Implant loading device and system

• US 9,211,181 B2
• Filed: 09/24/2012
• Issued: 12/15/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 11/19/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Pulmonx Corp.
• Original Assignee: Pulmonx Corp.
• Inventors: Olivera, Ryan, Nguyen, Hoang
• Primary Examiner(s): Gherbi, Suzette J
• Application Number:
  US13/625,615
• Publication Number:
  US 20130023919A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,177 Days
• Field of Search: 606/191
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/12031 complete occlusion
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/12104 in an air passage
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/12172 having a pre-set deployed three-dimensional shape methods of manufacturing A61B2017/00526
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0053 Loading magazines or sutures into applying tools
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/1205 Introduction devices
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/0095 Packages or dispensers for prostheses or other implants for intraocular lenses A61F2/1691; for dental surgery A61C19/02
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/04 Hollow or tubular parts of organs, e.g. bladders, tracheae, bronchi or bile ducts A61F2/18, A61F2/20 take precedence; devices, other than stent-grafts, providing patency to, or preventing collapsing of, tubular structures of the body other than stent-grafts, e.g. stents A61F2/82; instruments specially adapted for placement or removal of stents or stent-grafts A61F2/95
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/95 Instruments specially adapted for placement or removal of stents or stent-grafts
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/9522 Means for mounting a stent or stent-graft onto or into a placement instrument
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/9525 using a funnel
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/043 Bronchi
• CPC Class Codes: B65B 1/04 Methods of, or means for, filling the material into the containers or receptacles

Abstract

Devices, methods, and systems are provided for loading an implantable device into a container. One aspect of the loading system contains a loader element with a loading tunnel that is configured to gradually contract an implantable device into a compressed state of reduced size relative to an expanded state as the implantable device travels through the loading tunnel.

Claims

1. A system for loading an implantable device into a container, comprising:

a loading element comprising a loading tunnel configured to gradually contract an implantable device into a compressed state of reduced size relative to an expanded state as the implantable device travels through the loading tunnel; and

a puller element that is removably attached to the implantable device via a suture, wherein the puller element pulls the implantable device through the loading tunnel;

wherein the puller element automatically releases the suture after the implantable device contracts into the compressed state and wherein the loading tunnel is a funnel housing defining an internal, funnel-shaped loading cavity.

2. The system of claim 1, further comprising a rotator that is disposed on the puller element that is configured to be removably attached to a portion of the suture, wherein rotation of the rotator causes the suture to detach from the rotator.

3. The system of claim 1, further comprising a plunger element, wherein the plunger element comprises an elongated portion that is configured to push the implantable device through the loading tunnel.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein the plunger element is configured to push the implantable device into a delivery catheter.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the loading tunnel further defines an internal transfer cavity that communicates with the loading cavity, the transfer cavity sized to receive the implantable device from the loading cavity and retain the implantable device in the compressed state.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein the loading tunnel further defines a container cavity that communicates with the transfer cavity, the container cavity sized to receive a container that receives the implantable device in the compressed state.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the implantable device is a pulmonary implant.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein the container is a delivery catheter that is configured to deliver the pulmonary implant to a lung region.

9. The system of claim 1, further comprising a tension element that is configured to communicate a force to the loading tunnel.

10. The system of claim 1, further comprising a container locking element that is configured to secure and align the container with the loader element.

11. A system for loading an implantable device into a container, comprising:

a loading element comprising a loading tunnel configured to gradually contract an implantable device into a compressed state of reduced size relative to an expanded state as the implantable device travels through the loading tunnel; and

a puller element that is removably attached to the implantable device via a suture, wherein the puller element pulls the implantable device through the loading tunnel;

wherein the puller element automatically releases the suture after the implantable device contracts into the compressed state and wherein the implantable device is a pulmonary implant.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein the container is a delivery catheter that is configured to deliver the pulmonary implant to a lung region.

13. The system of claim 11, wherein the loading tunnel further defines a container cavity that communicates with the transfer cavity, the container cavity sized to receive a container that receives the implantable device in the compressed state.

14. The system of claim 11, further comprising a rotator that is disposed on the puller element that is configured to be removably attached to a portion of the suture, wherein rotation of the rotator causes the suture to detach from the rotator.

15. The system of claim 11, further comprising a plunger element, wherein the plunger element comprises an elongated portion that is configured to push the implantable device through the loading tunnel.

16. The system of claim 11, wherein the plunger element is configured to push the implantable device into a delivery catheter.