Medical Device Delivery System and Methods of Delivering Medical Devices

Abstract

In some embodiments, a medical device delivery system includes a catheter and a retainer. The retainer can be engaged with the medical device to restrain relative movement of the medical device in one or more axial and/or radial directions. A variety of retainers and retainer systems are disclosed, many of which can reliably disengage the medical device from the retainer. Methods for using the medical device delivery system are also described.

1 . A medical device delivery system comprising:
 a catheter; and   a retainer disposed within the catheter and engaged with the medical device to restrain relative movement of the medical device in a first axial direction, and   wherein the retainer includes a curved surface configured to disengage the medical device from the retainer when there is a predetermined amount of relative movement between the medical device and the retainer in a second axial direction.   
     
     
         2 . The delivery system of  claim 1 , wherein the retainer includes a extension configured to restrain relative movement in the first axial direction. 
     
     
         3 . The delivery system of  claim 1 , wherein the retainer includes a recessed portion between the extension and the curved surface, and
 wherein the recessed portion is configured to receive a portion of the medical device.   
     
     
         4 . The delivery system of  claim 1 , wherein the retainer includes two extensions disposed about 180 degrees apart along the radial periphery of the retainer that are configured to restrain relative movement in the first axial direction. 
     
     
         5 . The delivery system of  claim 1 , wherein the retainer is spring-loaded to facilitate relative movement of the retainer in the second axial direction. 
     
     
         6 . The delivery system of  claim 1 , wherein the predetermined amount of relative movement ranges from about 1 mm to about 2 mm. 
     
     
         7 . The delivery system of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 an inflatable balloon configured to facilitate disengagement of the medical device from the retainer by providing a radially outward force on a portion of the medical device when the balloon is inflated.   
     
     
         8 . A medical device delivery system comprising:
 a catheter;   a retainer disposed within the catheter and engaged with the medical device to restrain relative movement of the medical device in an axial direction; and   an inflatable balloon configured to facilitate disengagement of the medical device from the retainer by providing a radially outward force on a portion of the medical device when the balloon is inflated.   
     
     
         9 . The medical device delivery system of  claim 8 , wherein the retainer is configured to restrain relative movement of the medical device in multiple axial directions. 
     
     
         10 . The delivery system of  claim 8 , wherein
 the inflatable balloon is configured to expand to approximately the radial size of the retainer.   
     
     
         11 . The delivery system of  claim 8 , wherein the medical device is an expandable device. 
     
     
         12 . The delivery system of  claim 8 , wherein the medical device is an expandable device including eyelets for coupling the device to the retainer, and
 wherein the balloon is configured to bump the eyelets off the retainer without expanding the remainder of the device.   
     
     
         13 . A medical device delivery system comprising:
 a catheter having a lumen;   a shaft having a lumen and disposed within the catheter lumen; and   a retainer disposed within the shaft lumen and engaged with the medical device to restrain relative movement of the medical device in an axial direction,   wherein the shaft includes a protrusion extending from an inside surface of the shaft lumen that is configured to disengage the medical device from the retainer when the retainer engages the protrusion.   
     
     
         14 . The medical device delivery system of  claim 13 , wherein the protrusion is configured to disengage the medical device from the retainer when there is relative movement between the retainer and the protrusion in an axial direction. 
     
     
         15 . The medical device delivery system of  claim 13 , further comprising:
 a base attached to the actuator via a hinge,   wherein the actuator includes a first end and a second end, the second end being engaged with the medical device, and   wherein when the actuator engages the first end, the retainer rotates about the hinge to force the second end radially outward to disengage the medical device from the retainer.   
     
     
         16 . The medical device delivery system of  claim 13 , wherein the protrusion is configured to disengage the medical device from the retainer when there is relative movement between the retainer and the protrusion in a rotational direction. 
     
     
         17 . The medical device delivery system of  claim 13 , wherein the shaft includes an angled surface configured to engage with an angled surface of the delivery system to translate axial movement of the shaft into rotational movement of the shaft. 
     
     
         18 . The delivery system of  claim 13 , further comprising:
 an inflatable balloon configured to facilitate disengagement of the medical device from the retainer by providing a radially outward force on a portion of the medical device when the balloon is inflated.   
     
     
         19 . A medical device delivery system comprising:
 a catheter;   a retainer disposed within the catheter and engaged with the medical device to restrain relative movement of the medical device in an axial direction; and   an actuator configured to radially retract the retainer and disengage the medical device from the retainer.   
     
     
         20 . The medical device delivery system of  claim 19 , further comprising:
 a base attached to the retainer via a hinge,   wherein the retainer includes a first end and a second end, the second end being engaged with the medical device, and   wherein when the actuator engages the first end, the retainer rotates about the hinge to disengage the second end from the medical device.   
     
     
         21 . The delivery system of  claim 19 , further comprising:
 an inflatable balloon configured to facilitate disengagement of the medical device from the retainer by providing a radially outward force on a portion of the medical device when the balloon is inflated.   
     
     
         22 . A medical device delivery system comprising:
 a catheter;   a base disposed within a lumen of the catheter and engaged with the medical device to restrain relative movement of the medical device in an axial direction; and   a sheath covering the base and engaged with a portion of the medical device to restrain relative movement of the medical device in a radial direction.   
     
     
         23 . The delivery system of  claim 22 , wherein the base restrains relative movement of the medical device in an axial direction via one or more stepped surfaces. 
     
     
         24 . The delivery system of  claim 22 , further comprising:
 an inflatable balloon configured to facilitate disengagement of the medical device from the base by providing a radially outward force on a portion of the medical device when the balloon is inflated.   
     
     
         25 . A medical device delivery system comprising:
 a catheter;   a base disposed within a lumen of the catheter and engaged with the medical device to restrain relative movement of the medical device in an axial direction; and   a pin disposed within the base and engaged with the medical device to restrain relative movement of the medical device in a radial direction,   wherein the pin can retract to disengage the medical device from the base.   
     
     
         26 . The delivery system of  claim 25 , further comprising:
 a sheath engaged with a portion of the medical device to further restrain relative movement of the medical device in a radial direction.   
     
     
         27 . The delivery system of  claim 25 , wherein the pin is oriented in an axial direction. 
     
     
         28 . The delivery system of  claim 25 , wherein the base restrains relative movement of the medical device in an axial direction via one or more stepped surfaces. 
     
     
         29 . The delivery system of  claim 25 , further comprising:
 an inflatable balloon configured to facilitate disengagement of the medical device from the base by providing a radially outward force on a portion of the medical device when the balloon is inflated.   
     
     
         30 . A medical device delivery system comprising:
 a catheter;   a first retainer disposed within the catheter and engaged with the medical device to restrain relative movement of the medical device in an axial direction; and   a second retainer disposed within the catheter and engaged with the medical device to restrain relative movement of the medical device in an outward radial direction,   wherein the second retainer is configured such that relative movement in an axial direction between the second retainer and the medical device allows the medical device to disengage from the retainer.   
     
     
         31 . The medical device delivery system of  claim 31 , wherein the second retainer is in the form of a sheath disposed between at least a portion of the expandable prosthesis and the catheter. 
     
     
         32 . The delivery system of  claim 31 , wherein the second retainer is in the form of a retainer pin configured to be passed through an opening in the expandable prosthesis. 
     
     
         33 . The delivery system of  claim 31 , wherein the second retainer is in the form of a spring-controlled cap disposed between at least a portion of the expandable prosthesis and the catheter. 
     
     
         34 . The delivery system of  claim 31 , further comprising:
 an inflatable balloon configured to facilitate disengagement of the medical device from the first retainer by providing a radially outward force on a portion of the medical device when the balloon is inflated.   
     
     
         35 . A medical device delivery system comprising:
 a catheter;   a retainer configured to restrain a medical device in an axial direction,   wherein the medical device includes a coupling portion configured to engage with the retainer, and   wherein the coupling portion has a curved surface that facilitates disengagement of the medical device from the retainer.   
     
     
         36 . The delivery system of  claim 35 , wherein the medical device includes a frame attached to the coupling portion via an arm extending from an axial end of the frame. 
     
     
         37 . The delivery system of  claim 35 , wherein the medical device includes two coupling portions disposed about 180 degrees apart along the radial periphery of the retainer. 
     
     
         38 . The delivery system of  claim 35 , wherein the medical device is an expandable prosthesis.