Patent ID: 7871430
Filing Date: 2011-01-18
Classification: A61F

Abstract:
1. A medical device delivery system comprising: a delivery catheter having an inner lumen extending from a proximal end to a distal end and having a device-containing region adjacent the distal end; an inner member extendable through the delivery catheter from the proximal end to and through the device-containing region to and beyond the distal end of the delivery catheter, the inner member having a distal tip portion, a proximal portion, an intermediate portion disposed between the distal tip portion and the proximal portion, an inner tube extending longitudinally in the proximal, intermediate, and distal tip portions, and an outer tube disposed around and fixedly attached to the inner tube in the proximal portion; wherein the inner tube has a first flared proximal end and the outer tube has a second flared proximal end, the first flared proximal end positioned farther from the distal tip portion of the inner member on a lengthwise axis thereof than the second flared proximal end, and the first and second flared ends attached to each other so as to prevent relative movement between the inner and outer tubes; and wherein the outer tube terminates in a distal end proximal to the intermediate portion, the distal end sized approximating the inner lumen of the delivery catheter at least through the device-containing region and that engages a medical device when the medical device is positioned around the intermediate portion and in the device-containing region of the delivery catheter; wherein the intermediate portion is extendable through the device-containing region of the delivery catheter and wherein the proximal portion includes a proximal end region and the outer tube includes an outer surface with a recess communicating with the intermediate portion and extending from the proximal end region to and including the distal end of the outer tube to form a lumen in combination with the delivery catheter through which hydration of a medical device positioned around the intermediate portion and in the device-containing region of the delivery catheter can occur; and wherein the delivery catheter is capable of being withdrawn relative to the inner member while the inner member, including the inner and outer tubes thereof, is maintained in a stationary position.