Sleeve for facilitating movement of a transfemoral catheter

A system for implantable medical device delivery, the system comprising:

• an introducer having an interior lumen and an introducer valve located in the interior lumen;
• and
• a delivery device including
• an inner shaft extending in a longitudinal direction, the inner shaft defining a compartment adapted to receive the medical device in an assembled condition;
• an outer shaft surrounding at least a longitudinal portion of the inner shaft, the outer shaft being slidable relative to the inner shaft in the longitudinal direction;
• a distal sheath operatively attached to the outer shaft and surrounding a longitudinal portion of the inner shaft, the distal sheath being slidable in the longitudinal direction between a first position enclosing the compartment and a second position exposing the compartment for deployment of the medical device;
• and
• a sleeve surrounding at least a longitudinal portion of the outer shaft;
• the delivery device being assembled in the introducer so that the sleeve is positioned in the interior lumen of the introducer and extends through the introducer valve.

A method of delivering an implantable medical device, comprising:

• providing a delivery device including an inner shaft extending in a longitudinal direction, the inner shaft defining a compartment adapted to receive the medical device in an assembled condition, an outer shaft surrounding at least a longitudinal portion of the inner shaft, the outer shaft being slidable relative to the inner shaft in the longitudinal direction, a distal sheath operatively attached to the outer shaft and surrounding a longitudinal portion of the inner shaft, the distal sheath being slidable in the longitudinal direction between a first position enclosing the compartment and a second position exposing the compartment for deployment of the medical device, and a sleeve surrounding at least a longitudinal portion of the outer shaft;
• mounting the medical device in the compartment with the distal sheath in the first position;
• providing an introducer in a tract extending from an opening in a blood vessel of a patient and through tissue overlying the opening, the introducer having an interior lumen and an introducer valve located in the interior lumen;
• inserting the distal sheath of the delivery device into the patient through the introducer to position the medical device at a target location;
• positioning the sleeve in the introducer, the introducer valve creating a substantially leak-proof seal against an outer surface of the sleeve;
• advancing the distal sheath of the delivery device into the aortic arch of the patient;
• and
• deploying the medical device by withdrawing a proximal portion of the outer shaft out of the introducer, thereby sliding the distal sheath into the second position.