METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR DELIVERY OF AN APPLIANCE IN A VESSEL

摘要

A delivery device for intraluminally deploying a clip appliance (30) within a body lumen or cavity of a patient, for example a vein. The clip (30) is configured from a wire-like, bendable material, having a "W"-like sinusoidal shape. The clip is constructed with sharpened slanted edges at the tips (31 and 32) which provide preferential bending and straightening when the clip is deployed into a venous valve. The delivery device comprises a catheter (50) and a structure (95) for bending and releasing the clip. The catheter is configured with an elongate flexible tubular member secured to a slotted housing (55) having a distal tapered tip. A handle (140) is secured to the proximal end of the flexible tubular member. A balloon (130) and actuator arm (100) combination forces a clip (30) against an anvil (95) to bend the clip from an open to a closed condition and for releasing the clip from a slot (58) in a side wall of the housing. The housing may be configured to retain and deploy a plurality of clip appliances. During clip deployment, the catheter housing is positioned within a vessel or viscus of a patient, and the slot in the side wall is precisely aligned and stabilized with a second inflatable member. A force is applied to bend and secure the clip to the desired location, and the clip is released from the delivery device through the slot in the housing.