Method for fitting an implant to a catheter

Abstract

A system and a method for crimping a heart valve prosthesis onto a catheter shaft. The system comprises two components (1, 2) which receive the heart valve prosthesis (12) and are inserted into one another in the direction (14) in order to crimp the heart valve prosthesis (12).

Claims

1. A method of compressing an intraluminal implant for fitting to a catheter shaft, the method comprising: providing at least two components, each component comprising a rationally symmetrical space tapered along a longitudinal axis of symmetry, wherein the at least two components are tapered in opposite directions; positioning an intraluminal implant longitudinally within either of the spaces, wherein the implant is an artificial valve comprising a self-expanding main body or a self-expanding stent; and moving the at least two components into one another along the longitudinal axis in such a way that a space enclosed jointly by the least two components reduces while also flowing a fluid through the implant along the longitudinal axis thereby reducing the diameter of the implant.

2. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the rationally symmetrical space tapering along the axis of symmetry is a cone.

3. The method as claimed in claim 2, wherein conical spaces move into one another in such a way that the space enclosed by the least two components becomes increasingly smaller.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein a first of the at least two components comprises a plurality of recesses and a second of the at least two components comprises longitudinally extending finger shapings that fit longitudinally through the recesses during the movement.

5. A method of compressing an intraluminal implant for fitting to a catheter, the method comprising: providing at least two components, each component comprising a rotationally symmetrical space tapered in opposite directions along a longitudinal axis of symmetry; positioning an intraluminal implant longitudinally within either of the spaces, wherein the implant is an artificial valve comprising a self-expanding main body or a self-expanding stent; and moving the at least two components into one another along the longitudinal axis in such a way that a space enclosed jointly by the at least two components reduces while also flowing a fluid through the implant along the longitudinal axis thereby reducing the diameter of the implant; wherein at least one component has a mandrel which is oriented centrally in the space enclosed by the component in such a way the valves of the artificial heart valve rest against the mandrel during the movement of the at least two components into one another.

Description

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) The invention will be explained in greater detail hereinafter on the basis of the exemplary embodiment of the invention illustrated in the figures, in which:

(2) FIG. 1 shows an exemplary embodiment of the system according to the invention with two components, wherein both components are illustrated in the separated state,

(3) FIG. 2 shows the exemplary embodiment from FIG. 1 in the state in which both components are inserted fully into one another, and

(4) FIGS. 3a-cshow an embodiment of the method according to the invention with the exemplary embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2 of the system according to the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

(5) The figures illustrate an exemplary embodiment of the system according to the invention, which consists of two components. FIG. 1 shows the two components 1 and 2 in the separated state, whereas in FIG. 2 the two components 1 and 2 have been moved into one another.

(6) Component 1 is cylindrical and encloses, in the interior, a space which is formed from a cylinder and a cone (not illustrated in FIGS. 1-2). Component 2 consists of a grip 3 and shapings 5. A space is enclosed by the shapings 5 of the component 2 and is formed from a cylinder 4 and a cone 7. Component 1 has recesses 6, which are shaped in such a way that they can receive the shapings 5 of component 2.

(7) As illustrated in FIG. 2, the components 1 and 2 can be moved toward one another and into one another, wherein the movement of the components 1 and 2 into one another is performed in a guided manner as a result of the recesses 6 in component 1 and the correspondingly shaped shapings 5 of component 2.

(8) Both the cylindrical space 4 enclosed by the component 2 and the conical space 7 are rotationally symmetrical. The axis of symmetry runs through the central axis of the grip 3. The cylindrical space enclosed by the component 1 and the conical space enclosed by the component 1 (not illustrated in FIGS. 1-2) are likewise rotationally symmetrical, wherein the axis of symmetry here coincides with the central axis of the cylindrical component 1.

(9) In FIGS. 3a to 3c, the two components 1, 2 from FIGS. 1 and 2 are each illustrated in section along the axis of symmetry. An exemplary embodiment of the method according to the invention for fitting an intraluminal implant 12 to a catheter shaft (not illustrated) will be described hereinafter with reference to FIGS. 3a-3c.

(10) FIG. 3a shows the starting situation. The intraluminal implant, in this example a heart valve prosthesis 12, is positioned in component 1. The cylindrical space 10 enclosed by component 1 directly adjoins a conical space 9. A continuous opening 13, which reaches through component 1, is provided at the tip of the cone 9. The catheter shaft is inserted into the component 1 through this opening 13 along the arrow 14.

(11) At the start of the method, the component 1 and component 2 are moved toward one another along the longitudinal axis of the heart valve prosthesis 12. The components 1, 2 are oriented and moved toward one another here such that the longitudinal axis of the heart valve prosthesis 12, longitudinal axis of components 1, 2, the axes of symmetry of the conical spaces 7, 9 enclosed by the components 1, 2, and cylindrical spaces 4, 10 and the catheter axis are superimposed and are oriented along the arrow 14.

(12) FIG. 3b shows a method stage in which the two components 1 and 2 have already been moved into one another. At the moment shown in FIG. 3b, the space enclosed jointly by both components has already reduced. As the two components 1 and 2 moved toward one another in FIG. 3a, the space enclosed jointly by both components 1 and 2 comprised the cylindrical part 4 and the conical part 7 of component 2 and also the cylindrical part 10 and the conical part 9 of component 1. In the method stage of FIG. 3b, the space enclosed jointly by both components 1, 2 still only consists of the two conical parts 7 and 9.

(13) The catheter shaft was advanced in FIG. 3b along the arrow 14 into component 2. The diameter of the heart valve prosthesis 12 has already reduced in FIG. 3b.

(14) As can be seen in FIG. 3c, the space 7, 9 enclosed jointly by both components is continuously reduced until the heart valve prosthesis 12 is pressed and accordingly fitted onto the catheter shaft. The two components 1 and 2 are inserted here into one another as far as a stop (on the shaft 3, not illustrated). The catheter shaft with the heart valve prosthesis 12 fitted thereto is then removed from the system against the arrow 14. As the catheter shaft is removed, the heart valve prosthesis is secured on the shaft by means of a tube that is synchronously drawn over the heart valve prosthesis.

(15) The system and the method according to the invention lead to movements in the direction 14 of the longitudinal axis of the heart valve prosthesis 12. The valve is thus nestled against the catheter shaft, and the risk of tilting or creasing of the valve is minimized.

(16) In an embodiment of this exemplary embodiment, a volume flow can also additionally be introduced via the opening 13 or the shaft of the grip 3 and ensures a pre-orientation of the heart valve in the open position. The supply of the volume flow is dependent here on the orientation of the heart valve prosthesis 12 on the catheter.

(17) It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that numerous modifications and variations of the described examples and embodiments are possible in light of the above teaching. The disclosed examples and embodiments are presented for purposes of illustration only. Other alternate embodiments may include some or all of the features disclosed herein. Therefore, it is the intent to cover all such modifications and alternate embodiments as may come within the true scope of this invention.