Delivery system for a medical device

• US 20070118201A1
• Filed: 06/30/2006
• Published: 05/24/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 09/02/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Abbott Laboratories Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Abbott Laboratories Incorporated
• Inventors: Lasser, Amelia, Jen, Jimmy, Pappas, Jeffrey, Volkl, Claus, Hahn, Juergen, Shumer, Daniel
• Granted Patent: US 7,780,716 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 2/9517 handle assemblies therefor

Abstract

The invention is directed to a delivery system for delivering a medical device. The delivery system includes an inner member having a proximal end and a distal end. The inner member defines a longitudinal axis between the proximal end and the distal end. A tip is formed at the distal end of the inner member. A bumper is freely disposed on the inner member. The bumper has a proximal end and a distal end. A seat is defined between the tip and the distal end of the bumper. Additionally, a sheath is disposed about the inner member, the sheath having a proximal end and a distal end. The sheath is movable from a first sheath position substantially covering the seat, and a second sheath position axially offset to expose the seat. The invention also includes a handle in contact with the proximal end of the inner member.

Claims

1. A delivery system for delivery of a medical device, the delivery system comprising:

an inner member having a proximal end and a distal end, the inner member defining a longitudinal axis therebetween;

a tip disposed at the distal end of the inner member;

a bumper disposed on the inner member, the bumper having a proximal end and a distal end, a seat being defined between the tip and the distal end of the bumper, the bumper including a sleeve member, the sleeve member having a length and a tubular wall;

a sheath disposed about the inner member, the sheath having a proximal end and a distal end, the sheath being movable from a first sheath position substantially covering the seat, and a second sheath position axially offset to expose the seat;

a handle in contact with the proximal end of the inner member; and

an actuator on the handle and coupled to a rack-and-pinion assembly to move the sheath with respect to the inner member along the longitudinal axis from the first sheath position to the second sheath position, the rack-and-pinion assembly configured to increase a deployment rate of movement for the sheath during at least a portion of movement of the actuator.

2. The delivery system of claim 1, wherein the ratio of movement of the sheath to movement of the actuator is greater then 1:

1 during at least a portion of movement of the actuator.

3. The delivery system of claim 2, wherein the ratio of movement of the sheath to movement of the actuator varies.

4. The delivery system of claim 2, wherein the ratio of movement of the sheath to movement of the actuator is constant.

5. The delivery system of claim 1 wherein the rack-and-pinion assembly includes a first gear rack, a second gear rack and a pinion gear, wherein the first rack is disposed at an angle less than ninety degrees relative to the second rack, the first gear rack moveable relative the second gear rack and the pinion gear operatively coupled to the first and second gear racks, respectively.

6. The delivery system of claim 5, wherein the first gear rack is coupled with the sheath.

7. The delivery system of claim 5, wherein the actuator includes a slider operatively coupled with the pinion gear;

movement of the slider engages the pinion gear along the second gear rack to rotate the pinion gear, which in turn engages the first gear rack for linear movement thereof.

8. The delivery system of claim 4, wherein the first rack includes a plurality of gear teeth along a length and the second rack includes a plurality of gear teeth along a length, the first rack having a different number of teeth than the second rack.

9. The system of claim 1 wherein the first rack further comprises pins configured to be received within a track provided on the handle.

10. The delivery system of claim 1 wherein the actuator includes a slider moveable in a linear direction and having first and second extenders extending therefrom, each extender including a slot defined therein;

and further wherein the rack-and-pinion assembly includes a pinion gear having a first end, second end and a plurality of gear teeth formed therebetween, wherein the first and second ends of the pinion gear slidingly engage a respective one of the slots defined in the first and second extenders;

a first rack having a first end and a second end and a plurality of gear teeth formed therebetweeen, the first rack operatively coupled to the pinion gear; and

a second rack including a plurality of gear teeth disposed thereon, the plurality of gear teeth of the second rack operatively engaged with the pinion gear, wherein the engagement of the pinion gear along the second rack due to movement of the slider results in movement of the first rack in the linear direction at a rate greater than movement of the slider.

11. The delivery system of claim 10 wherein the plurality of gear teeth disposed on the first rack have a pitch different than the plurality of gear teeth on the second rack.

12. The delivery system of claim 10 wherein the second rack includes a pair of elongate members, each elongate member having a plurality of teeth in engagement with the pinion gear.

13. The delivery system of claim 10 wherein the second rack is arc-shaped.

14. The delivery system of claim 10 wherein the deployment rate of the sheath is at least twice the rate of movement of the actuator.

15. The delivery system of claim 1 wherein the rack-and-pinion assembly includes a pinion having a plurality of teeth along its length, and a rack gear having a circumferential surface and being rotatable about a center axis, the rack gear having a first gear pitch operatively coupled with the rack and a second gear pitch vertically displaced on a height of the circumferential surface;

and further wherein the actuator includes a slider having an elongate surface with a plurality of teeth therealong, the plurality of teeth of the slider operatively coupled with the second gear pitch of the rack gear for rotation of the rack gear upon linear movement of the slider.

16. The delivery system of claim 15, wherein the first gear pitch is defined by a first generally cylindrical portion of the rack gear having a first diameter, and the second gear pitch is defined by a second generally cylindrical portion of the rack gear having a second diameter, the first diameter being greater than the second diameter;

rotation of the rack gear due to linear movement of the slider resulting in a greater rate of movement of the pinion.

17. The delivery system of claim 15, wherein the pinion is operatively coupled to the sheath.

18. The delivery system of claim 15, wherein the rack gear is a bevel gear having a generally conical circumferential surface, the second gear pitch being varied along a height of the conical surface, and further wherein the plurality of teeth of the slider are disposed at varied heights along the elongate surface;

linear movement of the slider resulting in varied engagement of the plurality of teeth along the height of the circumferential surface to vary the rate a rotation of the rack gear and the rate of movement of the pinion.

19. The delivery system of claim 18, wherein the plurality of teeth of the slider vary in pitch along a length of the elongate surface.

20. The delivery system of claim 15, wherein the rack-and-pinion assembly includes a second rack gear, the pinion disposed between the first and second rack gear.