Delivery system for medical devices

Abstract

The invention is directed to a delivery system for implantation a self-expanding medical device in a body which includes a control handle and a catheter portion. The catheter portion includes an outer restraining member which covers the collapsed, medical device, an inner catheter member having a distal end including a region upon which the medical device is mounted, and an outer sheath which is removably attached to the control handle. The outer sheath creates a conduit for the catheter portion to prevent the inner catheter member from moving axially when the outer restraining member is retracted. The control handle has a rotatable thumbwheel to actuate a retraction mechanism attached to the proximal end of the outer restraining member which moves the restraining member in a proximal direction to deploy the medical device.

1 - 17 . (canceled)  
   
   
       18 . A catheter system for delivering and deploying a medical device within a patient, the catheter system comprising: 
 an inner tubular member having a region for mounting the medical device thereon and a restraining member co-axially disposed over the inner tubular member and the medical device, the restraining member being adapted for axial movement with respect to the inner tubular member, wherein the inner tubular member and restraining member have an outer surface which is in sliding contact with each other and at least one of the outer surfaces is plastically deformed to create a treated surface having raised projections which decrease the amount of surface contact between the treated surface and the surface which is in sliding contact with the treated surface.    
   
   
       19 . A catheter system for delivering and deploying a medical device within a patient, the catheter system comprising: 
 an inner tubular member having a region for mounting the medical device thereon and a restraining member co-axially disposed over the inner tubular member and the medical device, the restraining member being adapted for axial movement with respect to the inner tubular member, wherein the inner tubular member and restraining member have outer surfaces which come in sliding contact with each other, at least one of the surfaces having a formed outer surface having raised projections which decrease the amount of surface contact between the formed surface and the surface in sliding contact with the formed surface.    
   
   
       20 . The catheter system of  claim 19 , wherein the material forming the inner member and restraining member is a tubing which is extruded to a size and shape which includes the formed surface.  
   
   
       21 . A catheter system, comprising: 
 an inner member, the inner member having an exterior profile; and    an outer sheath, the outer sheath including an interior sized and shaped to receive the inner member;    wherein the exterior profile of the inner member includes at least one raised portion configured to engage the interior of the outer sheath.    
   
   
       22 . The catheter of  claim 21 , wherein the at least one raised portion engages the interior of the outer sheath thereby minimizing surface contact between the inner member and the interior of the outer sheath.  
   
   
       23 . The catheter system of  claim 22 , wherein the inner member is generally tubular.  
   
   
       24 . The catheter system of  claim 23 , wherein the exterior profile of the inner member includes a plurality of raised projections.  
   
   
       25 . The catheter system of  claim 24 , wherein a cross section of the inner member defines a non-circular profile.  
   
   
       26 . The catheter system of  claim 25 , wherein the non-circular profile is characterized by a hexagonal shape.  
   
   
       27 . The catheter system of  claim 25 , wherein the non-circular profile is characterized by a star-like shape.  
   
   
       28 . The catheter system of  claim 27 , wherein the non-circular profile includes at leasts five raised projections.  
   
   
       29 . The catheter system of  claim 22 , wherein the inner member and outer sheath are configured to be translated longitudinally with respect to eachother.  
   
   
       30 . The catheter system of  claim 29 , further comprising a medical device configured between the inner member and the outer sheath.  
   
   
       31 . The catheter system of  claim 30 , wherein the medical device is a self-expanding stent, the outer sheath maintaining the self-expanding stent in a compressed condition.  
   
   
       32 . The catheter system of  claim 29 , further comprising a restraining sheath, the restraining sheath having a generally tubular body and being coaxially arranged about at least a portion of the outer sheath.  
   
   
       33 . The catheter system of  claim 32 , wherein the inner catheter includes an inner lumen, a side wall and an exit opening configured through the side wall.  
   
   
       34 . The catheter system of  claim 33 , wherein the outer sheath includes an exit port providing access to the interior of the outer sheath.  
   
   
       35 . The catheter system of  claim 34 , wherein the restraining sheath includes a side opening formed in the generally tubular body of the restraining sheath.  
   
   
       36 . The catheter system of  claim 35 , further comprising a guide wire, the guide wire being routed throught the exit opening, the exit port and the side opening to thereby provide rapid exchange route for the guide wire.