Delivery catheter

A medical catheter pack for a delivery system for transvascular deployment of a medical device comprising:

• a delivery system for transvascular deployment of a medical device comprising:
• a medical catheter assembly comprising:
• a catheter including a first portion and a second portion, the first portion including an elongate tubular body having a proximal end portion and a distal end portion, the second portion extending from the distal end portion of the first portion and forming a tubular pod capable of receiving a medical device, and
• a deployer movable through the pod and coupled to the medical device to assist in moving the medical device between a stored position within the pod and an in-use position external of the pod,
• the pod having a maximum wall thickness that is less than a minimum wall thickness of the distal end portion of the tubular body, and the pod having a greater flexibility than the distal end portion of the tubular body;
• and
• a separate loading device which is operable to collapse the medical device from the expanded in-use position to a collapsed position for reception within the pod,
• the pack comprising the delivery system and a tray configured to releasably hold the pod of the catheter and the loading device in a cooperative juxtaposition on the tray, wherein the tray has a liquid retaining bath formed by a recess in the tray, the bath having a depth sufficient to accommodate, in a totally submerged state, the pod of the catheter and the medical device for submerged loading of the medical device into the pod.

A medical catheter assembly for the transvascular deployment of a medical device, the assembly comprising:

• a catheter including a first portion and a second portion,
• the first portion including an elongate tubular body having a proximal end portion, a distal end portion, and a helically wound spring forming an inner tubular core encased within a concentric tubular outer sheath which is fixed to the core, and
• the second portion formed by a portion of the sheath extending from the distal end portion of the first portion and forming a tubular pod capable of receiving a medical device;
• and
• a deployer movable through the pod and coupled to the medical device to assist in moving the medical device between a stored position within the pod and an in-use position external of the pod,
• the pod having a maximum wall thickness that is less than a minimum wall thickness of the distal end portion of the tubular body, and the pod having a greater flexibility than the distal end portion of the tubular body.

A method for deploying a medical device at a desired location in a vasculature, the method comprising the steps of:

• providing a medical catheter, the catheter comprising an elongate tubular portion having a proximal end and a distal end, the distal end of the tubular portion including a pod capable of receiving the medical device;
• and a deployer engageable with the medical device;
• providing a loading device for collapsing the medical device from an expanded in-use position to a collapsed position for reception within the pod, the loading device having an inlet end and an outlet end;
• engaging the outlet end of the loading device within the pod;
• engaging the medical device with the deployer;
• retracting the deployer proximally through the tubular portion, to draw the medical device through the loading device into the pod, thereby collapsing the medical device;
• disengaging the loading device from the pod;
• inserting the catheter into the vasculature and advancing the catheter through the vasculature until the pod is at the desired location;
• deploying the medical device at the desired location.

A delivery system for transvascular deployment of a medical device comprising:

• a catheter assembly comprising:
• a catheter including a first portion and a second portion, the first portion including an elongate tubular body having a proximal end portion and a distal end portion, the second portion extending from the distal end portion of the first portion and forming a tubular pod capable of receiving a medical device;
• and
• a deployer movable through the pod and coupled to the medical device to assist in moving the medical device between a stored position within the pod and an in-use position external of the pod,
• the pod having a maximum wall thickness that is less than a minimum wall thickness of the distal end portion of the tubular body;
• and
• a separate loading device which is operable to collapse the medical device from an expanded in-use Position to a collapsed position for reception within a pod, the loading device comprising a funnel having an enlarged inlet end and a narrowed outlet end, the outlet end being engageable with the pod.

A delivery system for transvascular deployment of a medical device comprising:

• a catheter assembly comprising:
• a catheter including a first portion and a second portion, the first portion including an elongate tubular body having a proximal end portion and a distal end portion, the second portion extending from the distal end portion of the first portion and forming a tubular pod capable of receiving a medical device;
• and
• a deployer movable through the pod and coupled to the medical device to assist in moving the medical device between a stored position within the pod and an in-use position external of the pod,
• the pod having a greater flexibility than the distal end portion of the tubular body;
• and
• a separate loading device which is operable to collapse the medical device from an expanded in-use position to a collapsed position for reception within a pod, the loading device comprising a funnel having an enlarged inlet end and a narrowed outlet end, the outlet end being engageable with the pod.