Sensor delivery system and method

Abstract

Provided are various embodiments of improvements made to methods, systems and assemblies of implant delivery systems and the associated implants. In one embodiment, provided is an implant delivery system comprising an implant, a first sheath and a second sheath each extending from a proximal end of said implant delivery system, the first sheath is translatable relative to said second sheath wherein said implant is connected to an exterior surface of said first sheath, and wherein said first sheath and said second sheath are movable with respect to one another to deploy said implant to a target site in an anatomy. Said delivery system may be configured to be partially inserted into a blood vessel of a human body such that said proximal end remains external to said body and said distal end is internal to said body.

Having thus described the application, I claim: 
     
         1 . An implant delivery system comprising:
 an implant;   a first sheath and a second sheath each extending from a proximal end of said implant delivery system, wherein at least said first sheath extends to a distal end of said implant delivery system, wherein said first sheath is positioned at least partially within said second sheath, the first sheath is translatable relative to said second sheath;   wherein said implant is connected to an exterior surface of said first sheath, and   wherein said first sheath and said second sheath are movable with respect to one another to deploy said implant to a target site in an anatomy;   and further wherein said delivery system is configured to be partially inserted into a living body such that said proximal end remains external to said body and said distal end is internal to said body.   
     
     
         2 . The implant delivery system of  claim 1 , wherein said delivery system is configured to be partially inserted into a blood vessel of a human body such that said proximal end remains external to said body and said distal end is internal to said body. 
     
     
         3 . The implant delivery system of  claim 1 , further comprising at least one fluid port positioned along a proximal end of said first sheath or second sheath, said fluid port fluidly coupled to at least one lumen extending down the length of said first sheath or second sheath to allow fluid flow through said lumen. 
     
     
         4 . The implant delivery system of  claim 3 , wherein said fluid is injected through said port and includes one of: a drug; a fluid used to enhance anatomical imaging; fluoroscopic contrast dye; barium; a radioactive material; blood; plasma; saline solution; a blood component; a particle suspension; a nano-device; and a nanomaterial. 
     
     
         5 . The implant delivery system of  claim 3 , wherein said at least one fluid port is further configured to operatively couple to a device located outside of said body. 
     
     
         6 . The implant delivery system of  claim 5 , wherein said device is a pressure transducer, configured to measure a fluid pressure at the distal end of said first or said second sheath. 
     
     
         7 . The implant delivery system of  claim 6 , wherein said measurement of fluid pressure at the distal end of said first or second sheath is used to calibrate or assess the accuracy of said implant. 
     
     
         8 . The implant delivery system of  claim 1 , further comprising at least one marker configured to be visible with a fluoroscope. 
     
     
         9 . The implant delivery system of  claim 8 , wherein said marker include a radio opaque material positioned on at least one of: a distal tip of said first sheath; the distal portion of said second sheath; a portion of said implant; and as a plurality of markings spaced along a portion of said first or said second sheath. 
     
     
         10 . The implant delivery system of  claim 8 , wherein said marker is attached to at least one anchor on the implant. 
     
     
         11 . The implant delivery system of  claim 8 , wherein a plurality of markers are positioned along said implant in an asymmetric pattern, said pattern is configured to facilitate determination of implant orientation when viewed on a fluoroscope. 
     
     
         12 . The implant delivery system of  claim 11  wherein said asymmetric pattern comprises markers at three of the four corners of a two-dimensional rectangle when viewed normal to the plane of said rectangle on a fluoroscope. 
     
     
         13 . The implant delivery system of  claim 1 , wherein:
 said second sheath is configured to allow insertion of a catheter device configured to selectively attach to said implant and move the implant proximally when retracted;   wherein at least one anchor of said implant is collapsible; and   wherein said anchor of said implant is configured to be placed in a collapsed state when said catheter device moves the implant proximally into said second sheath.   
     
     
         14 . The implant delivery system of  claim 1 , wherein said second sheath is further configured to allow said first sheath to be retracted into said second sheath while said implant is still connected to said first sheath, and further configured to cover said first sheath and said implant while said delivery system is retracted and withdrawn from said body. 
     
     
         15 . The implant delivery system of  claim 1 , wherein said first sheath is configured with a distal tip made of a soft material to minimize vessel trauma during use, wherein said distal tip has a durometer softer than Shore 40A. 
     
     
         16 . The implant delivery system of  claim 1 , wherein said implant further comprises a rigid housing, and at least one collapsible implant anchor, said at least one anchor being attached to said housing. 
     
     
         17 . The implant delivery system of  claim 16 , wherein said anchor is comprised of at least one wire that passes through at least one hole that extends through the thickness of said housing; and an enlarged portion of the wire is placed along said wire to retain the wire within the hole; and
 wherein said hole is counter-bored, said counter-bored hole comprising a first size hole and a second size hole, wherein the first size is smaller than the second size, wherein the second hole extends only partially through said housing, and further wherein said enlarged portion is configured to fit into said second hole.   
     
     
         18 . The implant delivery system of  claim 17 , wherein said implant includes a marker configured to be at least partially visible under fluoroscopic imaging. 
     
     
         19 . The implant delivery system of  claim 18 , wherein a plurality of said markers are spaced at known intervals along said anchor wire to facilitate distance estimation during angiographic imaging; and wherein said marker is located on the anchor wire near a point where said anchor wire attaches to said housing. 
     
     
         20 . A method for implanting an implant device in the vasculature of a human body, said method comprising the steps of:
 establishing access to the vasculature at an access location along the patient's anatomy;   inserting a first catheter configured to translate from the access location to a target site within the vasculature;   placing a guide wire between said access point to said target location;   removing said first catheter while leaving said guide wire in place;   inserting a delivery system over said guide wire, said delivery system comprising a first sheath and a second sheath each extending from a proximal end of said implant delivery system, wherein at least said first sheath extends to a distal end of said implant delivery system and wherein said first sheath is positioned at least partially within said second sheath, and includes an implant attached to said first sheath, wherein said first sheath or second sheath is configured to allow the injection of contrast dye for angiographic imaging;   advancing said delivery system to said target site while using angiographic imaging to position said implant at said target site;   deploying said implant from said delivery system at said target site;   withdrawing said second catheter and said guidewire from said body while said medical device remains at said target location.   
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 20 , wherein said delivery system includes a port configured to remain outside of said vasculature and to fluidically couple a portion of said first sheath or second sheath that is inside said vasculature to a device that is outside of said vasculature, said method further comprising the steps of:
 connecting said port to a pressure measurement device;   measuring pressure at said inside portion of said first sheath or second sheath using said pressure measurement device;   measuring pressure at said inside portion with said implant;   comparing said measurement from said pressure measurement device to a measurement made by said implant.   
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 21 , further comprising calibrating said implant. 
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 20 , wherein said implant is connected to an exterior surface of said first sheath and positioned near a distal end of said second sheath, and wherein said first sheath and said second sheath are movable with respect to one another to deploy said implant to the target site. 
     
     
         24 . A method for implanting an implant in a vasculature of a body, said method comprising the steps of:
 establishing access to the vasculature at an access location;   inserting a catheter device into said vasculature at said access location, said catheter device fitted with said implant and configured to advance to a target site;   advancing said catheter device to said target site;   deploying said implant from said catheter device at said target site;   withdrawing said catheter device from said body while said implant remains at said target site.   
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 24 , wherein said catheter device is configured to inject contrast dye into said vasculature to facilitate angiographic imaging, said method further comprising the step of advancing said catheter to said target location while using angiographic imaging. 
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 25 , wherein said catheter device is configured to fluidically couple a portion of said catheter device inside said vasculature to a portion of said catheter device that is outside of said vasculature, said method further comprising the steps of:
 connecting said portion of said catheter device that is outside of said vasculature to a pressure measurement device;   before withdrawing said catheter device from said body, measuring pressure at said portion of said catheter device inside said vasculature using said pressure measurement device;   measuring pressure using said implant;   comparing said measurement from said pressure measurement device to a measurement made by said implant.   
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 24 , wherein said catheter device comprises a first sheath and a second sheath each extending from a proximal end of said catheter device, wherein at least said first sheath extends to a distal end of said implant delivery system, wherein said first sheath is positioned at least partially within said second sheath;
 wherein said implant is connected to an exterior surface of said first sheath and positioned near a distal end of said second sheath, and   wherein said first sheath and said second sheath are movable with respect to one another to deploy said implant to a desired target location.   
     
     
         28 . A method for attaching a wire anchor to a rigid implant body, comprising the steps of:
 providing at least one hole that extends through an implant housing;   passing an anchor wire through said hole;   enlarging at least one portion along said wire to prevent said enlarged portion from passing through said hole.   
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 28  further comprising counter-boring said hole to create a large portion and a small portion. 
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 29  further comprising the step of placing said enlarged portion of said wire into said large portion of said hole. 
     
     
         31 . The method of  claim 30  further comprising the step of placing at least one preformed fluoroscopic marker over said anchor wire prior to enlarging said dimension of said terminal end.