Methods and systems for rapid retraction of a transcatheter heart valve delivery system

Abstract

Methods for the rapid retraction of trans-catheter heart valve delivery systems are provided. A rapid retraction trans-catheter heart valve delivery system comprises a catheter based delivery system. The delivery system has internal mechanisms that allow for the controlled deployment of a heart valve prosthesis, as well as mechanisms that allow for quickly closing the catheter once the heart valve prosthesis has been implanted. This rapid retraction ability allows for reduced procedural durations and thus reduced risk to the patient.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method of rapidly retracting a delivery system, the method comprising:
 providing a delivery system, the delivery system having a plurality of catheters used to deliver a heart valve prosthesis;   providing a rapid retraction mechanism operably coupled with the delivery system, the rapid retraction mechanism configured to rapidly close the delivery system; and   actuating the rapid retracting mechanism thereby rapidly closing the delivery system.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising trans-apically introducing the delivery system into an apex of a heart. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein actuating the rapid retraction mechanism comprises actuating a button and linkage. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the rapid retraction mechanism comprises a screw thread and interference member, and wherein the method further comprises constraining movement of the rapid retraction mechanism with the screw thread and interference member. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the rapid retraction mechanism comprises a flexible interference member, the method further comprising deflecting the flexible interference member. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the rapid retraction mechanism comprises a pin and pin-hole link assembly, the method further comprising removing the pin from the pin-hole link assembly. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising trans-septally delivering the delivery system to a heart. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein actuating the rapid retraction mechanism comprises actuating a button and linkage. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the rapid retraction mechanism comprises a screw and interference member, and wherein the method further comprises constraining movement of the rapid retraction mechanism with the screw and interference member. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the rapid retraction mechanism comprises a flexible interference member, the method further comprising deflecting the flexible interference member. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the rapid retraction mechanism comprises a pin and pin-hole link assembly, the method further comprising removing the pin from the pin-hole link assembly. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising delivering the delivery system to the heart via a subclavian vein. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein actuating the rapid retraction mechanism comprises actuating a button and linkage. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the rapid retraction mechanism comprises a screw thread and interference member, and wherein the method further comprises constraining movement of the rapid retraction mechanism with the screw thread and interference member. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the rapid retraction mechanism comprises a flexible interference member, the method further comprising deflecting the flexible interference member. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the rapid retraction mechanism comprises a pin and pin-hole linkage assembly, the method further comprising removing the pin from the pin-hole linkage assembly. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising delivering the delivery system to the heart via an aorta. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein actuating the rapid retraction mechanism comprises actuating a button and linkage. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the rapid retraction mechanism comprises a screw thread and interference member, the method further comprising constraining movement of the rapid retraction mechanism with the screw thread and interference member. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the rapid retraction mechanism comprises a flexible interference member, the method further comprising deflecting the flexible interference member. 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the rapid retraction mechanism is comprised of a pin and pin-hole linkage assembly, the method further comprising removing the pin from the pin-hole linkage assembly. 
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising delivering the delivery system to a heart via a right atrium or via a left atrium. 
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 22 , wherein actuating the rapid retraction mechanism comprises actuating a button and linkage. 
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 22 , wherein the rapid retraction mechanism comprises a screw thread and interference member, the method further comprising constraining movement of the rapid retraction mechanism with the screw thread and interference member. 
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 22 , wherein the rapid retraction mechanism comprises a flexible interference member, the method further comprising deflecting the flexible interference member. 
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 22 , wherein the rapid retraction mechanism comprises a pin and pin-hole linkage assembly, the method further comprising removing the pin from the pin-hole linkage assembly. 
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising providing a controllable deployment mechanism, the controllable deployment mechanism configured to preferentially release a prosthesis from the delivery system. 
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 27 , further comprising actuating the controllable deployment mechanism by rotating a thumbwheel operably coupled with the delivery system. 
     
     
         29 . A delivery device for delivering a prosthesis, said device comprising:
 a delivery catheter configured to carry a prosthesis therein;   a dilator catheter disposed in the delivery catheter, the dilator catheter having a tapered distal tip coupled thereto;   a rapid retraction mechanism for controlling movement of the delivery catheter relative to the tapered distal tip, wherein actuation of the rapid retraction mechanism closes the delivery device such that a proximal end of the tapered distal tip abuts against a distal end of the delivery catheter, thereby forming a smooth continuous outer surface on the delivery device.   
     
     
         30 . The device of  claim 29 , further comprising a first actuation mechanism for controlling movement of the delivery catheter, wherein actuation of the first actuation mechanism moves the delivery catheter away from the prosthesis thereby at least partially removing a constraint therefrom. 
     
     
         31 . The device of  claim 30 , further comprising a deployment mechanism for controlling release of the prosthesis from an anchoring catheter, the anchoring catheter disposed at least partially in the delivery catheter, and wherein actuation of the deployment mechanism moves the anchoring catheter away from the prosthesis thereby releasing a constraint therefrom. 
     
     
         32 . The device of  claim 30 , wherein the first actuation mechanism comprises a thumbwheel. 
     
     
         33 . The device of  claim 30 , wherein the deployment mechanism comprises an actuatable button with a linkage coupled thereto. 
     
     
         34 . The device of  claim 29 , wherein the rapid retraction mechanism comprises a screw thread and interference member. 
     
     
         35 . The device of  claim 29 , wherein the rapid retraction mechanism comprises a flexible interference member. 
     
     
         36 . The device of  claim 29 , wherein the rapid retraction mechanism comprises a pin and pin-hole linkage assembly. 
     
     
         37 . A system for delivering a prosthesis, said system comprising:
 the device of  claim 29 ; and   the prosthesis.   
     
     
         38 . The system of  claim 37 , wherein the prosthesis comprises a prosthetic mitral valve.