Delivery system assemblies and associated methods for implantable medical devices

A method for navigating a delivery system assembly through a venous system of a patient for deployment of an implantable medical device, the method comprising:

• loading an entirety of the implantable medical device into a distal-most portion of an outer tube of a delivery system assembly such that a proximal end of the medical device abuts a distal end of an inner member of the delivery system assembly, the inner member extending within a lumen formed by the outer tube;
• advancing the delivery system assembly within a venous system of a patient to locate the distal-most portion of the outer tube, with the medical device loaded therein, within a right atrium of the patient;
• orienting the located distal-most portion of the outer tube toward a tricuspid valve of the patient by deflecting a distal end of a sheath of the delivery system assembly, the sheath extending around the outer tube such that the distal end of the sheath is positioned proximal to the distal-most portion of the outer tube;
• and
• advancing, with respect to the deflected distal end of the sheath, the distal-most portion of the outer tube through the tricuspid valve and into a right ventricle of the patient to a target implant site, such that the distal-most portion of the outer tube abuts the target implant site, the advancing carrying the distal end of the inner member and the loaded medical device along with the distal-most portion, by means of an engagement of the distal end of the inner member within the lumen of the outer tube;
• wherein orienting the located distal-most portion of the outer tube by deflecting the distal end of the sheath comprises actuating a pull-wire member of the sheath, the pull-wire member having a distal end anchored in proximity to the distal end of the sheath;
• and
• further comprising securing a locking member of the sheath after actuating the pull-wire member, the secured locking member holding a pulled tension in the actuated pull-wire member to maintain the deflection of the sheath while advancing the distal-most portion of the outer tube.