Medical Device Delivery System and Methods of Delivering a Medical Device

Abstract

A medical device delivery system can include a dilator including a tip having a taper in a distal direction, a coupler, and a flap that radially protrudes from the tip. The flap can be configured to bend against a body lumen to cover at least a portion of the delivery system when the dilator is tracked through the body lumen. A medical device delivery system can include a dilator including a tip having a lumen and a coupler having a lumen. The coupler can be configured to securely connect to the tip such that the lumen of the tip is aligned with the lumen of the coupler to allow a guide wire to pass therethrough. Methods for loading a medical device into a delivery catheter are also disclosed.

1 . A medical device delivery system comprising:
 a dilator; and   a flap that radially protrudes from the dilator, wherein the flap is configured to bend against a body lumen to cover at least a portion of the delivery system when the dilator is tracked through the body lumen.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the flap is configured to bend in a first direction when the dilator is tracked through the body lumen in a first direction. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a capsule disposed adjacent to the dilator, wherein the capsule is configured to house a medical device for use with the medical device delivery system,   wherein the flap is configured to cover at least an edge of the capsule when the flap is bent against a body lumen.   
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the flap protrudes from the dilator at an angle of approximately 90 degrees. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the system includes two flaps that radially protrude from the dilator. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 5 , wherein the two flaps are formed from a single piece of flap material that passes through the dilator. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 6 , wherein the piece of flap material is sandwiched between a first portion of the dilator and a second portion of the dilator. 
     
     
         8 . A medical device delivery system comprising:
 a dilator including a tip having a lumen and a coupler having a lumen,   wherein the coupler is configured to securely connect to the tip such that the lumen of the tip is aligned with the lumen of the coupler to allow a guide wire to pass therethrough.   
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein the coupler and tip include mating threaded surfaces configured to securely attach the coupler to the dilator. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein the tip and the coupler are connected via a snap fit configured to substantially prevent the coupler from being removed from the tip. 
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein the tip includes a cavity formed therein configured to receive the coupler. 
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the coupler includes a flared end that is configured to engage with a portion of the tip to prevent removal of the coupler from the cavity of the tip. 
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the tip includes an arm that can flex to securely receive the coupler. 
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein the system is configured to allow the tip to be attached to the coupler after a medical device is inserted in the system. 
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 8 , further comprising:
 a flap that radially protrudes from the tip, wherein the flap is configured to bend against a body lumen to cover at least a portion of the delivery system when the dilator is tracked through the body lumen.   
     
     
         16 . A method of loading a medical device into a delivery catheter, the method comprising:
 securing a coupler to a delivery catheter shaft, the shaft having a lumen for receiving the medical device;   crimping the medical device to a diameter permitting the medical device to be loaded into the shaft lumen;   loading the medical device into the shaft lumen; and   securing a dilator tip to the coupler after the medical device is loaded into the shaft lumen.   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the dilator tip is secured to the coupler by threading the dilator tip onto the coupler. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the dilator tip is secured to the coupler via a snap fit between the dilator tip and the coupler. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the coupler is secured to the delivery catheter shaft via a press fit. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the coupler is secured to the delivery catheter shaft via adhesive.