Cardiac implant device tether system and method

• US 7,011,671 B2
• Filed: 07/16/2002
• Issued: 03/14/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 07/18/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Boston Scientific Scimed (Boston Scientific Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Atritech Inc. (Boston Scientific Corporation)
• Inventors: Welch, Jeffrey
• Primary Examiner(s): Dawson, Glenn K.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Mendoza, Michael G.
• Application Number:
  US10/198,261
• Publication Number:
  US 20030023262A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,337 Days
• Field of Search: 606/194, 606/195, 606/198, 606/108, 606/191, 606/200, 606/1, 606/151, 623/1.1, 623/11.11, 604/104
• US Class Current: 606/194
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/011 Instruments for their placement or removal
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2230/0006 circular

Abstract

Catheterization apparatus for implanting devices is provided with a device tether. The apparatus includes a device delivery tube that provides a pathway for moving implant devices through a patient'"'"'s vasculature to internal body cavities. The implant devices are carried or pushed through the device delivery tube by a tubular push rod. The implant devices are tethered to a line passing through the push rod lumen. After deployment, the implant devices may be retracted into the device delivery tube for repositioning or retrieval by pulling on the tether.

Claims

1. A catheterization apparatus for implanting a device in an internal body cavity, said apparatus comprising:

a delivery tube for establishing a conduit for passage of said device to said body cavity;

a push rod for moving said device through said delivery tube; and

a releasable tether attached to said device for mechanical control over said device after it has been placed in said body cavity;

wherein;

said push rod is connected to a hub disposed on an end of said push rod;

said tether extends from said hub to said device, said device disposed on the other end of said push rod;

said hub comprises a wire-anchoring fixture; and

said tether comprises a wire loop with a wire end secured at said wire-anchoring fixture.

2. An apparatus for implanting a device in an atrial appendage, said apparatus comprising:

a delivery tube for establishing a conduit through the body'"'"'s vasculature, said conduit for passage of said device to said atrial appendage; and

a shaft for transporting said device through said delivery tube;

wherein;

said shaft comprises a device tether for mechanical control over said device after said device has been placed in said body cavity;

said shaft is connected to a hub disposed on an end of said shaft;

said tether extends from said hub to said device, said device disposed on the other end of said shaft;

said hub comprises a wire-anchoring fixture; and

said tether comprises a wire loop with a wire end secured at said wire-anchoring fixture.