Hand Unit to Release a Self-Expanding Implant

Abstract

An elongate hand unit for deploying an elongate implant from the distal end of a delivery catheter. The hand unit has a distal end and a proximal end separated by a hand unit length. The hand unit may include a pull component and a push component. The pull component may include a pull grip sliding on the push component to deploy the implant. The push component may be operatively connected to the push element and include at its proximal end a push surface to receive during deployment of the implant a force that pushes on the push element shaft to resist proximal movement of the implant during deployment. The push component may provide a guide rail that defines a guide path for the pull grip, whereby proximal movement of the pull grip along the guide path deploys the implant.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A medical device comprising:
 an implant;   a catheter including:
 an inner shaft configured as a push element; 
   and
 an outer shaft configured as a pull element; 
   
       and
 a hand unit comprising:
 an inner tube; 
 an outer tube; 
 and 
 a latch engaging the inner tube and the outer tube, 
 wherein an inner tube distal end is disposed within an inner shaft proximal end; 
 
 and 
 a push component comprising a push surface is disposed on an outer tube proximal end. 
 
     
     
         2 . The medical device of  claim 1  wherein the inner tube and the outer tube form a telescopic arrangement yielding a pull grip guide path extender. 
     
     
         3 . The medical device of  claim 2  wherein the latch permits the telescopic arrangement to lengthen but not shorten. 
     
     
         4 . The medical device of  claim 3  wherein the inner and outer tube form a composite guide path length greater than an inner or outer tube guide path length. 
     
     
         5 . The medical device of  claim 4  wherein the outer tube comprises a tang in the tube wall disposed to engage the inner tube. 
     
     
         6 . The medical device of  claim 5  comprising multiple tangs in the tube wall. 
     
     
         7 . The medical device of  claim 6  wherein the hand unit further comprises:
 an outer shaft pull component; 
 
       and
 an outer shaft pull grip, wherein an outer shaft proximal end is captured between the pull component and the pull grip; 
 
     
     
         8 . The medical device of  claim 7 , wherein the push component is disposed proximal of the pull grip and pull component. 
     
     
         9 . The medical device of  claim 7  wherein the push surface is on a push hub. 
     
     
         10 . The medical device of  claim 9  wherein the push hub is adapted to receive a guidewire. 
     
     
         11 . The medical device of  claim 10  wherein the push hub includes a coupling adapted to receive a flushing liquid. 
     
     
         12 . The medical device of  claim 11  wherein the pull grip is a pull hub. 
     
     
         13 . The medical device of  claim 12  further comprising a spacer that sets a minimum distance between the push surface and the pull grip. 
     
     
         14 . The medical device of  claim 3  wherein the catheter further comprises a rolling membrane that connects the inner and outer shafts. 
     
     
         15 . The medical device of  claim 14  further comprising a tether disposed between the push component and the pull grip. 
     
     
         16 . The medical device of  claim 1  further comprising a spacer that sets a minimum distance between the push surface and the pull grip. 
     
     
         17 . The medical device of  claim 1  wherein the catheter further comprises a rolling membrane that connects the inner and outer shafts. 
     
     
         18 . The medical device of  claim 1  wherein the latch permits the telescopic arrangement to lengthen but not shorten. 
     
     
         19 . The medical device of  claim 1  wherein the inner and outer tube form an composite guide path length greater than an inner or outer tube guide path length. 
     
     
         20 . A medical device comprising:
 an implant;   a catheter including:
 an inner shaft configured as a push element; 
 an outer shaft configured as a pull element; 
 and 
 a rolling membrane that connects the inner and outer shafts; 
   a hand unit comprising:
 a pull component disposed on the outer shaft; 
 an inner tube and an outer tube, wherein an inner tube distal end is disposed within an inner tube proximal end forming a telescopic arrangement yielding a guide path extender with a composite guide path length greater than inner or outer tube guide path lengths; 
 a latch engaging the inner tube and outer tube that permits the telescopic arrangement to lengthen but not shorten wherein the latch comprises multiple tangs in the tube wall adapted to engage the inner tube; 
 an outer shaft pull tab, wherein an outer shaft proximal end is captured between the pull component and the pull grip, 
 a push component comprising a push hub with a push surface and a coupling adapted to receive a flushing liquid wherein the push hub is disposed on an outer tube proximal end; 
 a tether disposed between the push component and the pull grip; 
   
       and
 a spacer that sets a minimum distance between the push surface and the pull grip; 
 
       wherein
 the push hub is adapted to receive a guidewire, 
 
       and
 the push component is disposed proximal of the pull grip and pull component.