Delivery System for a Retractable Outer Sheath

A delivery system comprising:

• a sheath;
• a slide shaft disposed over the sheath, wherein the slide shaft has a threaded outer surface;
• and
• a handle coupled to a proximal end of the sheath inside of the slide shaft, the handle including an internal spring assembly for selectively engaging and disengaging the handle with the threaded outer surface of the slide shaft, wherein the internal spring assembly includes a first spring arm, a first head coupled to the first spring arm and having a circumferentially rounded threaded inner surface, a second spring arm, a second head coupled to the second spring arm and having a circumferentially rounded threaded inner surface, a third spring arm, a third head coupled to the third spring arm and having a circumferentially rounded threaded inner surface, a fourth spring arm, a fourth head coupled to the fourth spring arm and having a circumferentially rounded threaded inner surface, and a ring slidably disposed over the first, second, third, and fourth spring arms, the circumferentially rounded threaded inner surface of each head being sized to extend over between 20% and 25% of the circumference of the threaded outer surface of the slide shaft,
• wherein when the ring is in a first longitudinal position, the ring is not disposed over the first, second, third, and fourth heads and the first, second, third, and fourth spring arms resiliently lift the first, second, third, and fourth heads, respectively, away from the slide shaft such that the threaded inner surface of the first, second, third, and fourth heads are spaced apart from the threaded outer surface of the slide shaft, the handle thereby being disengaged with the threaded outer surface of the slide shaft, and
• wherein when the ring is in a second longitudinal position, the ring is disposed over and radially compresses at least portion of the first, second, third, and fourth heads onto the slide shaft such that the threaded inner surface of the first, second, third, and fourth heads are threadedly engaged with the threaded outer surface of the slide shaft, the handle thereby being engaged with the threaded outer surface of the slide shaft.

A delivery system comprising:

• a sheath;
• a slide shaft disposed over the sheath, wherein the slide shaft has a threaded outer surface;
• and
• a handle coupled to a proximal end of the sheath inside of the slide shaft, the handle including an internal spring assembly for selectively engaging and disengaging the handle with the threaded outer surface of the slide shaft, the internal spring assembly including at least one spring arm, a head coupled to the spring arm and having a circumferentially rounded threaded inner surface, and a ring slidably disposed over the spring arm, an actuation button being attached to and radially protruding from the ring, and
• wherein the handle further includes a resilient tubular cover disposed over the ring, the cover including an opening formed through a sidewall thereof and a groove formed within the sidewall thereof, the groove being adjacent to the opening and the actuation button extending through the opening, and
• wherein when the ring is in a first longitudinal position, the ring is not disposed over the head and the spring arm resiliently lifts the head away from the slide shaft such that the threaded inner surface of the head is spaced apart from the threaded outer surface of the slide shaft, the handle thereby being disengaged with the threaded outer surface of the slide shaft, and
• wherein when the ring is in a second longitudinal position, the ring is disposed over and radially compresses at least portion of the head onto the slide shaft such that the threaded inner surface of the head is threadedly engaged with the threaded outer surface of the slide shaft, the handle thereby being engaged with the threaded outer surface of the slide shaft, and
• wherein when user force is applied thereto, the groove longitudinally compresses in order to allow for sliding movement of the actuation button and when user force is not applied thereto, the groove returns to its relaxed state thereby biasing the ring in the second longitudinal position.