DELIVERY SYSTEM FOR DEPLOYMENT OF MEDICAL DEVICES
First Claim
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1. An apparatus for minimally invasively delivering a medical device to a target site within a patient, the apparatus comprising:
- a first tube having an outside surface suitable for accepting a medical device collapsed thereon in a stationary position;
a second tube movable relative to the first tube and incorporated therewith; and
a sheathing material having a first end affixed to the first tube and a second end affixed to the second tube so that a portion of the sheathing material may cover at least some of a medical device when loaded on the apparatus, the first and second tubes aligned concentrically so as to create an inversion point in the sheathing material when one tube is moved relative to the other tube;
wherein the apparatus is configured so that movement of one tube relative to the other tube causes the inversion point to move relative to a medical device when loaded on the apparatus so as to expose the medical device to expansion when it is desired that the medical device expand at a target site.
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Abstract
A catheter that comprises a sheath that is connected at opposing ends to concentric tubes that move relative to each other in a manner that alternatively covers and exposes a medical device loaded onto the catheter. A portion of the sheath is arranged so as to invert upon itself so that axial movement of one tube relative to the other simultaneously moves the inversion point over or away from the device, alternatively covering or exposing the device.
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Citations
19 Claims
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1. An apparatus for minimally invasively delivering a medical device to a target site within a patient, the apparatus comprising:
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a first tube having an outside surface suitable for accepting a medical device collapsed thereon in a stationary position; a second tube movable relative to the first tube and incorporated therewith; and a sheathing material having a first end affixed to the first tube and a second end affixed to the second tube so that a portion of the sheathing material may cover at least some of a medical device when loaded on the apparatus, the first and second tubes aligned concentrically so as to create an inversion point in the sheathing material when one tube is moved relative to the other tube; wherein the apparatus is configured so that movement of one tube relative to the other tube causes the inversion point to move relative to a medical device when loaded on the apparatus so as to expose the medical device to expansion when it is desired that the medical device expand at a target site. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 14, 16, 18)
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5. A method of delivering a medical device loaded on to a catheter, the method comprising:
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positioning a first tube relative to a second concentric tube such that sheathing material having a first end affixed to the first tube and a second end affixed to the second tube forms at least one inversion point; moving the first tube in a first direction relative to the second tube so that the medical device is covered at least partially by a portion of the sheathing material by the axial movement of the inversion point; delivering the catheter within a patient so that the medical device is positioned relative to a desired target site of therapy; and moving the first tube in a second direction relative to the second tube so that the inversion point moves in such a way as to expose the medical device when it is desired to expand the device, thereby permitting expansion of the medical device at the target site. - View Dependent Claims (6, 7)
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8. An apparatus for delivering a medical device to a site within a patient, the apparatus comprising:
a catheter comprising; distal and proximal ends; first and second tubes, movable with respect to each other with one being located at least partially inside the other; a region for receiving the medical device on the outer surface of one of the tubes; a flexible sheath for retaining the medical device, when positioned in the region, the sheath being folded over upon itself to have outer and inner portions, the outer portion being attached directly or indirectly to one of the tubes so that movement of that tube causes movement of the outer portion of the sheath from a position at least partially covering the region to a position at least partially exposing the region. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 15, 17, 19)
Specification