Implant Delivery System

Abstract

A system and method of delivering and detaching an implant within a body of a patient is described. A tether connects an implant with a delivery device. The delivery device includes a heater coil through which the tether passes. The inner diameter of the heater coil is about the same size or slightly larger than the outer diameter of the tether, allowing the tether to more efficiently break the tether during delivery.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An implant delivery system comprising:
 a pusher member having an elongated shape;   a distal end of the pusher member connectable to the implant;   a tether connected to the pusher member and to the implant;   a resistance-type heating element mounted over the tether, the heating element having a first plurality of loops with a first internal diameter and a second plurality of loops with a second internal diameter smaller than the first internal diameter;   the tether passing through the first plurality of loops and the second plurality of loops; and   a sleeve over the second plurality of loops of the heating element.   
     
     
         2 . The implant delivery system of  claim 1  further comprising a first electrical wire connected at a distal end of the heater element and a second electrical wire connected at a proximal end of the heater element, wherein the first electrical wire and the second electrical wire supply direct current between the proximal end of the heater element and the distal end of the heater element. 
     
     
         3 . The implant delivery system of  claim 2  wherein the sleeve contains a space which accommodates the first electrical wire. 
     
     
         4 . The implant delivery system of  claim 1  further comprising a second sleeve positioned over said resistance-type heating element. 
     
     
         5 . The implant delivery system of  claim 1  wherein the sleeve spans the entire the heating element. 
     
     
         6 . The implant delivery system of  claim 1  wherein the first plurality of loops with the first internal diameter are proximal and distal of the second plurality of loops with the second internal diameter. 
     
     
         7 . An implant delivery system comprising:
 a pusher member having an elongated shape;   a resistance-type heating element at a distal end of the pusher member, the heating element having a first plurality of loops with a first internal diameter and a second plurality of loops with a second internal diameter smaller than the first internal diameter;   a tether spanning the heating element and connected to the pusher member and to the implant, the tether passing through the first plurality of loops and the second plurality of loops; and   a sleeve over the second plurality of loops of the heating element.   
     
     
         8 . The implant delivery system of  claim 7  further comprising a first electrical wire connected at a distal end of the heater element and a second electrical wire connected at a proximal end of the heater element, wherein the first electrical wire and the second electrical wire supply direct current between the proximal end of the heater element and the distal end of the heater element. 
     
     
         9 . The implant delivery system of  claim 8  wherein the sleeve contains a space which accommodates the first electrical wire. 
     
     
         10 . The implant delivery system of  claim 7  further comprising a second sleeve positioned over said resistance-type heating element. 
     
     
         11 . The implant delivery system of  claim 7  wherein the sleeve spans the entire heating element. 
     
     
         12 . The implant delivery system of  claim 1  wherein the first plurality of loops with the first internal diameter are proximal and distal of the second plurality of loops with the second internal diameter. 
     
     
         13 . An implant delivery system comprising:
 a heater coil having a first plurality of loops with a first outer diameter and a second plurality of loops with a second outer diameter smaller than the first outer diameter;   a first electrical wire connected at a distal end of the heater coil and a second electrical wire connected at a proximal end of the heater coil, wherein the first electrical wire and the second electrical wire supply direct current between the proximal end of the heater coil and the distal end of the heater coil; and   a sleeve mounted over the second plurality of loops of the heating element.   
     
     
         14 . The implant delivery system of  claim 13  further comprising a pusher element proximal to the heater coil and the implant distal to the heater coil. 
     
     
         15 . The implant delivery system of  claim 14  further comprising a tether spanning the heater coil and connected to the pusher member and to the implant, where the tether passes through the first plurality of loops and the second plurality of loops. 
     
     
         16 . The implant delivery system of  claim 13  further comprising a second sleeve positioned over said heater coil. 
     
     
         17 . The implant delivery system of  claim 16  wherein the sleeve spans the entire the heater coil. 
     
     
         18 . The implant delivery system of  claim 16  wherein the sleeve is comprised of PET. 
     
     
         19 . The implant delivery system of  claim 13  wherein the sleeve is comprised of polyimide. 
     
     
         20 . The implant delivery system of  claim 13  wherein the first plurality of loops with the first internal diameter are proximal and distal of the second plurality of loops with the second internal diameter.