Device for placing a vascular implant

Abstract

Provided is an implant placement device that includes an envelope that contains an implant with a first auto-expandable element expandable in a radial direction, a nose at a distal end of the envelope, a sheath that confines a portion of the implant therein and restricts expansion of a second auto-expandable element of the implant, and a plunger. The sheath moves within the envelope in a longitudinal direction perpendicular to the radial direction and the plunger moves in the longitudinal direction within the sheath with the implant positioned between an end of the plunger and the nose, to discharge the implant from the device at a desired position. The sheath slides in the longitudinal direction towards the nose to bring the first auto-expandable element in contact with an interior of the plurality of slots, thereby opening the nose.

What is claimed: 
     
         1 . An implant placement device comprising:
 an envelope configured to contain an implant, which includes a first auto-expandable element, which is expandable in a radial direction;   a nose positioned at a distal end of the envelope having a plurality of slots configured to divide the nose into a plurality of outwardly opening segments;   a sheath configured to confine a portion of the implant therein and to restrict expansion of a second auto-expandable element of the implant, wherein the sheath is configured to move within the envelope in a longitudinal direction perpendicular to the radial direction; and   a plunger configured to move in the longitudinal direction within the sheath with the implant positioned between an end of the plunger and the nose, to discharge the implant from the device at a desired position,   wherein the sheath is configured to slide in the longitudinal direction towards the nose to bring the first auto-expandable element in contact with an interior of the plurality of slots, thereby opening the nose.   
     
     
         2 . The device of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a central residual passage in the nose, which includes a shape memory that closes the nose as a default position.   
     
     
         3 . The device of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a first grip configured to move the envelope; and   a second grip configured to move to the sheath,   wherein moving the second grip slides the sheath within the envelope.   
     
     
         4 . The device of  claim 3 , wherein the second grip is configured to move in the longitudinal direction towards the first grip to expose a front end of the first auto-expandable element of the implant. 
     
     
         5 . The device of  claim 4 , wherein the second grip is configured to move the sheath away from the distal end of the envelope. 
     
     
         6 . The device of  claim 4 , further comprising:
 a removable spacer situated between said the first grip and the second grip to maintain a space between the first grip and the second grip.   
     
     
         7 . The device of  claim 3 , wherein the second grip is located closer to a third grip than the first grip, wherein the third grip is configured to move the plunger. 
     
     
         8 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the plunger is configured to exert a second force against a rear end of the second auto-expandable element, to discharge the implant. 
     
     
         9 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the implant further comprises a hollow intermediate section. 
     
     
         10 . The device of  claim 9 , wherein the implant is configured to be maintained in the envelope with the first auto-expandable element positioned closer to the nose than the hollow intermediate section, with the intermediate section positioned closer to the nose than the second auto-expandable element. 
     
     
         11 . The device of  claim 9 , wherein the hollow intermediate section is configured to be deformed by twisting upon rotation of the sheath around a longitudinal axis of the device. 
     
     
         12 . The device of  claim 11 , wherein the device detects an angle of rotation of the sheath in relation to the envelope. 
     
     
         13 . An implant placement device comprising:
 an envelope configured to house an implant;   a plunger;   a sheath configured to confine a portion of the implant to restrict expansion of an auto-expandable element of the implant in a first position of the device and in a second position of the device, wherein the envelope is disposed around the sheath; and   a nose positioned at a distal end of the envelope and having a plurality of slots configured to divide the nose into a plurality of outwardly opening segments,   wherein a longitudinal axis of the device is perpendicular to a radial direction of expansion of the auto-expandable element of the implant, and   wherein:   when in the first position of the device, the implant is contained within the sheath between the plunger and the nose,   when in the second position of the device, the auto expandable element is in contact with an interior of the plurality of outwardly opening segments and is configured to open the nose when the envelope is slid around the sheath, and   when in a third position of the device, the implant is discharged from the sheath, when the plunger is moved in a longitudinal direction.   
     
     
         14 . The device of  claim 13 , wherein the nose includes a shape memory that closes the nose as a default position. 
     
     
         15 . The device of  claim 13 , further comprising:
 a first grip configured to slide the envelope on the sheath; and   the first grip configured to move towards a second grip to expose a front end of the auto-expandable element of the implant.   
     
     
         16 . The device of  claim 13 , comprising a spacer configured to move between a first position of the spacer and a second position of the spacer to stop a sliding movement of the envelope around the sheath and to enable the sliding movement of the envelope around the sheath, respectively, and
 wherein the spacer is in the first position of the spacer when in the first position of the device, and wherein the spacer is in the second position of the spacer when the device is either in the second position of the device or in the third position of the device.