Inductance mode deployment sensors for transcatheter valve system

Abstract

A delivery system for an implantable medical device includes an outer shaft defining an outer shaft lumen and an inner shaft translatable within the outer shaft lumen, the inner shaft defining a lumen extending through the inner shaft. An actuation mechanism extends through the lumen and includes a coupler, a force translation rod that extends proximally from the coupler and a plurality of push pull rods that extend distally from the coupler and that releasably couple to the implantable medical device. The force translation rod includes a transition in electromagnetic permeability. The delivery system includes an inductive coil disposed relative to the force translation rod and positioned to detect a change in inductance resulting from the transition in electromagnetic permeability passing through the inductive coil.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A delivery system for an implantable medical device, comprising:
 an outer shaft defining an outer shaft lumen;   an inner shaft translatable within the outer shaft lumen;   the inner shaft defining a lumen extending through the inner shaft;   an actuation mechanism extending through the lumen, the actuation mechanism including a coupler, a force translation rod that extends proximally from the coupler and a plurality of push pull rods that extend distally from the coupler and that releasably couple to the implantable medical device;   the force translation rod including a transition in electromagnetic permeability and wherein the force translation rod is formed of a material having a low electromagnetic permeability material and the translation in electromagnetic permeability comprises an inset band of a high electromagnetic permeability material; and   an inductive coil disposed relative to the force translation rod, relative to the inner shaft, and positioned to detect a change in inductance resulting from the transition in electromagnetic permeability passing through the inductive coil,   
       wherein the inductive coil is electrically coupled with a first coupling coil that is disposed relative to the inner shaft, at or near a proximal region of the delivery system, and is magnetically coupled with a second coupling coil that is disposed about the outer shaft.