HANDLE ASSEMBLY FOR IMPLANT DELIVERY APPARATUS COMPRISING A FORCE LIMITER, A DISPLACEMENT LIMITER AND/OR A BRAKE FRAME ASSEMBLY

• US 20160158010A1
• Filed: 07/31/2014
• Published: 06/09/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 07/31/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Venus Medtech (Hangzhou), Inc.
• Original Assignee: Transcatheter Technologies Gmbh
• Inventors: Lim, Hou-Sen, Gotz, Wolfgang
• Granted Patent: US 10,064,721 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/2439 Expansion controlled by filaments
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/9511 the retaining means being filaments or wires
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 19/0672 characterised by means for tensioning the flexible member

Abstract

The present invention relates to a handle assembly (100) for an implant delivery device for folding or unfolding at least one medical implant by means of at least one tension thread, wherein the handle assembly (100) comprises a drum (14) for winding the tension thread thereon by rotating the drum (14); a knob (9) to be rotated by a user of the handle assembly (100) in order to fold or unfold the medical implant, the knob (9) being interconnected with the drum (14) such that the drum (14) is rotated when the knob (9) is rotated; and a force limiter for limiting the maximum force or tension that may be applied or is applicable to the tension thread (11) or to the drum (14) by rotating the knob (9).

Claims

1. A handle assembly (100) for an implant delivery device for folding or unfolding at least one medical implant by means of at least one tension thread, wherein the handle assembly (100) comprises:

a drum (14) for winding the tension thread thereon by rotating the drum (14);

a knob (9) to be rotated by a user of the handle assembly (100) in order to fold or unfold the medical implant, the knob (9) being interconnected with the drum (14) such that the drum (14) is rotated when the knob (9) is rotated; and

a force limiter for limiting the maximum force or tension that may be applied or is applicable to the tension thread (11) or to the drum (14) by rotating the knob (9).

2. The handle assembly (100) according to claim 1, wherein the knob (9) comprises a gear pattern or teeth (911);

wherein the force limiter comprises a first ring element comprising a gear pattern or teeth (1551) matching or corresponding to the gear pattern or teeth (911) of the knob (9); and

wherein the force limiter comprises at least one spring element arranged for pressing the first ring element against the knob (9) such that a rotation of the knob (9) is transmitted onto the first ring element by means of the gear pattern or teeth of the knob (9) and the gear pattern or teeth of the first ring element (15).

3. The handle assembly (100) according to claim 2, wherein the first ring element comprises teeth (1511) on an inner surface (151) thereof.

4. The handle assembly (100) according to claim 2, wherein the force limiter further comprises a second ring element;

wherein the spring element is interposed between the first ring element and the second ring element and has contact to both of them.

5. The handle assembly (100) according to claim 1, wherein one of the first and the second ring element comprises protrusions (1311);

and wherein the other one of the first and the second ring elements comprises or receptions (1531) arranged for receiving the protrusions (1311) so as to establish at least one of a form fit and a force disclosure between the first and the second ring elements (13, 15).

6. The handle assembly (100) according to claim 5, wherein the receptions (1531) and the protrusions (1311) are each arranged at on lower surface of the first ring element (15) and on the upper surface of the second ring element (13).

7. The handle assembly (100) according to claim 1, wherein the force limiter further comprises an internal retaining ring (39) attached within the lumen of the knob (9).

8. An implant delivery apparatus comprising at least one handle assembly (100) according to claim 1.

9. The implant delivery apparatus according to claim 8, designed or embodied as a catheter, in particular a heart catheter, or comprising such a catheter.

10. The implant delivery apparatus according to claim 8, comprising at least one implant connected with tension threads for the purpose of folding and/or unfolding or provided or prepared for being connected with tension threads.

11. The implant delivery apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the implant is a stent or a heart valve arrangement.

12. The handle assembly (100) according to claim 3, wherein the force limiter further comprises a second ring element;

wherein the spring element is interposed between the first ring element and the second ring element and has contact to both of them.

13. The implant delivery apparatus according to claim 9, comprising at least one implant connected with tension threads for the purpose of folding and/or unfolding or provided or prepared for being connected with tension threads.

14. The handle assembly (100) according to claim 2, wherein one of the first and the second ring element comprises protrusions (1311);

and wherein the other one of the first and the second ring elements comprises or receptions (1531) arranged for receiving the protrusions (1311) so as to establish at least one of a form fit and a force disclosure between the first and the second ring elements (13, 15).

15. The handle assembly (100) according to claim 2, wherein the force limiter further comprises an internal retaining ring (39) attached within the lumen of the knob (9).