System and method for delivering a left atrial appendage containment device

A method of delivering a containment device to the left atrial appendage of a patient, comprising:

• providing a frame that is expandable from a reduced cross section to an enlarged cross section, the frame extending between a proximal hub and a distal hub, the frame being releasably coupled near its proximal hub to a control line extending proximally away from the proximal hub;
• providing a slider assembly connected to the frame, the slider assembly comprising a guide tube extending proximally from the distal hub and an inner member slideably received within the guide tube, the inner member being releasably coupled to an elongate core that extends proximally through the proximal hub, wherein movement of the inner member relative to the frame is at least partially limited by interference between a portion of the inner member and a portion of the guide tube;
• delivering the implant to the left atrial appendage of the patient;
• expanding the frame within the left atrial appendage by providing relative movement between the control line and the elongate core, wherein the elongate core is moveable relative to the implant while coupled to the inner member when the frame is positioned within the left atrial appendage without substantially affecting the position of the implant, and
• releasing the elongate core from the inner member and the control line from the implant, and removing the elongate core and the control line from the patient.

A method of delivering a medical implant to a desired location within a patient, comprising:

• providing an implant having a proximal end and a distal end;
• delivering the implant to the desired location, the implant being at least partially carried to the desired location by an elongate core operably connected to and extending proximally from the implant;
• allowing movement of the elongate core relative to the implant at least while the implant is positioned at the desired location and while the elongate core remains operably connected to the implant without said movement substantially affecting the position of the implant;
• and
• releasing the elongate core from the implant.

A system for preventing the release of embolic material from the left atrial appendage of a medical patient, comprising:

• an axially moveable core having a proximal end and a distal end;
• an implant having a proximal end and a distal end;
• and
• a slider assembly positioned within the implant, the slider assembly comprising:
• a guide tube extending proximally from the distal end of the implant;
• and
• a nut slideably received and substantially coaxially aligned within the guide tube, the nut being operable to releasably engage a distal portion of the axially moveable core;
• wherein movement of the axially moveable core when engaged with the nut allows the nut to slide within the guide tube without substantially affecting the position of the implant.

A medical device deployment system, comprising:

• an elongate body having a proximal end and a distal end, the proximal end adapted to be positioned outside of a patient's body and the distal end adapted to be positioned within a patient's body;
• an implant adapted to be positioned within an opening inside the patient's body;
• and
• a slider assembly connected to a portion of the implant, the slider assembly adapted to releasably engage a distal portion of the elongate body, the slider assembly when engaged with the elongate body permitting longitudinal movement of the elongate body over a predetermined range without substantially affecting the position of the implant.

A medical device deployment system comprising:

• an implant adapted to be positioned within an opening inside a patient's body;
• an elongate body adapted to releasably engage at least portion of the implant;
• and
• an outer tube adapted to slideably receive at least a portion of the elongate body therein, the elongate body being relatively moveable within the outer tube over a predetermined distance without substantially affecting the position of the implant.