Defect occluder release assembly & method

Abstract

A release assembly is provided to aid the reversible and repositionable deployment of a defect occluder. The release assembly includes an occluder tether having a distal portion comprising at least one suture loop, and a snare structure having a distal portion comprising a snare element. The at least one suture loop is receivable through at least a portion of the defect occluder, and reversibly looped over an anchor element so as to permit reversible collapse the defect occluder for selective ingress and egress from a delivery catheter. The snare element is reversibly engageable with the anchor element so as to reversibly retain the at least one suture loop upon the anchor element, and thereby hold the defect occluder in a posture for reversible free-floating tethered deployment in a defect while being observable in a final position prior to release.

1 . A method for closing a defect in a patient's heart, comprising:
 providing a delivery catheter having a lumen extending therethrough;   providing a closure device configured for collapsible containment within the lumen, the closure device having a tether slidably engaged with at least a portion of the device;   providing a snare structure for holding the closure device;   advancing the delivery catheter to a defect in a patient's heart;   deploying the closure device from the lumen for deployment into the heart defect, the closure device when deployed having a first portion engaging one side of the opening and a second portion engaging a second side of the opening;   wherein during said deploying the closure device the snare holds a position of the closure device while the tether remains connected to the closure device.   
   
   
       2 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising liberating the tether from the closure device. 
   
   
       3 . The method of  claim 2 , further comprising removing the delivery catheter from the patient's heart and leaving the closure device in the patient's heart for closing the defect in the patient's heart. 
   
   
       4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the closure device self-expands when deployed from the lumen. 
   
   
       5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the snare holds the position of the closure device through engagement with an element on the closure device. 
   
   
       6 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein the element is positioned on the proximal side of the closure device. 
   
   
       7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the defect is located in a septum between left and right atria of the patient's heart. 
   
   
       8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the snare comprises a flexible material 
   
   
       9 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the snare comprises a suture. 
   
   
       10 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the delivery catheter further comprises a release assembly, and wherein said deploying the closure device comprises retracting a portion of the release assembly. 
   
   
       11 . A system for closing a passage between left and right atrial chambers of a heart, the system comprising:
 a closure device configured for preventing the flow of blood between the chambers of the heart;   a delivery catheter having a delivery lumen extending longitudinally therethrough, the delivery lumen being configured for slidably receiving the closure device;   a tube slidably disposed within the delivery lumen of the delivery catheter, the tube having at least one inner lumen extending longitudinally therethrough;   an elongate tether coupled to a portion of the closure device for holding and releasing the closure device;   a snare structure slidably disposed within the delivery lumen of the delivery catheter having a distal portion for holding a position of the closure device;   wherein the snare structure is configured to hold a position of the closure device while the elongate tether remains connected to the closure device.   
   
   
       12 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the closure devices is self-expandable. 
   
   
       13 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the elongate tether further comprises a proximal end portion and a distal end portion, the distal end portion being releasably coupled to the closure device, the proximal end portion extending from the delivery catheter for allowing reversible deployment of the closure device at the passage. 
   
   
       14 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the element is releasably attachable to the elongate tether for holding and releasing the closure device. 
   
   
       15 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the tube comprises two lumen. 
   
   
       16 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the elongate tether comprises a flexible material. 
   
   
       17 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the snare structure comprises a flexible material. 
   
   
       18 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the delivery catheter is further configured to deploy the closure device by retracting a portion of a release assembly. 
   
   
       19 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the snare is configured to hold the position of the closure device through engagement with an element on the closure device. 
   
   
       20 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the element is positioned on the proximal side of the closure device.