Catheter system for implanting an intravascular medical device

Abstract

A catheter system and method are employed to implant components of a medical device inside an animal. The catheter system includes a plurality of coaxial catheters and sheaths between which electrically interconnected components of the medical device are releasably held. A guide wire is inserted to a desired location inside the animal and the plurality of catheters and sheaths is slid as an assembly along the guide wire to that location. One of the sheaths is moved with respect to the other catheters and sheaths to release one of the components. The guide wire and the remaining catheters and sheaths are repositioned to a second location inside the animal and manipulated to release another component. Additional components can be implanted by further repositioning and manipulating steps. The catheter system is removed from the animal leaving the components in place.

1 . A catheter system for implanting a medical device in an animal, wherein the medical device has a plurality of components for implantation at different locations, said catheter system comprising: 
 a guide wire;    an inner catheter with a guide wire lumen within which the guide wire is slidably receivable; and    a tubular outer sheath through which the inner catheter extends, wherein a first component and a second component of the medical device being releasably located between the inner catheter and the outer sheath with an electrically conductive wire connected to both the first and second components;    wherein the catheter system is manipulable to independently release each of the first component and the second component at different locations in the animal.    
   
   
       2 . The catheter system as recited in  claim 1  further comprising: 
 first cavity formed between the inner catheter and the outer sheath within which a first component of the medical device is releasably located;    and a second cavity formed between the inner catheter and the outer sheath within which a second component of the medical device is releasably located, wherein the electrically conductive wire extends between the first and second cavities;    and a member separating the first and second cavities.    
   
   
       3 . The catheter system as recited in  claim 1  wherein the tubular outer sheath is slidable with respect to the inner catheter to release the first component into the animal.  
   
   
       4 . The catheter system as recited in  claim 1  further comprising an intermediate catheter extending within the tubular outer sheath and having a lumen within which the inner catheter extends.  
   
   
       5 . The catheter system as recited in  claim 4  wherein the intermediate catheter and the inner catheter are slidable with respect to each other to release the second component into the animal.  
   
   
       6 . A catheter system for implanting a medical device in an animal, wherein the medical device has a plurality of components that are electrically interconnected, said catheter system comprising: 
 a first guide wire;    a first catheter with a first lumen extending along a longitudinal axis and within which the first guide wire is slidably receivable;    a second catheter with a second lumen in which the first catheter is slidably received, wherein a first cavity is defined between the first and second catheters;    a first component of the medical device releasably located in the first cavity;    a tubular first outer sheath through which the second catheter slidably extends, wherein a second cavity is defined between the second catheter and the first outer sheath; and    a second component of the medical device releasably located in the second cavity.    
   
   
       7 . The catheter system as recited in  claim 6  wherein the tubular first outer sheath is slidable with respect to the second catheter to release the second component into the animal.  
   
   
       8 . The catheter system as recited in  claim 6  wherein the second catheter is slidable with respect to the first catheter to release the first component into the animal.  
   
   
       9 . The catheter system as recited in  claim 6  further comprising a first inner sheath between the first and second catheters with the first component located between the first inner sheath and the first catheter.  
   
   
       10 . The catheter system as recited in  claim 6  wherein the first component is one of a stimulation circuit, an antenna, and an electrode, and the second component is another one of a stimulation circuit, an antenna, and an electrode.  
   
   
       11 . The catheter system as recited in  claim 6  wherein at least one of the first component and the second component comprises an expandable body that is held in a collapsed state in the catheter system and which expands upon being released from the catheter system.  
   
   
       12 . The catheter system as recited in  claim 6  wherein the first component and the second component are located in tandem along the longitudinal axis.  
   
   
       13 . The catheter system as recited in  claim 6  further comprising: 
 a third catheter within the first outer sheath and having a third lumen through which the second catheter is slidably received, wherein the second cavity is formed between the second and third catheters and a third cavity is formed between the third catheter and the first outer sheath; and    a third component of the medical device releasably located in the third cavity.    
   
   
       14 . The catheter system as recited in  claim 13  further comprising: 
 a first inner sheath extending between the first and second catheters with the first component located between the first inner sheath and the first catheter; and    a second inner sheath extending between the second and third catheters with the second component located between the second inner sheath and the second catheter.    
   
   
       15 . The catheter system as recited in  claim 6  further comprising; 
 a second guide wire;    a third catheter with a third lumen within which the second guide wire is slidably receivable;    a second outer sheath through which the third catheter slidably extends, wherein a third cavity is defined between the third catheter and the second outer sheath; and    a third component of the medical device releasably located in the third cavity and electrically connected by a wire to one of the first and second components.    
   
   
       16 . The catheter system as recited in  claim 6  further comprising; 
 a second guide wire;    a third catheter with a third lumen in which the second guide wire is slidably receivable;    a fourth catheter with a fourth lumen in which the third catheter is slidably received, wherein a third cavity is defined between the third and fourth catheters;    a third component of the medical device releasably located in the third cavity;    a tubular second outer sheath through which the fourth catheter slidably extends, wherein a fourth cavity is defined between the fourth catheter and the second outer sheath; and    a fourth component of the medical device releasably located in the second cavity;    wherein at least one of the third component and the fourth component is electrically connected by a wire to one of the first component and the second component.    
   
   
       17 . The catheter system as recited in  claim 16  further comprising an inner sheath extending between the third and fourth catheters with the third component located between the inner sheath and the third catheter.  
   
   
       18 . A method of implanting a medical device in an animal, wherein the medical device has a plurality of components, said method comprising: 
 inserting a first guide wire to a first location inside the animal;    inserting a first catheter assembly releasably containing a first component and a second component of the medical device over the first guide wire until the first catheter assembly reaches the first location, wherein the first component and the second component are electrically connected;    releasing one of the first component and the second component at the first location inside the animal;    repositioning the first catheter assembly to a second location inside the animal; and    releasing another one of the first component and the second component at the second location inside the animal.    
   
   
       19 . The method as recited in  claim 18  wherein inserting a first catheter assembly comprises employs a first catheter assembly that comprises a first catheter with a first lumen within which the first guide wire is received, and a tubular first outer sheath through which the first catheter extends, a first cavity defined between the first catheter and the first outer sheath and releasably containing a first component of the medical device, and a second cavity defined between the first catheter and the first outer sheath and releasably containing a second component of the medical device.  
   
   
       20 . The method as recited in  claim 19  wherein repositioning the first catheter assembly comprises relocating the first guide wire adjacent the second location.  
   
   
       21 . The method recited in  claim 19  further comprising removing the first catheter assembly from the animal leaving the first and second components inside the animal.  
   
   
       22 . The method as recited in  claim 19  wherein the first catheter assembly further comprises a second catheter within the first outer sheath and having a second lumen within which the first catheter is slidably received, wherein the first cavity is defined between the first and second catheters and the second cavity is defined between the second catheter and the first outer sheath.  
   
   
       23 . The method as recited in  claim 22  wherein repositioning the first catheter assembly comprises relocating the first guide wire adjacent the second location.  
   
   
       24 . The method as recited in  claim 23  wherein repositioning the first catheter assembly further comprises sliding at least one of the first and second catheters along the first guide wire to the second location.  
   
   
       25 . The method as recited in  claim 22  wherein releasing one of the first component and the second component comprises sliding the first outer sheath and the second catheter with respect to each other.  
   
   
       26 . The method as recited in  claim 22  wherein releasing another one of the first component and the second component comprises sliding the first catheter and the second catheter with respect to each other.  
   
   
       27 . The method as recited in  claim 22  wherein the first catheter assembly further comprises an inner sheath extending between the first and second catheters; and wherein releasing another one of the first component and the second component comprises sliding the inner sheath and the first catheter with respect to each other.  
   
   
       28 . The method as recited in  claim 22  further comprising: 
 inserting a second guide wire to a third location inside the animal;    inserting a second catheter assembly over the second guide wire until the second catheter assembly reaches the third location, wherein the second catheter assembly comprises a third catheter with a third lumen in which the second guide wire is slidably received, and a tubular second outer sheath through which the third catheter slidably extends, wherein a third cavity is defined between the third catheter and the second outer sheath and releasably contains a third component that is electrically connected by a wire to one of the first and second components; and    releasing the third component inside the animal.    
   
   
       29 . The method as recited in  claim 28  wherein inserting a first catheter assembly and inserting a second catheter assembly are performed in unison.  
   
   
       30 . The method as recited in  claim 28  wherein releasing the third component comprises sliding the second outer sheath and the third catheter with respect to each other.  
   
   
       31 . The method as recited in  claim 28  further comprising removing the second catheter assembly from the animal while leaving the third component inside the animal.  
   
   
       32 . The method as recited in  claim 22  further comprising: 
 inserting a second guide wire to a third location inside the animal;    inserting a second catheter assembly over the second guide wire until the second catheter assembly reaches the third location, wherein the second catheter assembly comprises a third catheter with a third lumen in which the second guide wire is slidably received, a fourth catheter with a fourth lumen within which the third catheter is slidably received, a third cavity defined between the third and fourth catheters and releasably containing a third component of the medical device, a tubular second outer sheath through which the fourth catheter slidably extends, and a fourth cavity defined between the fourth catheter and the second outer sheath and releasably containing a fourth component of the medical device, wherein at least one of the third and fourth components is electrically connected by a wire to one of the first and second components;    releasing one of the third component and the fourth component inside the animal;    repositioning the second catheter assembly to a fourth location in the animal; and    releasing another one of the third component and the fourth component inside the animal.    
   
   
       33 . The method as recited in  claim 32  wherein inserting a first catheter assembly and inserting a second catheter assembly are performed in unison.  
   
   
       34 . The method as recited in  claim 32  wherein repositioning the second catheter assembly comprises: 
 moving the second guide wire adjacent the fourth location; and    sliding at least one of the third and fourth catheters along the second guide wire to the fourth location.    
   
   
       35 . The method as recited in  claim 32  wherein releasing one of the third component and the fourth component comprises sliding the second outer sheath and the fourth catheter with respect to each other.  
   
   
       36 . The method as recited in  claim 32  wherein releasing another one of the third component and the fourth component comprises sliding the third catheter and the fourth catheter with respect to each other.  
   
   
       37 . The method as recited in  claim 32  wherein the second catheter assembly further comprises an inner sheath extending between the third and fourth catheters; and wherein releasing another one of the third component and the fourth component comprises sliding the inner sheath and the third catheter with respect to each other.