US 5,984,944 A · Introducer for an expandable vascular occlusion device

Abstract

An introducer for introducing an expandable implantable device into a catheter includes an outer tube and an inner core which slides in the outer tube. A first end of the core has a tubular configuration with a slit which allows it to expand radially to grip an end of the device. The first end of the core holding the device is pulled into a first end of the outer tube which further tightens the grip on the device. The second end of the core, which extends beyond the second end of the outer tube, may have a handle attached or be bent to prevent the core from moving and releasing the device. The core preferably has a metal wire inside of it. The device remains in its relaxed condition attached to the introducer at the first end of the outer tube and mostly outside of it until use. The outer tube may have a rigid transparent cup-shaped shield member attached at its first end and extending beyond it to protect the device and allow the device to be viewed on the introducer. To use the introducer and the device, the core is slid relative to the outer tube which pulls the device inside the outer tube and into its stretched condition. As the first end of the inner core exits the second end of the outer tube, the end of the device is released and remains mostly inside of the outer tube in its stretched condition. An end of the outer tube is then inserted into a catheter and a pushrod used to push the device from the introducer into the catheter.

Claims34

Dependent claims

An introducer for introducing an implantable device into a catheter, comprising:

(a) a delivery tube having a first end, a first end portion, a second end and an axial bore which receives an inner core, the delivery tube further comprising a shield member connected to the first end portion of the delivery tube, the shield member having a cavity sufficiently large to receive the implantable device in a relaxed condition, the cavity communicating with the axial bore of the delivery tube;
and
(b) the inner core slidably disposed inside the axial bore of the delivery tube, the inner core having a first end, a first end portion of tubular configuration with at least one slot which allows the first end portion to expand radially to receive and grip the end of an implantable device, the inner core having a second end portion extending beyond the second end of the delivery tube when the first end of the inner core is aligned with the first end of the delivery tube, the inner core sliding through the axial bore of the delivery tube to pull an implantable device into the axial bore of the delivery tube, the first end portion of the inner core releasing the implantable device when the first end of the inner core exits the second end of the delivery tube such that most of the implantable device remains disposed inside the delivery tube.

A system for providing an expandable implantable device for introduction into a catheter comprising:

(a) an expandable implantable device having an end, a relaxed condition of a predetermined diameter and a predetermined length, and a stretched condition of lesser diameter and longer length;
and
(b) an introducer for introducing the expandable implantable device into a catheter, the introducer having:
(i) a delivery tube having a first end, a first end portion, a second end and an axial bore which receives an inner core, the delivery tube further comprising a shield member connected to the first end portion of the delivery tube, the shield member having a cavity sufficiently large to receive the implantable device in a relaxed condition, the cavity communicating with the axial bore of the delivery tube;
(ii) an inner core slidably disposed inside the axial bore of the delivery tube, the inner core having a first end, a first end portion constructed to receive and grip the end of the implantable device, the end of the expandable device disposed in and gripped by the first end portion of the inner core, the first end portion with the end of the implantable device disposed in the axial bore of the delivery tube at the first end of the delivery tube so that the implantable device remains in the relaxed condition and most of the implantable device is outside of the delivery tube, the inner core being slidable to thereby pull the expandable device into and along the axial bore of the delivery tube in the stretched condition and to release the implantable device from the first end portion when the first end of the inner core exits the second end of the delivery tube such that most of the implantable device remains in the stretched condition and disposed inside the delivery tube.

2 more elements

An introducer for introducing an implantable device into a catheter, comprising:

(a) a delivery tube having a first end, a first end portion having an external taper, a second end and an axial bore which receives an inner core, the axial bore having a second portion of greater diameter and a first portion of lesser diameter, the first portion being adjacent the external taper;
(b) a hub connected to the delivery tube, the hub having an axial bore which receives the delivery tube, a first end, a first portion of larger outer diameter, a second portion of smaller outer diameter, and a second end, the delivery tube being received in the axial bore of the hub and the delivery tube extending beyond the first end of the hub, the second end of the hub extending beyond the second end of the delivery tube;
(c) a sleeve received by the axial bore of the hub at the second end of the hub, the sleeve having a first end, a second end and an axial bore, the axial bore of the sleeve receiving an inner core, the first end of the sleeve being disposed within the axial bore of the hub and spaced a distance from the second end of the delivery tube, the second end of the sleeve extending beyond the second end of the hub;
(d) an inner core slidably disposed inside the axial bore of the delivery tube and the axial bore of the sleeve, the inner core having a first end, a first end portion of tubular configuration with at least one slot which allows the first end portion to expand radially to receive and grip an end of an implantable device, the inner core having a second end portion extending beyond the second end of the delivery tube when the first end of the inner core is aligned with the first end of the delivery tube, the second end portion of the inner core being bent, the inner core sliding through the axial bore of the delivery tube to pull an implantable device into the axial bore of the delivery tube, the first end portion of the inner core releasing the implantable device when the first end of the inner core exits the second end of the delivery tube such that most of the implantable device remains disposed inside the delivery tube;
and
(e) a handle connected to the second end of the inner core, the handle having a recess which receives the second end of the sleeve, the handle being disposed adjacent the hub when the first end of the inner core is aligned with the first end of the delivery tube.

3 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Introducer for an expandable vascular occlusion device

Life of this patent

Introducer for an expandable vascular occlusion device

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims34