Delivery system with low longitudinal compressibility

摘要

An improved delivery system for an implantable medical device includes a retention sheath having a proximal end, a distal end, and an inner lumen extending from the proximal end to the distal end. The implantable medical device is disposed within the inner lumen of the retention sheath, which restrains the implantable medical device. A plurality of substantially incompressible rings are disposed within the inner lumen of the retention sheath in a stacked co-axial configuration that extends from the proximal end of the retention sheath in a pre-deployment position to a proximal end of the implantable medical device. Each ring in the plurality of separate rings abuts at least a portion of an adjacent ring. The plurality of separate rings is configured to prevent the implantable medical device from moving toward a proximal end of the retention sheath when the retention sheath is moved from the pre-deployment position to a deployment position.

主权项

1. A delivery system for an implantable medical device, comprising:
a retention sheath comprising a proximal end, a distal end, and an inner lumen extending from said proximal end to said distal end, wherein said retention sheath is movable in an axial direction from a pre-deployment position to a deployment position; an implantable medical device disposed within said inner lumen of said retention sheath, said retention sheath thereby restraining said implantable medical device; a plurality of separate rings disposed within said inner lumen of said retention sheath in a stacked co-axial configuration, wherein each ring in said plurality of separate rings abuts at least a portion of an adjacent ring; an inner catheter comprising an outer surface having a diameter that is less than an inner diameter of said plurality of separate rings and a distal tip having an outer diameter that is greater than said inner diameter of said plurality of separate rings, wherein said distal tip is disposed at a distal end of said inner catheter, and said inner catheter is disposed within a space defined by said inner diameter of said plurality of separate rings; and a control device configured to be located outside of a patient's body and operated by a physician to control deployment of said implantable medical device by moving said retention sheath axially relative to said plurality of separate rings, wherein said plurality of separate rings extends to a reaction surface in said control device and is substantially non-compressible in said axial direction and a longitudinal length of said plurality of separate rings in said stacked co-axial configuration does not change when said retention sheath is moved from said pre-deployment position to said deployment position.