Delivery device with shortened inner tube and associated method

A method for deploying an implantable device within a lumen proximate to a target area comprising:

• obtaining a delivery device including an inner tube within an outer tube such that a gap is defined between respective distal ends of each of the inner and outer tubes and an implantable device positioned at least partially within the gap with at least a portion of the distal end of the inner tube interiorly within the implantable device such that the inner tube underlies the implantable device about an inner circumference thereof;
• positioning the inner and outer tubes within the lumen proximate to the target area;
• positioning an optical device within the gap to view at least a portion of at least one of the implantable device and the target area from within the outer tube prior to deployment of the implantable device;
• retracting a proximal actuator of a deployment mechanism of the delivery device, the proximal actuator operably connected via a connector to a distal actuator that is operably connected to the outer tube of the delivery device, wherein the proximal actuator and the distal actuator of the deployment device are configured to be retracted in succession to provide staged deployment of the implantable device, wherein retracting the proximal actuator moves the distal actuator and the outer tube proximally and longitudinally relative to the inner tube and thereby at least partially moves the outer tube proximally and longitudinally relative to the inner tube from a first position to a second position to cause partial deployment of the implantable device;
• and
• retracting the distal actuator of the deployment mechanism slidably and proximally within the connector toward the proximal actuator, subsequent to retracting the proximal actuator, to move the outer tube proximally and longitudinally relative to the inner tube, from the second position to a third position, to cause full deployment of the implantable device.

A delivery device for positioning and deploying an implantable device within a lumen comprising:

• a longitudinal outer tube having a proximal end and a distal end, wherein at least a portion of the implantable device is disposed in direct contact with the outer tube proximate to the distal end of the outer tube prior to deploying the implantable device;
• a shortened inner tube slidably disposed within the outer tube and having a proximal end and a distal end, wherein at least a portion of the distal end of the inner tube comprises at least one anchor extending outwardly from the inner tube and configured to interiorly engage at least a portion of a proximal end of the implantable device;
• and
• a deployment mechanism coupled to at least one of the inner and outer tubes and operable to deploy the implantable device within the lumen, wherein the deployment mechanism comprises:
• a distal actuator to at least partially move the outer tube proximally and longitudinally relative to the inner tube,
• a connector coupled to the distal actuator, and
• a proximal actuator positioned proximal to the distal actuator and operably connected to the distal actuator via the connector to move the outer tube proximally and longitudinally relative to the inner tube,
• wherein the distal actuator and the proximal actuator are configured to be retracted in succession to provide staged deployment of the implantable device such that retracting the proximal actuator moves the distal actuator and the outer tube proximally and longitudinally relative to the inner tube from a first position to a second position to cause partial deployment of the implantable device and subsequent retraction of the distal actuator slidably and proximally within the connector toward the proximal actuator moves the outer tube proximally and longitudinally relative to the inner tube from the second position to a third position to cause full deployment of the implantable device;
• and
• an optical device configured to be positioned to view at least a portion of an interior of the implantable device within the outer tube prior to deployment of the implantable device.