Interlocking loop coupling/decoupling system for deploying vascular implant devices

Inventors

Shabaz, Martin • Plaza, Claudio • Quick, Richard • Lubock, Paul • Cox, Brian J.

Assignees

Okami Medical Inc

Abstract

In a system and method for deployment of an implant device, the implant device includes a first loop at its proximal end, and a deployment tool has a second loop attached at its distal end. A release wire slidably disposed within the deployment tool has a distal end extending through the first and second loops to releasably couple the implant device to the deployment tool, and a proximal portion extending from a proximal end of the deployment tool, which is held in a retraction device. The retraction device is operable to hold the proximal end of the deployment tool and to pull the release wire proximally through the deployment tool until the distal end of the release wire is withdrawn from the first and second loops to decouple the implant device from the deployment tool.

Core Innovation

The disclosure describes an interlocking-loop vascular implant device coupling and decoupling system using a release wire that slidably passes through an implant proximal loop and a tool loop carried by an intravascularly-introduced deployment tool. A distal tool loop and an implant loop are interlocked by the release wire distal end to releasably couple the vascular implant device to the distal end of the deployment tool, while a proximal portion of the release wire is exposed from the deployment tool proximal portion.

Decoupling is performed by a release wire retraction device that grips only the release wire during retraction and pulls the release wire proximally. As the release wire is withdrawn proximally, it is withdrawn from both the implant proximal loop and the tool loop, thereby decoupling the implant from the deployment tool in a single action while minimizing axial force on the implant.

The release wire retraction device includes a housing having a distal opening configured to receive the proximal portion of the deployment tool from which the proximal portion of the release wire is exposed. Within the housing, a guide assembly is movable between a distal position and a proximal position and includes a first gripping element in a fixed position and a second gripping element pivotably mounted in the guide assembly, with movement between distal, intermediate, and proximal positions providing clamp, release, and reset behavior.

Claims Coverage

The provided independent claims cover three related device and assembly features centered on a release wire retraction device with a movable guide assembly and paired gripping elements, where guide assembly movement changes gripping element relative positions to disengage and engage an exposed proximal portion of the release wire.

Claim coverage is anchored on a housing-contained release wire retraction device in which a movable guide assembly with a fixed gripping element and a pivotably mounted gripping element transitions between disengagement at distal and proximal positions and engagement at an intermediate position, enabling proximal movement of the exposed release wire within the housing.

Stated Advantages

Documented Applications