Methods for toposcopic sleeve delivery

Abstract

Disclosed herein are elongate flexible medical devices which are capable of axial elongation through the mechanism of eversion or toposcopic expansion. In general, this may be accomplished by providing a flexible tubular device having a proximal end and a distal end. Retraction of the distal end in a proximal direction through the tubular body inverts the tube upon itself, causing an axial shortening of the overall length of the device. The original length of the device can be restored by coupling a pressurized media to the proximal end of the sleeve. If the distal end of the sleeve is temporarily restricted or closed, the pressurized media causes the distal end of the sleeve to travel distally until the full length of the sleeve has been restored.

We claim: 
     
         1 . A method of toposcopically delivering a sleeve to a body lumen, comprising:
 providing the sleeve at least partially inverted within a filling catheter, the sleeve comprising a proximal end, a distal end, and an elongate body, the proximal end of the sleeve attached to a distal end of the filling catheter;   advancing the sleeve and the filling catheter to position the distal end of the filling catheter at a first point in the body lumen; and   flowing inflation media within the sleeve to promote eversion of the sleeve to a second point in the body lumen.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the body lumen is the gastrointestinal tract. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising the step of at least partially inverting the sleeve within the filling catheter. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising the step of sealing the distal end of the sleeve. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein sealing the distal end of the sleeve comprises attaching a grasping member to the distal end of the inverted sleeve. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5 , further comprising the step of actuating the grasping member distally to promote eversion of the sleeve. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein the grasping member is a loop snare. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein the distal end of the inverted sleeve comprises a plurality of tail elements. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein flowing the inflation media within the sleeve to evert the sleeve is accomplished at a pressure of less than about 3 psi. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising steering the filling catheter within the body lumen using one or more pull wires operably attached to the filling catheter.