# US 12,004,981 B2 · Systems and methods for on-device constraining mechanism construction

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- Number: US 12,004,981 B2
- Document ID: US12004981B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 17/251,485
- Filed: 2018-06-14
- Published: 2021-08-19
- Granted: 2024-06-11
- Earliest claimed: 2018-06-14
- Assignees: W. L. Gore & Associates, Inc.
- Applicants: W. L. Gore & Associates, Inc.
- Inventors: Jerry J. Stastka; Tyson J. Skelton
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12004981B2

## CPC

- A61F 2/95: Instruments specially adapted for placement or removal of stents or stent-grafts
- A61F 2/9525: {using a funnel}
- D04C 3/48: Auxiliary devices
- A61F 2002/9511: {the retaining means being filaments or wires}
- A61F: FILTERS IMPLANTABLE INTO BLOOD VESSELS; PROSTHESES; DEVICES PROVIDING PATENCY TO, OR PREVENTING COLLAPSING OF, TUBULAR STRUCTURES OF THE BODY, e.g. STENTS; ORTHOPAEDIC, NURSING OR CONTRACEPTIVE DEVICES; FOMENTATION; TREATMENT OR PROTECTION OF EYES OR EARS; BANDAGES, DRESSINGS OR ABSORBENT PADS; FIRST-AID KITS (dental prosthetics A61C)
- D04C: BRAIDING OR MANUFACTURE OF LACE, INCLUDING BOBBIN-NET OR CARBONISED LACE; BRAIDING MACHINES; BRAID; LACE (machines for making soles from strips of material A43D29/00; cane working B27J1/00)

## Abstract

Various aspects of the present disclosure are directed apparatuses, systems and methods that include forming a constraining mechanism for an implantable medical device delivery. The apparatuses, systems and methods may include reducing a diameter of the implantable medical from a deployed diameter to a reduced diameter and interlocking one or more fibers along a length of the implantable medical device while the implantable medical device is in the reduced diameter to form the constraining mechanism.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A method of forming a constraining mechanism for an implantable medical device delivery, the method comprising:
reducing a diameter of the implantable medical device from a deployed diameter to a reduced diameter by forcing the implantable medical device through a funnel having internal surfaces reducing in diameter; and
wrapping one or more fibers circumferentially about the implantable medical device and the funnel, wherein the funnel includes a zone defining a landing position for the one or more fibers when forming the constraining mechanism, the zone having a length approximately equal to a length of the implantable medical device; and
interlocking the one or more fibers on the implantable medical device along a length of the implantable medical device while the implantable medical device is constrained by the funnel in the reduced diameter to form the constraining mechanism.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein interlocking the one or more fibers along the length of the implantable medical device includes knitting the one or more fibers to form the constraining mechanism.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein interlocking the one or more fibers along the length of the implantable medical device includes forming knots by knitting the one or more fibers.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein interlocking the one or more fibers includes knitting the one or more fibers together while the one or more fibers are in direct contact with the implantable medical device.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein interlocking the one or more fibers includes arranging the one or more fibers along the implantable medical device as the implantable medical device exits the funnel in the reduced diameter.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, further comprising arranging the one or more fibers about an external surface of the funnel, and dragging the one or more fibers along the external surface of the funnel toward an end of the funnel where the implantable medical device exits the funnel in the reduced diameter to engage the implantable medical device.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein interlocking the one or more fibers occurs along the length of the implantable medical device in a first direction to form a first layer of the constraining mechanism, and further comprising interlocking the one or more fibers back onto the first layer along the length of the implantable medical device in a second direction to form a second layer of the constraining mechanism.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein interlocking the one or more fibers includes using a device to knit together the one or more fibers.

### Claim 9 (depends on 8)

The method of claim 8, wherein the device includes one or more needles, and the one or more needles are equal to the one or more fibers, and interlocking the one or more fibers includes knitting together the one or more fibers by the one or more needles.

### Claim 10

A system for forming a constraining mechanism for an implantable medical device delivery, the system comprising:
a funnel configured to reduce a diameter of the implantable medical device from a deployed diameter to a reduced diameter, wherein the funnel defines an exit point; and
a device positioned adjacent to the exit point of the funnel and configured to interlock one or more fibers along a length of the implantable medical device at a zone defining a landing position for the one or more fibers when forming the constraining mechanism, the device configured to interlock the one or more fibers at the exit point while the implantable medical device is constrained by the funnel in the reduced diameter to form the constraining mechanism.

### Claim 11 (depends on 10)

The system of claim 10, wherein the funnel includes internal surfaces reducing an internal diameter of the funnel and, wherein the zone has a length approximately equal to a length of the implantable medical device.

### Claim 12 (depends on 10)

The system of claim 10, wherein the device includes one or more needles, and the one or more needles are equal to the one or more fibers, and interlocking the one or more fibers includes knitting together the one or more fibers by the one or more needles.

### Claim 13 (depends on 10)

The system of claim 10, wherein the funnel is configured to facilitate arrangement of the one or more fibers on the implantable medical device for interlocking of the one or more fibers.

### Claim 14

A method comprising:
loading an implantable medical device into a funnel having internal surfaces reducing an internal diameter of the funnel and a zone defining a landing position for one or more fibers when forming a constraining mechanism;
reducing a diameter of the implantable medical device by forcing the implantable medical device through the internal surfaces reducing the internal diameter of the funnel; and
applying the one or more fibers to the implantable medical device while the implantable medical device is constrained by the funnel in the reduced diameter and as the implantable medical device exits the zone of the funnel to maintain the implantable medical device at reduced diameter.

### Claim 15 (depends on 14)

The method of claim 14, wherein applying the one or more fibers includes knotting a single fiber together to form the constraining mechanism.

### Claim 16 (depends on 14)

The method of claim 14, wherein applying the one or more fibers includes knitting together two or more fibers to form a constraining mechanism.

### Claim 17 (depends on 14)

The method of claim 14, further comprising arranging the one or more fibers about an external surface of the funnel, and dragging the one or more fibers along the external surface of the funnel toward an end of the funnel where the implantable medical device exits the funnel in the reduced diameter to engage the implantable medical device.

### Claim 18 (depends on 14)

The method of claim 14, wherein applying one or more fibers includes interlocking the one or more fibers occurs along the length of the implantable medical device in a first direction to form a first layer of the constraining mechanism, and further comprising interlocking the one or more fibers back onto the first layer along the length of the implantable medical device in a second direction to form a second layer of the constraining mechanism.