Rotary handle stent delivery system and method

A system for delivery of an intraluminal stent, comprising:

• a delivery device comprising:
• a catheter having three concentric shafts including:
• an inner core having the intraluminal stent thereon;
• an outer sheath over the intraluminal stent in an unexpanded state on the inner core therein, the outer sheath holding the intraluminal stent in an unexpanded state, the outer sheath translatable coaxially over the inner core and the intraluminal stent;
• and
• an outer support shaft at least partially extending over the inner core and the outer sheath;
• a flexible timing belt having a plurality of belt teeth on a surface of the flexible timing belt;
• a timing belt link directly coupled to the flexible timing belt and coupled to the outer sheath such that movement of the timing belt link causes movement of the outer sheath to expose the intraluminal stent;
• a barrel having barrel teeth corresponding to belt teeth;
• a thumbwheel assembly having two thumbwheels, wherein at least a portion of the thumbwheel assembly is integral with the barrel such that rotation of the thumbwheel assembly causes movement of the barrel such that the barrel teeth directly engage the belt teeth to cause movement of the flexible timing belt and the timing belt link, causing movement of the outer sheath;
• and
• a belt tensioner comprising a torsion spring, a tensioner arm and a tensioner pulley,
• wherein the barrel is between the two thumbwheels and the flexible timing belt engages the barrel between the two thumbwheels;
• and
• wherein the barrel and the two thumbwheels are rotatable about a common axis.

A method of delivering a medical device to a body using a delivery device comprising a catheter having three concentric shafts including an inner core, an outer sheath over the inner core and an outer support shaft;

• a flexible timing belt having a plurality of belt teeth on a surface of the flexible timing belt;
• a timing belt link coupled to the outer sheath such that movement of the timing belt link causes movement of the outer sheath;
• a barrel having barrel teeth corresponding to belt teeth;
• a belt tensioner comprising a torsion spring, a tensioner arm and a tensioner pulley;
• a thumbwheel assembly having two thumbwheels, wherein at least a portion of the thumbwheel assembly is integral with the barrel such that rotation of the thumbwheel assembly causes movement of the barrel such that the barrel teeth engage the belt teeth to cause movement of the flexible timing belt and the timing belt link, causing movement of the outer sheath;
• and a medical device over an outer diameter of the inner core wherein the barrel is between the two thumbwheels and the flexible timing belt engages the barrel between the two thumbwheels and wherein the barrel and the two thumbwheels are rotatable about a common axis;
• the method comprising:
• rotating the thumbwheel assembly in a predetermined direction to cause the flexible timing belt to move in direction associated with the predetermined direction of thumbwheel assembly rotation to cause the timing belt link to move the outer sheath in a desired direction;
• and
• deploying the medical device from a distal end of the inner core to the body as the outer sheath moves in the desired direction.