Method and apparatus for recapturing an implant from the left atrial appendage

Abstract

A system and method for retrieving an implantable device includes a delivery catheter, a recapture section, and a sheath. The delivery catheter has a proximal end and a distal end. The recapture section is axially extendable from the distal end of the delivery catheter. The sheath has a proximal end and a distal end and a lumen sized to receive the delivery catheter. A portion of the lumen of the sheath is actuatable from an enlarged inside diameter to a reduced inside diameter to apply an inwardly directed force to the recapture section. The delivery catheter can be actuated with respect to the sheath to extend or retract the recapture section with respect to the delivery catheter.

1 . (canceled) 
     
     
         2 . A delivery catheter for a device implantable in a heart, the delivery catheter comprising:
 a delivery catheter comprising an elongate tubular body, an elongate tubular body proximal end, an elongate tubular body distal end, an elongate tubular body distal portion adjacent the elongate tubular body distal end; and   a recapture section connected to the elongate tubular body distal portion,   wherein the recapture section has a reduced configuration and an enlarged configuration,   wherein the enlarged configuration of the recapture section is adapted and configured to receive at least a portion of a device implantable in a heart.   
     
     
         3 . The delivery catheter of  claim 2 , wherein the delivery catheter is configured and adapted to be releasably coupled to a device implantable in a heart. 
     
     
         4 . The delivery catheter of  claim 2 , further comprising a sheath,
 wherein the sheath has a radially enlarged configuration in which a distal portion of the sheath has a radial extent sized to receive at least a portion of the device implantable in a heart and a radially contracted distal portion configuration in which the radial extent of the distal portion of the sheath is less than the radial extent of the distal portion of the sheath in the enlarged configuration.   
     
     
         5 . The delivery catheter of  claim 4 , wherein the distal portion of the sheath comprises a first plurality of petals extending distally and radially outward from the sheath to form a flared distally-acting receiving opening and wherein a proximal end of the first plurality of petals are joined to form an integral collar. 
     
     
         6 . The delivery catheter of  claim 5 , wherein the distal portion of the sheath comprises a second plurality of petals circumferentially offset from the first plurality of petals such that each petal of the second plurality of petals overlaps two petals of the first plurality of petals. 
     
     
         7 . The delivery catheter of  claim 4 , wherein the radial extent of the distal portion of the sheath in the radially contracted distal portion configuration is less than an inner diameter of a transseptal catheter coaxially disposed about the sheath. 
     
     
         8 . The delivery catheter of  claim 2 , wherein the recapture section is connected to the elongate tubular body distal portion by a tubular mesh. 
     
     
         9 . The delivery catheter of  claim 3 , wherein the delivery catheter is coupled to the device implantable in a heart during delivery of the device implantable in a heart and is coupled to the device implantable in a heart during recovery and is releasably decoupled from the device implantable in a heart between delivery of the device implantable in the heart and recovery of the device implantable in a heart. 
     
     
         10 . The delivery catheter of  claim 2 , wherein the device implantable in the heart includes at least one tissue anchor extending radially outward from a body of the device implantable in the heart. 
     
     
         11 . The delivery catheter of  claim 10 , wherein in the enlarged configuration of the recapture section the recapture section is configured and adapted to receive at least a portion of the device implantable in the heart which includes at least one tissue anchor. 
     
     
         12 . The delivery catheter of  claim 10 , wherein the device implantable in the heart includes at least one second tissue anchor extending radially outward from a body of the device implantable in the heart and located distal of the at least one tissue anchor. 
     
     
         13 . The delivery catheter of  claim 12 , wherein in the enlarged configuration of the recapture section the recapture section is configured and adapted to receive at least a portion of the device implantable in the heart which includes at least one second tissue anchor. 
     
     
         14 . The delivery catheter of  claim 7 , wherein when the distal portion of the sheath is extended distal of the transseptal catheter, the distal portion of the sheath assumes the enlarged configuration. 
     
     
         15 . The delivery catheter of  claim 14 , wherein when the distal portion of the sheath is withdrawn into the transseptal catheter the distal portion of the sheath assumes the radially contracted distal portion configuration. 
     
     
         16 . The delivery catheter of  claim 2 , wherein the delivery catheter comprises an inflatable cuff proximate the elongate tubular body distal end of the delivery catheter, the inflatable cuff configured to prevent relative axial movement of the recapture section when the inflatable cuff is inflated. 
     
     
         17 . The delivery catheter of  claim 16 , wherein the inflatable cuff has a first inner diameter when in a deflated configuration and a second inner diameter when in an inflated configuration, wherein the second inner diameter is less than the first inner diameter. 
     
     
         18 . A method of recovering an implanted device implantable in a heart comprising:
 advancing a delivery catheter comprising a sheath, an elongate tubular body, an elongate tubular body proximal end, an elongate tubular body distal end, an elongate tubular body distal portion adjacent the elongate tubular body distal end,   wherein the delivery catheter is configured and adapted to be releasably coupled to a device implantable in a heart, and   a recapture section connected to the elongate tubular body distal portion, toward an previously implanted device implantable in a heart;   enlarging a portion of the sheath to engage the recapture section;   advancing the sheath to move the recapture section toward a device implanted in a heart;   releasing the sheath from engagement with the recapture section; and   moving the delivery catheter proximally to move the device implanted in a heart into a lumen of the sheath.   
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the advancing step of  claim 17  includes aligning the elongate tubular body distal portion of the delivery catheter with a proximal portion of the device implanted in a heart and distally advancing a rotatable core through a threaded aperture of the device implanted in a heart with rotation thereby axially elongating and radially reducing the device implanted in a heart. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein a distal portion of the sheath comprises a first plurality of petals extending distally and radially outward from the sheath to form a flared distally-acting receiving opening and wherein a proximal end of the first plurality of petals are joined to form an integral collar. 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the delivery catheter thereof is the same delivery catheter that delivered and implanted the device implanted in a heart.