DEPLOYMENT SLEEVE SHORTENING MECHANISM

• US 20120130474A1
• Filed: 11/10/2011
• Published: 05/24/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 11/11/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: W. L. Gore & Associates (W.L. Gore & Associates)
• Original Assignee: W. L. Gore & Associates (W.L. Gore & Associates)
• Inventors: Buckley, Kyle R.
• Granted Patent: US 9,414,944 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 623/1.12
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/97 the outer sleeve being splittable

Abstract

A medical device constraint includes an elastic element having proximal and distal ends, a continuous lumen extending between the proximal and distal ends of the tubular elastic element; and a medical device disposed at least partially within the continuous lumen, wherein the generally tubular element has a first state in which the tubular element is longitudinally held in tension to conceal a gap between the medical device and a distal tip and a second state in which the tubular element is longitudinally relaxed and spaced apart from the gap.

Claims

1. ) A catheter assembly, said catheter assembly comprising:

a catheter having an end;

a catheter tip disposed at the end of the catheter;

an expandable device positioned near the end of the catheter;

a restraining member extending around at least a portion of the expandable device for releasably maintaining the expandable device in a constrained state suitable for endoluminal delivery of the device, the restraining member having a retractable section that in a first state extends over at least a portion of the device and at least a portion of the catheter tip to bridge a gap therebetween and in a second state is spaced apart from the catheter tip.

2. ) The catheter assembly as set forth in claim 1, wherein the restraining member is formed from an elastomeric material.

3. ) The catheter assembly as set forth in claim 2, wherein the restraining member in a tensioned state extends over at least a portion the device and at least a portion of the catheter tip to bridge the gap therebetween.

4. ) The catheter assembly as set forth in claim 3, wherein the restraining member can be released to allow displacement of the retractable section toward a shortened, relaxed state sequentially or concurrently with opening of the restraining member.

5. ) The catheter assembly as set forth in claim 4, wherein the restraining member in the tension state is at least about 10% longitudinal elongation.

6. ) The catheter assembly as set forth in claim 4, wherein the retraining member is releasably held in the constrained state by a releasable stitch.

7. ) The catheter assembly as set forth in claim 1 including a retracting element operatively coupled to the retractable section to facilitate retraction of the retractable section away from the catheter tip.

8. ) The catheter assembly set forth in claim 7, wherein the retracting element is an elongated member coupled to the retracting section and extending through the catheter to allow access and selective actuation of the retracting element.

9. ) The catheter assembly as set forth in claim 7, wherein the retracting element is formed from an elastomeric material and operatively coupled to the retractable section, such that the retracting element is in a tensioned state while the retractable section is releasably held over at least portions of each of the device and the catheter tip to bridge the gap therebetween.

10. ) The catheter assembly as set forth in claim 9, wherein retracting element relaxes and shortens to cause displacement of the retractable section away from the catheter tip in response to release of the retractable section of the restraining member.

11. ) The catheter assembly as set forth in claim 9 wherein the retraining member is releasably held in the constrained state by a releasable stitch.

12. ) The catheter assembly as set forth in claim 11, wherein retracting element relaxes and shortens to cause displacement of the retractable section away from the catheter tip in response to actuation of the releasable stitch.

13. ) The catheter assembly as set forth in claim 9, wherein the retracting element in the tension state is at least about 10% longitudinal elongation.

14. ) A medical device constraint, comprising:

an elastic element having proximal and distal ends;

a continuous lumen extending between the tubular element proximal and distal ends;

the generally tubular element having a first state wherein the tubular element is longitudinally restrained in tension;

a medical device having a distal end at least partially contained within the continuous lumen while the tubular element is in the first state;

the generally tubular element having a second state wherein the tubular element is longitudinally relaxed in tension; and

the distal end of the medical device is positioned distal to the distal end of the tubular element when the tubular element is in the second state.

15. ) A catheter assembly comprising:

a catheter extending between a proximal end and an opposite distal end thereof;

an expandable device disposed on the catheter near the distal end;

a restraining member extending over the device and constraining the device to an outer dimension suitable for endoluminal delivery to a treatment site in a patient; and

an elastic element fixedly secured to at least two location on the restraining member,

wherein in a first state, the restraining member extends over a gap between the device and the distal end of the catheter and the elastic element is held in tension due to friction between the expandable device and the restraining member, and in a second state, the restraining member is opened to allow expansion and deployment of the expandable device and further relieve friction to allow longitudinal retraction of the restraining member due to a return of the elastic element to a shorter, untensioned length.