer tube comprises a semi-transparent polymeric material and the inner tube comprises a side opening defined therein, and wherein an optical instrument is capable of viewing the lumen through the side opening and the outer tube.