Delivery system assemblies for implantable medical devices

A delivery system assembly facilitating deployment of an implantable medical device, the assembly comprising:

• an elongate outer tube extending from a proximal end thereof to a distal-most portion thereof, the outer tube forming a lumen that extends from a proximal opening thereof at the proximal end of the outer tube to a distal opening thereof that terminates the distal-most portion of the outer tube, the distal-most portion being sized to contain an entirety of the implantable medical device therein;
• an inner subassembly extending within the lumen formed by the outer tube, the inner subassembly including an elongate core, a pull-wire and a sheath that extends around the pull-wire and the core, the core including a proximal end, positioned proximal to the proximal end of the outer tube, and a flared distal end being configured to conform to a proximal end of the medical device such that the distal end of the core fits, along with the entirety of the medical device, within the distal-most portion of the outer tube, the pull-wire extending along the core and including a distal end anchored to the core in close proximity to the flared distal end thereof, and the sheath extending from a proximal end thereof to a distal end thereof, the proximal end of the sheath being spaced apart, distally, from the proximal end of the outer tube, and the distal end coupled to the core in close proximity to the anchored distal end of the pull-wire, the sheath including a slot opening formed therein, and the slot opening being sized to allow the pull-wire to pass laterally therethrough;
• wherein the assembly has a pre-formed curvature, along a length of the sheath, and the slot opening of the sheath extends along the pre-formed curvature;
• and
• the outer tube is longitudinally moveable relative to the inner subassembly.