Implant delivery system

Abstract

A delivery device includes a guide tool and an impact tool. The guide tool includes an elongate body formed with a longitudinal guide channel, whose inner perimeter is made to complement an outer contour of an implant. The elongate body is formed with a longitudinal impact-tool channel, whose inner perimeter is made to complement an outer contour of the impact tool.

Claims

1. A delivery device comprising: a guide tool and an impact tool, said guide tool comprising an elongate body formed with a longitudinal guide channel, whose inner perimeter is made to complement an outer contour of an implant, said elongate body being formed with a longitudinal impact-tool channel, whose inner perimeter is made to complement an outer contour of said impact tool, wherein said guide channel and said impact-tool channel overlap each other at a central portion of said elongate body, wherein said guide channel comprises first portions on opposite sides of a central longitudinal axis of said elongate body and second portions that extend perpendicularly from ends of said first portions distanced from said central longitudinal axis.

2. The delivery device according to claim 1, wherein said guide channel and said impact-tool channel are overlapping and perpendicular to each other at said central portion of said elongate body.

3. The delivery device according to claim 1, wherein a distal end of said guide tool is formed with distraction members, which protrude distally from the distal end of said guide tool.

4. The delivery device according to claim 1, wherein a guide tongue protrudes distally from a distal end of said guide tool.

5. The delivery device according to claim 1, wherein said impact tool comprises a proximal handle extending from a proximal end of a shaft, said handle being capable of receiving hammer blows to drive an implant into a body lumen.

6. The delivery device according to claim 1, wherein said guide channel comprises non-symmetrical portions on opposite sides of a central longitudinal axis of said elongate body.

7. The delivery device according to claim 1, wherein said impact-tool channel comprises first portions on opposite sides of a central longitudinal axis of said elongate body and second portions that extend perpendicularly from ends of said first portions distanced from said central longitudinal and said second portions of said guide channel are shaped differently than said second portions of said impact-tool channel.

8. A delivery device comprising: a guide tool and an impact tool, said guide tool comprising an elongate body formed with a longitudinal guide channel, whose inner perimeter is made to complement an outer contour of an implant, said elongate body being formed with a longitudinal impact-tool channel, whose inner perimeter is made to complement an outer contour of said impact tool, wherein said guide channel and said impact-tool channel overlap each other at a central portion of said elongate body, wherein said impact-tool channel comprises first portions on opposite sides of a central longitudinal axis of said elongate body and second portions that extend perpendicularly from ends of said first portions distanced from said central longitudinal axis.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) The present invention will be understood and appreciated more fully from the following detailed description, taken in conjunction with the drawings in which:

(2) FIG. 1 is a simplified pictorial illustration of a delivery device, constructed and operative in accordance with a non-limiting embodiment of the present invention, including a guide tool and an impact tool;

(3) FIG. 2 is a simplified pictorial illustration of the proximal end of the guide tool, showing an entry port for inserting the implant to be delivered;

(4) FIG. 3 is a simplified end-view illustration of the proximal end of the guide tool with an implant inserted therein;

(5) FIGS. 4A and 4B are simplified pictorial and side-view illustrations, respectively, of the distal end of the guide tool;

(6) FIG. 5 is a simplified pictorial illustration of the implant exiting the distal end of the guide tool;

(7) FIG. 6 is a simplified pictorial illustration of the impact tool of the delivery device; and

(8) FIG. 7 is a simplified pictorial illustration of a delivery device, showing the impact tool about to strike the implant inserted in the proximal end of the guide tool.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

(9) Reference is now made to FIG. 1, which illustrates a delivery device 10, constructed and operative in accordance with a non-limiting embodiment of the present invention. Delivery device 10 includes a guide tool 12 and an impact tool 14.

(10) As seen better in FIG. 2, guide tool 12 includes an elongate body (sleeve) 16 formed with a longitudinal guide channel 18, whose inner perimeter is made to complement the outer contour of an implant. The elongate body 16 is also formed with a longitudinal impact-tool channel 20, whose inner perimeter is made to complement the outer contour of impact tool 14. The guide channel 18 and the impact-tool channel 20 may overlap each other at a central portion of the elongate body 16.

(11) FIG. 3 illustrates an implant 25 inserted in guide channel 18 and impact tool 14 inserted in impact-tool channel 20.

(12) Reference is now made to FIGS. 4A and 4B, which illustrate a distal end of guide tool 12. The distal end may be formed with distraction members 22, which may be sharp or blunt lips that protrude distally from the distal end of guide tool 12. Optionally, a guide tongue 24 may protrude distally from the distal end of guide tool 12. The guide tongue 24 may help support and guide the implant upon emergence from the distal end of guide tool 12 (as seen in FIG. 5) and/or support and guide the impact tool 14 when it passes through the distal end of guide tool 12.

(13) Reference is now made to FIG. 6, which illustrates impact tool 14. Impact tool 14 has a proximal handle 26, a shaft 28 and a distal end 30. Handle 26, which extends from the proximal end of shaft 28, is capable of receiving hammer blows to drive the implant into a body lumen.

(14) Reference is now made to FIG. 7, which illustrates the delivery device, wherein impact tool 14 is poised to strike (impact against) the implant 25 inserted in the proximal end of guide tool 12.

(15) The motion of implant 25 through the sleeve is guided by the guide channel, which is designed to have a minor tolerance between its inner perimeter and the outer contour of implant 25, thereby preventing any kinking or breakage of implant 25.