Deployment assembly and introducer

• US 8,888,834 B2
• Filed: 07/02/2009
• Issued: 11/18/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 07/02/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cook Medical Technologies, LLC (Cook Group Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Cook Medical Technologies, LLC (Cook Group Incorporated)
• Inventors: Hansen, Palle M., Lowinger, Johan M.
• Primary Examiner(s): HENSON, DEVIN B
• Application Number:
  US12/459,577
• Publication Number:
  US 20100004606A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,965 Days
• Field of Search: 600/585, 600/226, 604/264, 606/108, 623/1.11, 623/1.23
• US Class Current: 623/1.11
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00367 Details of actuation of instruments, e.g. relations between pushing buttons, or the like, and activation of the tool, working tip, or the like
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00371 Multiple actuation, e.g. pushing of two buttons, or two working tips becoming operational
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/347 Locking means, e.g. for locking instrument in cannula
• 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 2/966 with relative longitudinal movement between outer sleeve and prosthesis, e.g. using a push rod

Abstract

A deployment assembly (10) for an introducer used for introducing into a patient a stent or other device, the deployment assembly including a housing 30 carrying a sprung loaded (90) actuator (44,50). The actuator includes a toothed wheel (50) carrying a spool (48) around which a retraction strap (44) can be wound. The strap (44) is coupled to a body member (26) of the introducer and through this to the outer sheath (14) thereof. A trigger (16) is provided for operating the actuator (44, 50). When the trigger (16) is pressed, the actuator winds, under the force produced by the spring (90), the strap (44) to thereby retract the outer sheath (14) so as to expose and then deploy the device carried on the introducer. The mechanism is such that a surgeon need not expend his own energy to retract the outer sheath (14) since this force is provided by the spring (90). Furthermore, the spring (90) acts in a plane other than that of the direction of retraction of the sheath (14), which minimizes the risk of inadvertent movement of the introducer as the sheath (14) is being retracted.

Claims

1. A deployment assembly for deploying one or more components of an endovascular introducer assembly provided with a retractable element, the deployment assembly comprising an external manipulation element having a locked and unlocked state, and an actuator element coupled to the external manipulation element, said actuator element comprising a spiral spring that is initially biased and restrained by the external manipulation element in said locked state from exerting a restoring force, wherein said spring is released by actuation of said external manipulation element to said unlocked state, said spring thereby exerting said restoring force on a wheel to retract said retractable element in response to said external manipulation element being actuated from said locked state to said unlocked state, and further comprising a first damper and a second damper, said first and second dampers being rotary dampers coupled to said wheel, said second damper being a two-speed damper that disengages from said wheel after a first phase of retraction of the retractable element, said first and second dampers applying a higher dampening force on said wheel to retract said retractable element at a slower rate during said first phase of retraction, and said first damper applying a lower dampening force on said wheel than said first and second dampers to retract said retractable element at a higher rate after said first phase.

2. A deployment assembly according to claim 1, comprising a speed control device operable to control the speed of operation of the actuator element.

3. A deployment assembly according to claim 2, wherein the speed control device provides for adjustable speed of retraction.

4. A deployment assembly according to claim 3, wherein the speed control device is separately actuatable relative to the actuator element.

5. A deployment assembly according to claim 4, wherein the speed control device is a part of the actuator element.

6. A deployment assembly according to claim 1, comprising a discrete speed control device operable to control the speed of retraction at least two different speeds.

7. A deployment assembly according to claim 1, wherein the assembly includes a handle element carrying the actuator element.

8. A deployment assembly according to claim 7, wherein the handle element is designed to fit to an external manipulation end of an introducer.

9. A deployment assembly according to claim 1, comprising a trigger device for triggering the actuator element to retract said retractable element attached thereto.

10. A deployment assembly according to claim 9, wherein the trigger device includes a stop device operable to stop operation of the actuator element.

11. A deployment assembly according to claim 1, wherein said second damper comprises teeth engaged with teeth of said wheel and a portion of missing teeth, said missing teeth disengaging with said teeth of said wheel to disengage said second damper.

12. A deployment assembly according to claim 11, wherein said second damper further comprises a flexible arm circumscribing an arc along said missing teeth.

13. A deployment assembly for deploying one or more components of an endovascular introducer assembly provided with a retractable element, the deployment assembly comprising an external manipulation element having a locked and unlocked state, an actuator element, a coupling element for coupling the actuator element to said retractable element and a speed control device for controlling the speed of operation of the actuator element, said actuator element comprising a spiral spring that is initially biased and restrained by the external manipulation element in said locked state from exerting a restoring force, wherein said spring is released by actuation of said external manipulation element to said unlocked state, said spring thereby exerting said restoring force on a wheel to retract said retractable element in response to said external manipulation element being actuated from said locked state to said unlocked state, and further comprising a first damper and a second damper, said first and second dampers being rotary dampers coupled to said wheel, said second damper being a two-speed damper that disengages from said wheel after a first phase of retraction of the retractable element, said first and second dampers applying a higher dampening force on said wheel to retract said retractable element at a slower rate during said first phase of retraction, and said first damper applying a lower dampening force on said wheel than said first and second dampers to retract said retractable element at a higher rate after said first phase.

14. A deployment assembly according to claim 13, wherein the speed control device provides for adjustable speed of retraction.

15. A deployment assembly according to claim 14, wherein the speed control device is separately actuatable relative to the actuator element.

16. A deployment assembly according to claim 15, wherein the speed control device is a part of the actuator element.

17. A deployment assembly according to claim 13, comprising a discrete speed control device operable to control the speed of retraction at least two different speeds.

18. A deployment assembly according to claim 13, wherein the assembly includes a handle element carrying the actuator element.

19. A deployment assembly according to claim 18, wherein the handle element is designed to fit to an external manipulation end of an introducer.

20. A deployment assembly according to claim 13, comprising a trigger device for triggering the actuator element to retract said retractable element attached thereto.

21. A deployment assembly according to claim 20, wherein the trigger device comprises a stop device operable to stop operation of the actuator element.

22. A deployment assembly according to claim 13, wherein the coupling element comprises an elongate flexible member attachable to said retractable element to couple said retractable element to the actuator element.

23. A deployment assembly according to claim 22, wherein the elongate flexible member is a cable, cord, strip or band of flexible material.

24. A deployment assembly according to claim 23, wherein the speed control device is operable to control a frictional force applied to the elongate flexible member.

25. A deployment assembly according to claim 24, wherein the speed control device includes an adjustable labyrinthine path for the elongate flexible member.

26. A deployment assembly according to claim 25, wherein said labyrinthine path is provided with a plurality of projecting surfaces projecting into the path of the elongate flexible member.

27. A deployment assembly according to claim 26, wherein one or more of the projecting surfaces is movable to adjust sliding friction applied to the elongate flexible member.

28. A deployment assembly according to claim 25, wherein said second damper comprises teeth engaged with teeth of said wheel and a portion of missing teeth, said missing teeth disengaging with said teeth of said wheel to disengage said second damper.

29. A deployment assembly according to claim 22, including a spindle upon which the elongate flexible member can be made to wind on retraction of the retractable element.