Patent EA-003973-B1 (EA)
Title: Method and device provided with alignment member for delivering a non-symmetric device with a predefined orientation
Inventor: AMPLATZ KURT
IPC: A61B17/00
Filed: 2001-05-16
Abstract: 1. A delivery device suitable for delivering a collapsible medical device to a preselected region within a patient, said delivery device comprising: an elongated pusher catheter having a proximal end and a distal end, said distal end includes a distal tip having an alignment member adapted for mating with a connecting member of the collapsible device, wherein the orientation of the alignment member relative to a longitudinal axis of the elongated pusher catheter is predetermined. 2. The delivery device as recited in claim 1, wherein said pusher catheter includes a lumen extending through the elongated pusher catheter between the proximal end and distal end, and wherein said distal tip includes an aperture extending there through and aligned with said lumen. 3. The delivery device as recited in claim 2, further including a cable extending through the lumen of said pusher catheter, wherein a distal end of said cable is extendable through the aperture of the distal tip and coupleable to the collapsible medical device. 4. The delivery device as recited in claim 3, wherein the distal end of said cable includes a threaded outer surface. 5. The delivery device as recited in claim 1, wherein said alignment member has a semicircular shape. 6. The delivery device as recited in claim 1, wherein the orientation of the connecting member of the collapsible medical device relative to a shape of the collapsible device is preset. 7. The delivery device as recited in claim1, wherein the mating between the alignment member and connecting member inhibits the collapsible medical device from rotating about the distal tip. 8. A delivery device suitable for delivering a collapsible medical device to a preselected region within a patient, said delivery device comprising: an elongated pusher catheter having a proximal end and a distal end, said distal end includes a distal tip having means for aligning a connecting member of the collapsible medical device in a predetermined orientation relative to the distal tip, said distal tip further including means for mating the distal tip with said connecting member, wherein the predetermined orientation relative to the distal tip is further set relative to a bend fixed in the pusher catheter. 9. The delivery device as recited in claim 8, wherein said pusher catheter includes a lumen extending through the elongated pusher catheter between the proximal end and distal end, and wherein said distal tip includes an aperture extending therethrough and aligned with said lumen. 10. The delivery device as recited in claim 9, further including a cable extending through the lumen of said pusher catheter, wherein a distal end of said cable is extendable through the aperture of the distal tip and coupleable to the collapsible medical device. 11. The delivery device as recited in claim 10, wherein the distal end of said cable includes a threaded outer surface. 12. The delivery device as recited in claim 8, wherein said means for aligning includes a semicircular shape. 13. The delivery device as recited in claim 8, wherein the orientation of the connecting member of the collapsible medical device relative to a shape of the collapsible device is preset. 14. The delivery device as recited in claim 8, wherein mating between the means for aligning and the connecting member inhibits the collapsible device from rotating about the distal tip. 15. A method for delivering a non-symmetric medical device within a patient, wherein the orientation of the device is predefined, said method comprising the steps of : a. coupling a non-symmetric medical device to an elongated pusher catheter having a proximal end and a distal end, said distal end including a distal tip having an alignment member adapted for mating with a connecting member of the non-symmetric device, wherein the orientation of the alignment member relative to a bend fixed in the pusher catheter is preset; b. positioning a sheath within the patient's body vessel, wherein a distal end of said sheath is proximate a desired site of delivery, said sheath having a bend fixed therein corresponding to a shape of the vessel proximate the desired site of delivery; c. loading said non-symmetric medical device and said pusher catheter into a sheath by connecting said alignment member which is relative to a curve in said pusher catheter; d. delivering said non-symmetric medical device to the desired site.