Forced deployment sequence handle assembly with independent actuating mechanism

Abstract

A handle assembly for use in the deployment of a medical device via a plurality of deployment lines that extend through a catheter. The handle assembly includes a plurality of removable members for deployment or actuation of the medical device. The handle assembly also includes an actuating mechanism for displacing a wire extending through the catheter for actuating the medical device independently of the plurality of removable members.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A system comprising:
 a catheter having a proximal end and a distal end;   a medical device arranged near the distal end of the catheter;   a handle assembly coupled to the proximal end of the catheter, the handle assembly including:
 at least one portion laterally offset from the catheter and configured to affect a stage of deployment of the medical device; and 
 an actuating mechanism aligned with the catheter and configured to actuate the medical device. 
   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one portion of the handle assembly comprises:
 a first portion laterally offset from the catheter and configured to affect a first stage of deployment of the medical device,   a second portion laterally offset from the catheter and configured to affect a second stage of deployment of the medical device, and   a third portion laterally offset from the catheter and configured to affect a third stage of deployment of the medical device.   
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 2 , further comprising at least one constraining sheath configured to releasably hold the medical device in a constrained state near the distal end of the catheter and coupled to a portion of the handle assembly. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 3 , further comprising a first control line having a proximal end and a distal end, a second control line having a proximal end and a distal end, a third control line having a proximal end and a distal end, and an actuation line having a proximal end and a distal end, and wherein the proximal end of the first control line is attached to the first portion of the handle assembly, the proximal end of the second control line is attached to the second portion of the handle assembly, the proximal end of the third control line is attached to the third portion of the handle assembly, and the proximal end of the actuation line is attached to the actuation mechanism of the handle assembly. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 4 , wherein the distal end of the first control line engages at least one of the at least one constraining sleeve and the medical device, the distal end of the second control line engages at least one of the at least one constraining sleeve and the medical device, the distal end of the third control line engages at least one of the at least one constraining sleeve and the medical device, and the distal end of the actuation line engages the medical device. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 5 , wherein the at least one constraining sheath comprises a first constraining sheath and a second constraining sheath. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 6 , wherein the distal end of the first control line engages the first constraining sheath, and actuation of the first portion of the handle assembly opens the first constraining sheath to partially deploy the medical device to affect the first stage of deployment of the medical device, and the distal end of the third control line engages the second constraining sheath, and actuation of the third portion of the handle assembly opens the second constraining sheath to fully deploy the medical device to affect the third stage of deployment of the medical device. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein the third portion is configured to nest within the second portion, and the second portion is configured to nest within the first portion. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein the first portion, the second portion, and the third portion are offset from a longitudinal axis of the handle assembly, and at least one of the first portion, the second portion, and the third portion are rotatable about an axis offset from the longitudinal axis of the handle assembly. 
     
     
         10 . A system comprising:
 a catheter having a proximal end and a distal end;   a medical device arranged near the distal end of the catheter;   at least one constraining sheath configured to releasably hold the medical device in a constrained state near the distal end of the catheter;   a handle assembly coupled to the proximal end of the catheter, the handle assembly including:
 at least one portion laterally offset from the catheter and configured to open the at least one constraining sheath and at least partially deploy the medical device to affect a first stage of deployment of the medical device; and 
 an actuating mechanism aligned with the catheter and configured to actuate the medical device. 
   
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 10 , further comprising a steering wire having a proximal end and a distal end, wherein the proximal end is attached to the actuating mechanism, and the distal end is coupled to the medical device. 
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein actuation of the actuating mechanism displaces the steering wire to actuate the medical device. 
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 12 , wherein actuation of the actuating mechanism displaces the steering wire to steer a distal end of the medical device. 
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein the actuating mechanism and the catheter comprise at least one lumen configured to receive a guide wire through the catheter and the handle assembly. 
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein the at least one portion of the handle assembly comprises:
 a first portion laterally offset from the catheter and configured to affect the first stage of deployment of the medical device,   a second portion laterally offset from the catheter and configured to affect a second stage of deployment of the medical device, and   a third portion laterally offset from the catheter and configured to affect a third stage of deployment of the medical device.   
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 15 , wherein the third portion is configured to nest within the second portion, and the second portion is configured to nest within the first portion 
     
     
         17 . A method of deploying a medical device using a catheter having a proximal end and a distal end, at least one sheath configured to releasably hold the medical device in a constrained state near the distal end of the catheter, and a handle assembly coupled to the proximal end of the catheter, the handle assembly including at least one portion laterally offset from the catheter, and an actuating mechanism aligned with the catheter, the method comprising:
 delivering the medical device to a target location;   using the at least one portion to partially deploy the medical device by opening the at least one constraining sheath to affect a first stage of deployment of the medical device; and   using the actuating mechanism to steer the medical device.   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the at least sheath comprises a first constraining sheath and a second constraining sheath, and the at least one portion of the handle assembly comprises a first portion, a second portion, and a third portion, and wherein using the at least one portion comprises actuating the first portion to partially deploy the medical device by opening the first constraining sheath. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 17 , further comprising using the second portion of the handle assembly to fully deploy the medical device by opening the second constraining sheath. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 17 , further comprising a steering wire attached at a proximal end to the actuating mechanism and at a distal end to the medical device, and wherein using the actuating mechanism comprises displacing the steering wire to actuate the medical device.