Methods of implanting a unit in a tubular element with a wall

Abstract

The implant implantation unit ( 2 ), at a determined position in the tubular element ( 51 ) with a wall comprising a cavity ( 50 ), is pushed there by a catheter ( 60 ) and the unit comprises deformable feelers ( 31 ) to, under the control of remote activation elements ( 42 ), change from a stowed form to a deployed functional form, to detect the cavity ( 50 ) and position itself there with reference to the position of the cavity.

1 - 9 . (canceled) 
     
     
         10 . A non-surgical and non-therapeutic method of implanting a unit at a determined position in a tubular element with a wall at least partially defining a cavity, wherein the unit comprises deployable feeler means arranged to, under the control of remote control means, change from a stowed form to a functionally deployed form so as to detect and be positioned in the cavity, the method comprising:
 inserting the unit from an opening of the tubular element;   activating drive means to make move the unit in a direction to a position upstream the determined position;   deploying the feeler means, via the remote control means;   continuing to activate the drive means to move the unit in the direction toward the determined position until detecting that the feeler means are positioned in the cavity, the detecting being by a blocking of movement of the unit; and   after the detecting, stopping activation of the drive means.   
     
     
         11 . A non-surgical and non-therapeutic method of positioning a unit at a determined position in a tubular element having an opening an a wall at least partially defining a cavity, wherein the unit comprises at least one deployable feeler element arranged to, under control of a remote control device, change from a stowed form to a functionally deployed form so as to detect and be positioned in the cavity, the method comprising:
 inserting the unit through an opening of the tubular element;   driving the unit in a direction to a position adjacent the determined position;   using the remote control device, deploying the at least one feeler from the stowed form to the functionally deployed form;   continuing to drive the unit in the direction toward the determined position until detecting that the at least one feeler is positioned in the cavity, the detecting including blocking of the continued movement of the unit in said direction; and   after said detecting, ceasing further driving of the unit.