Patent Description:
This invention generally relates to intravascular medical device systems that navigable through body vessels of a human subject. More particularly, this invention relates to delivery systems and delivery members for delivering and deploying an implantable medical device to a target location of a body vessel and methods of using the same.

The use of catheter delivery systems for positioning and deploying therapeutic devices, such as dilation balloons, stents, and embolic coils, in the vasculature of the human body has become a standard procedure for treating endovascular diseases. It has been found that such devices are particularly useful in treating areas where traditional operational procedures are impossible or pose a great risk to the patient, for example in the treatment of aneurysms in cranial blood vessels. Due to the delicate tissue surrounding cranial blood vessels, e.g. brain tissue, it can be difficult and often risky to perform surgical procedures to treat defects of the cranial blood vessels. Advancements in catheter-based implant delivery systems have provided an alternative treatment in such cases. Some of the advantages of catheter delivery systems are that they provide methods for treating blood vessels by an approach that has been found to reduce the risk of trauma to the surrounding tissue, and they also allow for treatment of blood vessels that in the past would have been considered inoperable.

Typically, these procedures involve inserting a delivery catheter into the vasculature of a patient and guiding it through the vasculature to a predetermined delivery site. A vascular occlusion device, such as an embolic coil, can be attached to an implant engagement/deployment system at a distal end a of a delivery member which pushes the coil through the delivery catheter and out of the distal end of the delivery catheter into the delivery site. Example delivery members and engagement/deployment systems are described in <CIT>, published as <CIT>, now <CIT> and <CIT>, published as <CIT>, now <CIT>.

Some of the challenges that have been associated with properly executing such treatment procedures include ensuring the delivery member and engagement system remain in a stable position throughout a treatment. For example, in some aneurysm treatment applications, as the aneurysm becomes increasingly packed with embolic material, the delivery member can tend to shift due to increasing pushback from the embolic material being implanted. If the delivery member shifts during treatment, a physician may not be able to accurately control placement of embolic material and may choose to cease packing the aneurysm. In such an example, the aneurysm may not be sufficiently packed, which can lead to recanalization. Further, excessive movement or stretching of the delivery member and/or engagement system thereon can result in premature detachment of the embolic coil.

There is therefore a need for improved methods, devices, and systems to provide an implant delivery member and implant engagement system with increased stability. The disclosure of <CIT> provides a delivery member for delivering a deploying an intravascular medical device. The disclosure of <CIT> provides a medical device for placement at a predetermined location within a passageway of the human body.

The presently claimed invention provides a delivery member according to claim <NUM> and a method of constructing a delivery member according to claim <NUM>. Further developments of the herein claimed invention are described in the dependent claims.

It is an object of the present invention to provide systems, devices, and methods to meet the above-stated needs. Generally, it is an object of the present invention to provide a delivery member for delivering and deploying an implantable medical device having a flexible distal portion.

Stiffness of the distal portion of the delivery member can cause the microcatheter used for delivery of the embolic material to pull back out of the aneurysm as the distal end of the delivery member is advanced through the tortuous distal anatomy. If the microcatheter pulls back while advancing the embolic material, the microcatheter may come out of the aneurysm and the physician may lose control of the embolic coil and not be able to accurately control placement of embolic material and may not be able to complete treatment.

Flexibility can be provided by incorporating a length of wound coil along the distal portion of the delivery member. The wound coil can be protected by a flexible polymer sleeve positioned around the outside of the coil. The wound coil can be inhibited from elongating by a stretch resistant tube affixed to hypotubes on either end of the wound coil.

An example delivery member for delivering an implantable medical device to a target location of a body vessel can include a distal hypotube, a flexible tubular section, a proximal hypotube, a flexible sleeve covering the flexible tubular section, and a stretch resistant member extending across the flexible section. The flexible tubular section can be configured to stretch longitudinally absent the presence of the stretch resistant member. The distal hypotube, flexible tubular section, and proximal hypotube can form a contiguous tubular structure having a lumen therethrough. The flexible sleeve can cover some or all of the flexible tubular section to prevent radial expansion of the flexible tubular section and to promote the ability of the flexible tubular section to slide through vasculature. The stretch resistant member can be affixed to the proximal hypotube and the distal hypotube, thereby extending across the entirety of the flexible tubular section. The stretch resistant member can be positioned outside of the lumen. The flexible sleeve can be affixed to the flexible tubular section and can be fused through openings in the flexible tubular section to the stretch resistant member.

The delivery member can also include an engagement system that can move to engage and deploy the implantable medical device. The engagement system can include a loop wire and a pull wire. The loop wire can extend through an opening in the implantable medical device and the pull wire can be engaged to the loop wire, thereby engaging the engagement system to the implantable medical device. The pull wire can be positioned within the lumen of the delivery member and can be retracted proximally to disengage the loop wire. Once disengaged from the pull wire, the loop wire can be movable to retract from the opening in the implantable medical device, thereby deploying the implantable medical device.

At least a portion of the distal hypotube can be compressed and can elongate upon movement of the engagement system when the engagement system is moved to deploy the implantable medical device.

The flexible tubular section can include a non-radiopaque proximal coil, a non-radiopaque distal coil, and a radiopaque central coil positioned between the non-radiopaque coils.

The flexible tubular section can be made from a wire wound to define a portion of the lumen of the delivery member. The wire from which the flexible tubular is made can have a cross-sectional diameter measuring from about <NUM> mil to about <NUM> mil.

The flexible sleeve can include a polymer. The flexible sleeve can include additives to increase lubricity of the polymer.

The flexible sleeve can be affixed to the proximal hypotube and the distal hypotube. The flexible sleeve configured thusly can thereby cover the entirety of the coiled section and at least a portion of the proximal hypotube and/or at least a portion of the distal hypotube.

The stretch resistant member can be an extruded tube.

The flexible tubular section and the distal hypotube can have a length measured from the proximal end of the flexible tubular to the distal end of the distal hypotube that measures between about <NUM> and about <NUM>, or more specifically, about <NUM>.

The proximal hypotube can include a spiral cut portion near its distal end.

The delivery member can include a contiguous hypotube which includes the distal hypotube, the proximal hypotube, and the flexible tubular section. The flexible tubular section can have a spiral cut.

An example method for designing or constructing a delivery member such as the example above can include the steps of selecting a first hypotube and a second hypotube, forming a wire coil section between the two hypotubes, extending a stretch resistant member through the lumen of the wire coil section, affixing the stretch resistant member to the first and second hypotubes, selecting a flexible sleeve, covering the flexible tubular section with the flexible sleeve, fusing the flexible sleeve to the stretch resistant tube through openings of the flexible tubular section, and attaching the implantable medical device to the distal end of the first hypotube such that the implantable medical device can be detached from the first hypotube during a treatment.

Another example method for designing or constructing a delivery member such as the example above can include the steps of selecting a first hypotube with a first lumen, selecting a second hypotube with a second lumen, forming a flexible tubular section between the two hypotubes having a third lumen therethrough, extending a stretch resistant member outside of the first, second, and third lumen, affixing a distal portion of the stretch resistant member to the first hypotube and affixing a proximal portion of the stretch resistant member to the second hypotubes, selecting a flexible sleeve, covering the flexible tubular section with the flexible sleeve, fusing the flexible sleeve to the stretch resistant tube through openings of the flexible tubular section, and attaching the implantable medical device to the distal end of the first hypotube such that the implantable medical device can be detached from the first hypotube during a treatment.

The step of forming the wire coil section can include forming a non-radiopaque proximal coil, forming a non-radiopaque distal coil, and forming a radiopaque central coil extending between the non-radiopaque proximal coil and non-radiopaque distal coil. Alternatively, the wire coil section need not include a radiopaque section. The step of forming the wire coil section can additionally or alternatively include selecting a wire having a diameter measuring about <NUM> mil to about <NUM> mil and winding the wire to form the wire coil section and to define the lumen of the wire coil section.

The step of selecting the flexible sleeve can include selecting a polymer sleeve having additives to increase lubricity of the polymer.

The step of extending the stretch resistant member through the wire coil lumen can include extending a substantially tubular stretch resistant member through the wire coil lumen.

The step of attaching the implantable medical device to the first hypotube can include compressing the first hypotube and attaching the implantable medical device to the distal end of the compressed first hypotube.

The example method for designing or constructing a delivery member can further include positioning a loop wire within the lumen of the first hypotube and positioning a pull wire to extend through lumens of the first hypotube, wire coil section, and the second hypotube. The step of attaching the implantable medical device can additionally or alternatively include extending the loop wire through an opening in the implantable medical device and engaging the pull wire to a portion of the loop wire extended through the opening of the implantable medical device. The step of attaching the implantable medical device can additionally or alternatively include positioning the pull wire to extend proximally from a proximal end of the second hypotube.

Another example method for designing or constructing a delivery member such as the example above can include the steps of spiral cutting a hypotube to form a coiled section in the hypotube such that a distal hypotube section extends distally from the coiled section and a proximal hypotube section extends proximally from the coiled section, extending a stretch resistant tube through a lumen of the coiled section, positioning a flexible sleeve over at least a majority of an outer surface of the coiled section, fusing the flexible sleeve to the stretch resistant tube between windings of the coiled section, and attaching the implantable medical device to the delivery member approximate a distal end of the distal hypotube section.

The example method can further include affixing the stretch resistant tube to the proximal hypotube portion within a lumen of the proximal hypotube portion and affixing the stretch resistant tube to the distal hypotube portion within a lumen of the distal hypotube portion.

The example method can further include extending a pull wire through a lumen of the stretch resistant tube such that the implantable medical device is release upon proximal translation of the pull wire.

The above and further aspects of this invention are further discussed with reference to the following description in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which like numerals indicate like structural elements and features in various figures. The drawings are not necessarily to scale, emphasis instead being placed upon illustrating principles of the invention. The figures depict one or more implementations of the inventive devices, by way of example only, not by way of limitation.

During an intravascular treatment, for instance, an aneurysm occlusion treatment, lack of flexibility of a distal portion of a treatment device delivery member can cause the delivery member to pull back from the treatment site or otherwise move out of position while an implant or other medical treatment device is being placed in an aneurysm or other treatment site. A delivery member and engagement system having a more flexible distal portion can therefore provide a stable system for delivering medical devices in neurovascular anatomy in addition to other applications facing a similar challenge. Flexible structures, however, can tend deform, extend, or expand when navigating tortuous anatomy. Deformation of the delivery member can inhibit the delivery member's ability to navigate to a treatment site and/or effectively deploy the medical device. Elongation of the delivery member can result in premature deployment of the medical device.

An object of the present invention is to provide a delivery member having a highly flexible distal portion that is stretch resistant and structurally stable throughout delivery and deployment of a medical treatment device. For ease of discussion, medical treatment devices are generally referred to herein as an "implant" although, as will be appreciated and understood by a person of ordinary skill in the art, aspects of the present invention can be applied to deliver and deploy medical treatment devices that are not left implanted.

According to the present invention, in some examples, the highly flexible distal portion of the delivery member can include a coiled wire, an outer sleeve, and an inner stretch resistant member. The coiled wire can be formed of a substantially linear wire that is wound in a coil shape and/or a hypotube that is laser cut in a spiral pattern. If the coiled wire is formed from a laser cut hypotube, the spiral can be absent interference cuts connecting windings in the coil so as to provide a more flexible coil. The outer sleeve can inhibit the coiled wire from deforming radially and/or provide a smooth surface against which vascular walls can slide during delivery of an implant. The stretch resistant member can inhibit elongation of the coiled wire during delivery of the implant. The combination of the coiled wire, outer sleeve, and stretch resistant member can therefore provide a distal portion of a delivery member having greater flexibility and greater stability than at least some known delivery members.

Turning to the figures, as illustrated in <FIG>, an example delivery member <NUM> can include a proximal tube <NUM>, a coiled section <NUM>, a distal tube <NUM>, a sleeve <NUM> surrounding the coiled section, and a stretch resistant member <NUM> within the lumen of the coiled section <NUM>. The proximal tube <NUM> can extend a majority of the length of the delivery member <NUM> with the coiled section <NUM> and distal tube <NUM> forming a length sufficient to absorb a majority of push-back that can occur during placement of an implant at a treatment site. In some examples, the length can measure between about <NUM> and about <NUM>, or more specifically, about <NUM>. The proximal tube <NUM> can have a distal end <NUM> that is connected to a proximal end <NUM> of the coiled section <NUM>, and the coiled section <NUM> can have a distal end <NUM> that is connected to a proximal end <NUM> of the distal coil <NUM>.

<FIG> is a cross sectional view of the sleeve <NUM>. <FIG> is a cross sectional view of the stretch resistant member <NUM>. <FIG> is a cross sectional view of the assembled proximal tube <NUM>, coiled section <NUM>, and distal tube <NUM>.

The coiled section <NUM> can be formed separately from the proximal hypotube <NUM> and/or the distal hypotube <NUM>. The separately formed coiled section <NUM> can be affixed with welds <NUM>, <NUM> or other appropriate attachment to the proximal tube <NUM> and/or the distal tube <NUM>. Alternatively, or additionally, at least a portion of the coiled section can be formed from a spiral laser cut portion of a hypotube. A separately formed coiled section <NUM> can be made more flexible compared to a spiral cut tube by selecting a wire with a particular cross section with a particular diameter D, or by selecting a wire with material properties to increase flexibility. Conversely, a laser cut portion can be more easily fabricated by cutting a single hypotube to form the proximal tube <NUM>, coiled section <NUM>, and distal hypotube <NUM>, reducing or eliminating welds <NUM>, <NUM> or other attachments. In either case, the wire of the coil <NUM> can have a diameter D measuring within a range including about <NUM> (<NUM> mils) and <NUM> (<NUM> mils).

The coiled section can be formed primarily of a non-radiopaque material such as steel and can include a radiopaque section <NUM> made of a radiopaque material such as platinum and/or tungsten. The radiopaque section <NUM> can be positioned between a proximal, non-radiopaque section of the coil <NUM> and a distal, non-radiopaque section of the coil <NUM>. The radiopaque section <NUM> can be positioned a predetermined distance from a distal end <NUM> of the delivery member <NUM> so that a physician can readily visualize the placement of the distal portion of the delivery member during a treatment procedure. The proximal section <NUM>, radiopaque section <NUM>, and distal section <NUM> can be concentrically welded.

The coiled section <NUM> can be surrounded by a flexible sleeve or fused jacket <NUM>, referred generically herein as a "sleeve". The sleeve can inhibit the coil <NUM> from expanding radially and/or from engaging vascular walls during navigation. The sleeve <NUM> can include a polymer. The polymer can include additives to increase the lubricity of the sleeve <NUM> so that the sleeve can easily slide through a body vessel. As illustrated in <FIG>, the sleeve <NUM> can have a wall thickness T measuring within a range including about <NUM> (<NUM> mils) and about <NUM> (<NUM> mils). The sleeve <NUM> can have a wall thickness measuring from about <NUM> (<NUM> inch) to about <NUM> (<NUM> inch). The sleeve <NUM> can further be coated with a hydrophilic coating to further minimize friction during intravascular navigation. The sleeve <NUM> can be fused or glued to the coil <NUM>, the proximal hypotube <NUM>, and/or the distal hypotube <NUM>. The flexible sleeve <NUM> can be fused through openings of the coil <NUM> to the stretch resistant member <NUM>.

The stretch resistant member <NUM> can be positioned to inhibit elongation of the coil <NUM> during intravascular navigation. The stretch resistant member <NUM> can include a tube sized to fit within the lumen <NUM> of the coil <NUM>. The stretch resistant tube <NUM> can also be sized to extend through the entirety of the length of the coil <NUM>, extend with a lumen <NUM> of the proximal tube <NUM> and within the lumen <NUM> of the distal coil <NUM>. The stretch resistant member <NUM> can be attached to the proximal tube <NUM> and the distal tube <NUM> at adhesive joints <NUM>, <NUM> or other appropriate attachment. The stretch resistant member <NUM> can remain unattached to the coiled section <NUM> such that the stretch resistant member <NUM> and coiled section <NUM> are able to move independently from each other to some extent.

The delivery member <NUM> can include a mechanical engagement system for engaging a medical treatment device during delivery to a treatment site that can be actuated mechanically to deploy the treatment device. Mechanically actuated engagement systems often include one or more inner elongated members or pull wires extending through the delivery member that can be manipulated at the proximal end by a physician to deploy a medical treatment device. Such a wire or inner elongated member is referred to herein generically as a "pull wire".

<FIG> illustrate the delivery member <NUM> including a mechanical engagement system including a pull wire <NUM> and a loop wire <NUM> that can be positioned to secure an implant or other medical treatment device to the delivery member <NUM> and can be moved to release the medical treatment device from the delivery member <NUM>. The loop wire <NUM> can be affixed to the distal tube <NUM> with a weld <NUM> or other or other suitable attachment. The stretch resistant member <NUM> can be sized to allow a pull wire <NUM> to pass through the lumens <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM> of the proximal tube <NUM>, coiled section <NUM>, and distal tube <NUM>. For instance, the stretch resistant member <NUM> can be tubular, having a lumen therethrough, and the pull wire <NUM> can extend through the lumen of the tubular stretch resistant member <NUM>. During manufacture of the stretch resistant member <NUM>, the stretch resistant member <NUM> can be extruded over the pull wire <NUM>.

The combination of the coil <NUM>, sleeve <NUM>, and stretch resistant member <NUM> can provide a highly flexible distal portion of a delivery member <NUM> suitable for navigating tortuous anatomy, including neurovascular blood vessels. The stretch resistant member <NUM> can support the coil <NUM> to prevent the coil <NUM> from significantly extending during navigation of a blood vessel, thereby reducing tension on a pull wire <NUM> extending therethrough and reducing the likelihood of premature deployment of an attached medical treatment device.

The proximal tube <NUM> can include a flexible section <NUM> having material removed to increase flexibility of the flexible section <NUM>. The flexible section <NUM> can be cut in a spiral pattern. The spiral pattern of the flexible section <NUM> can lack interference cuts connecting windings within the spiral. The stretch resistant member <NUM> can extend through the flexible section <NUM> and be attached to the proximal tube <NUM> in the proximal direction from the flexible section <NUM>. The stretch resistant member <NUM> can thereby inhibit elongation of the flexible section <NUM> of the proximal tube <NUM> and coiled section <NUM>. The sleeve <NUM> can cover at least a portion of the flexible section <NUM> to inhibit deformation of the flexible section and/or reduce friction with vasculature and the flexible section <NUM> during intravascular navigation. In some examples, the sleeve <NUM> can cover about <NUM> of the proximal tube <NUM> approximate and/or including the distal end <NUM> of the proximal tube <NUM>.

The distal tube <NUM> can include a compressible portion <NUM>. The compressible portion <NUM> can be axially adjustable between an elongated condition and a compressed condition. The compressed portion <NUM> can be formed from a spiral-cut portion of the tube <NUM>, formed by a laser cutting operation. Additionally, or alternatively, the compressible portion can be formed of a wound wire, spiral ribbon, or other arrangement allowing axial adjustment according to the present invention. Preferably, the compressible portion <NUM> is in the elongated condition at rest and automatically or resiliently returns to the elongated condition from a compressed condition, unless otherwise constrained.

<FIG>, illustrate the detachment of the medical device <NUM> using a mechanical engagement/deployment system. <FIG> illustrates the engagement system <NUM>, <NUM> locked into the locking portion <NUM> of the medical device <NUM>. The compressible portion <NUM> of the distal tube <NUM> can be compressed and the loop wire <NUM> opening <NUM> at a distal end <NUM> of the loop wire <NUM> can be placed through the locking portion <NUM>. When the pull wire <NUM> is put through the opening <NUM> the medical device <NUM> is now secure. <FIG> illustrates the pull wire <NUM> being drawn proximally to begin the release sequence for the medical device <NUM>. <FIG> illustrates the instant the pull wire <NUM> exits the opening <NUM> and is pulled free of the loop wire <NUM>. The distal end <NUM> of the loop wire <NUM> falls away and exits the locking portion <NUM>. As can be seen, there is now nothing holding the medical device <NUM> to the detachment system <NUM>. <FIG> illustrates the end of the release sequence. Here, the compressible portion <NUM> has extended/returned to its original shape and "sprung" forward. An elastic force E is imparted by the distal end <NUM> of the distal tube <NUM> to the medical device <NUM> to "push" it away to ensure a clean separation and delivery of the medical device <NUM>.

Illustrations in the above-described figures depict generally hollow or tubular structures <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM> according to the present invention. When used herein, the terms "tubular" and "tube" are to be construed broadly and are not limited to a structure that is a right cylinder or strictly circumferential in cross-section or of a uniform cross-section throughout its length. For example, the tubular structure or system is generally illustrated as a substantially right cylindrical structure. However, the tubular system may have a tapered or curved outer surface without departing from the scope of the present invention.

<FIG> is a flow diagram including method steps for constructing or designing a delivery member such as the example delivery members described herein. Referring to the method <NUM> outlined in <FIG>, in step <NUM>, a first hypotube, a second hypotube, a flexible sleeve, a wire coil, and a stretch resistant member can be selected. The first hypotube can be a proximal hypotube <NUM> as described herein or as would otherwise be known to a person of ordinary skill in the art. The second hypotube can be a distal hypotube <NUM> as described herein or as would otherwise be known to a person of ordinary skill in the art. The flexible sleeve can be a sleeve or fused jacket <NUM> as described herein or as otherwise known to a person of ordinary skill in the art. The wire coil can include the support coil, coiled section <NUM> as described herein or as otherwise known to a person of ordinary skill in the art. The stretch resistant member can be a stretch resistant member <NUM> as described herein or as otherwise known to a person of ordinary skill in the art.

In step <NUM>, the stretch resistant member can be positioned in the lumen of the wire coil. In step <NUM>, the stretch resistant member that is positioned can be substantially tubular. In step <NUM>, the first hypotube, wire coil, and second hypotube can be attached to each other. In step <NUM>, the stretch resistant member is attached to the first hypotube and the second hypotube. The first hypotube, wire coil, and second hypotube can be attached as illustrated and described herein or by other means as would be understood by a person of ordinary skill in the art. Steps <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM> need not be performed in that order and can be performed simultaneously. For instance, the stretch resistant member can be attached to one of the first and second hypotubes as indicated in step <NUM>, then the hypotube to which the stretch resistant member is attached can be attached to the wire coil as indicated in step <NUM>, then the stretch resistant member can be positioned through the wire coil as indicated in step <NUM>, then the other of the hypotubes can be attached to the wire coil as indicated in step <NUM>, then the stretch resistant member can be attached to that other hypotube as indicated in step <NUM>.

In step <NUM>, the wire coil can be covered with the flexible sleeve. The flexible sleeve can cover some or all of the outer surface of the wire coil. Step <NUM> can also include the step of fusing the flexible sleeve to the wire coil and/or otherwise affixing the flexible sleeve to the delivery member. Step <NUM> can also include the step of fusing the flexible sleeve to the stretch resistant member. If the second hypotube has a flexible section, in step <NUM>, the flexible sleeve can also be positioned to cover at least a portion of the flexible section.

In step <NUM>, an implant can be detachably attached to the distal end of the first hypotube. In step <NUM>, the implant can be attached by positioning a loop wire within the first hypotube, positioning a pull wire to extend through the first hypotube, coiled wire, and second hypotube, and securing the implant with the loop wire and the pull wire. The pull wire can be extended from the proximal end of the second hypotube. If the first hypotube has a compressible portion, in step <NUM>, the compressible portion can be compressed, and the implant can be attached to delivery member while the compressible portion is compressed.

<FIG> is a flow diagram including method steps for administering an intravascular treatment using a system including a delivery member such as the example delivery members described herein. Referring to the method <NUM> outlined in <FIG>, in step <NUM> a system having a distal hypotube, proximal hypotube, coiled section co-axially positioned in between the hypotubes, a flexible sleeve covering the coiled section, a stretch resistant member positioned within the coiled section, and a medical treatment device attached to or near the distal hypotube can be selected. The system can be suitable for intravascular treatments such as described and illustrated herein or as otherwise known to a person of ordinary skill in the art.

In step <NUM>, the system can be moved through a catheter to a treatment site such as the site of an aneurysm or other abnormality in a blood vessel. In step <NUM>, the system can be flexed as it is moved through the catheter. In step <NUM>, the coiled section of the system can be prevented from deforming by the flexible sleeve and the stretch resistant member; the flexible sleeve can inhibit the coiled section from deforming radially while the stretch resistant member can inhibit the coil from extending longitudinally.

In step <NUM>, the medical treatment device can be deployed. In the case that the medical treatment device is an implant, in step <NUM> the implant can be detached. In step <NUM>, the distal tube can extend to push the medical treatment device away from the distal tube. In the case that the medical treatment device is an implant detached in step <NUM>, in step <NUM>, the detached implant can be ejected away from the distal tube in response to the expansion of the distal tube.

<FIG> is an illustration of a cross section of a stretch resistant member <NUM> affixed to a distal hypotube <NUM> and a proximal hypotube <NUM> according to aspects of the present invention. The stretch resistant member <NUM> can be positioned to inhibit elongation of the flexible tubular section <NUM> during intravascular navigation. The stretch resistant member <NUM> can be positioned outside the lumen <NUM> of the flexible tubular section <NUM> and outside the lumen <NUM>, <NUM> of either or both of the proximal hypotube <NUM> and distal hypotube <NUM>. The stretch resistant member <NUM> can also be sized to extend along the entirety of the length of the flexible tubular section <NUM>, extend to the proximal hypotube <NUM> and extend to the distal hypotube <NUM>. The stretch resistant member <NUM> can be attached to the proximal tube <NUM> and the distal tube <NUM> at adhesive joints <NUM>, <NUM> or other appropriate attachment. The stretch resistant member <NUM> can remain unattached to the flexible tubular section <NUM> such that the stretch resistant member <NUM> and flexible tubular section <NUM> are able to move independently from each other, to some extent.

<FIG> is an illustration of a cross section of a flexible sleeve <NUM> positioned over the stretch resistant member <NUM> affixed to the distal hypotube <NUM> and the proximal hypotube <NUM> according to aspects of the present invention. The flexible sleeve <NUM> can have a wall thickness T measuring within a range including about <NUM> (<NUM> inch) to about <NUM> (<NUM> inch). The flexible sleeve <NUM> can further be coated with a hydrophilic coating to further minimize friction during intravascular navigation. The flexible sleeve <NUM> can be fused or glued to the flexible tubular section <NUM>, the proximal hypotube <NUM>, and/or the distal hypotube <NUM>, such that the flexible sleeve <NUM> prevents the flexible tubular section <NUM> from stretching while the delivery member <NUM> is manipulated in the vasculature, while also preserving the flexibility of the distal hypotube <NUM>. The flexible sleeve <NUM> can be fused through openings of the flexible tubular section <NUM>.

As illustrated in <FIG>, the sleeve <NUM> can have one or more stretch resistant fibers <NUM> positioned within a wall of the sleeve <NUM>. The stretch resistant fibers <NUM> can include polymeric fibers and/or metallic fibers. The stretch resistant fibers <NUM> can be oriented within the wall of the sleeve <NUM> in a linear orientation, as shown in <FIG>, or in one or more helical orientations, as shown in <FIG>. The stretch resistant fibers <NUM> can be incorporated into the wall of the sleeve <NUM> during the extrusion process of the fibered sleeve <NUM>. The fibered sleeve <NUM> can have a wall thickness T measuring within a range including about <NUM> (<NUM> inch) to about <NUM> (<NUM> inch). The fibered sleeve <NUM> can further be coated with a hydrophilic coating to further minimize friction during intravascular navigation.

<FIG> is an illustration of a cross section of a delivery member <NUM> according to aspects of the present invention. The fibered sleeve <NUM> can be fused or glued to the flexible tubular section <NUM>, the proximal hypotube <NUM>, and/or the distal hypotube <NUM>, such that the fibered sleeve <NUM> prevents the flexible tubular section <NUM> from stretching while the delivery member <NUM> is manipulated in the vasculature, while also preserving the flexibility of the distal hypotube <NUM>. The fibered sleeve <NUM> can also be fused through openings of the flexible tubular section <NUM>.

Claim 1:
A delivery member for delivering an implantable medical device to a target location of a body vessel, the delivery member comprising:
a distal hypotube (<NUM>) comprising a distal end (<NUM>) shaped to receive the implantable medical device;
a flexible tubular section (<NUM>) affixed to a proximal end (<NUM>) of the distal hypotube, the flexible tubular section comprising openings therethrough;
a proximal hypotube (<NUM>) affixed to a proximal end (<NUM>) of the flexible tubular section;
a lumen (<NUM>) extending through the distal hypotube, the flexible tubular section, and the proximal hypotube;
characterised by:
a stretch resistant member (<NUM>) positioned outside of the lumen, affixed to the proximal hypotube, affixed to the distal hypotube, and extending along at least a portion of an outer surface of the flexible tubular section; and
a flexible sleeve (<NUM>) covering at least a majority of the outer surface of the flexible tubular section and stretch resistant member.