Tools and assemblies thereof for implantable medical devices

A tool facilitating deployment of an implantable medical device, the tool comprising:

• a handle assembly including a first control member and a second control member;
• and
• an elongate inner assembly comprising a distal member and a single pull wire, the pull wire extending from the first control member of the handle assembly to an end of the wire anchored adjacent to the distal member, and the distal member being configured to abut an end of the medical device;
• and
• an outer assembly comprising an elongate deployment tube extending around the inner assembly and being longitudinally moveable, by means of the second control member of the handle assembly, relative to the inner assembly, between first and second positions, the deployment tube including an enlarged distal-most portion and an articulating segment, the articulating segment being located just proximal to the enlarged distal-most portion, the distal member of the inner assembly being located within the distal-most portion, and the enlarged distal-most portion defining a distal opening of the deployment tube;
• and
• wherein the articulating segment of the deployment tube of the outer assembly is defined by a composite sidewall, the composite sidewall including a relatively soft section and a relatively stiff section, the sections extending alongside one another and along a length of the articulating segment, such that, when the single pull wire of the inner assembly is actuated, via the first control member, the composite sidewall causes the articulating segment of the deployment tube to bend in two directions;
• and
• when the deployment tube is in the first position, and when the end of the device abuts the distal member, substantially an entirety the device is contained within the distal-most portion of the deployment tube;
• and
• when the deployment tube is in the second position, the device has passed out through the distal opening of the deployment tube.