PATCH DEPLOYMENT DEVICE

Abstract

The present invention provides a patch deployment device, the device comprising a pusher wire having a proximal end and a distal end; a plurality of deployment wires, wherein each deployment wire: has a first end and a second end, and the first end and the second end are connected to the distal end of the pusher wire; and is configured to be in an unexpanded state when positioned and constrained within a catheter, and configured to self-expand into an expanded state when positioned beyond a distal end of the catheter and not constrained, wherein in the expanded state at least a portion of the wire is positioned substantially within a plane that is substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the pusher wire and has an asymmetric form when viewed along a direction parallel to the longitudinal axis of the pusher wire.

Claims

1-41. (canceled)

42. A patch deployment device, the device comprising: a pusher wire having a proximal end and a distal end; a plurality of deployment wires, wherein each deployment wire: (i) has a first end and a second end, and the first end and the second end are connected to the distal end of the pusher wire; and (ii) is configured to be in an unexpanded state when positioned and constrained within a catheter, and configured to self-expand into an expanded state when positioned beyond a distal end of the catheter and not constrained, wherein in the expanded state at least a portion of the wire is positioned substantially within a plane that is substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the pusher wire and has an asymmetric form when viewed along a direction parallel to the longitudinal axis of the pusher wire.

43. The patch deployment device of claim 42, wherein the portion of the wire having an asymmetric form comprises a first curved portion and a second curved portion, wherein the first curved portion overlaps the second curved portion in a circumferential direction around the longitudinal axis of the pusher wire, and the first curved portion is convex and the second curved portion is concave, the first curved portion and the second curved portion being connected via a connecting portion.

44. The patch deployment device of claim 43, wherein the first curved portion comprises a minimum radius of curvature that is less than the minimum radius of curvature of the second curved portion.

45. The patch deployment device of claim 43, wherein the first curved portion comprises a minimum radius of curvature that is more than the minimum radius of curvature of the second curved portion.

46. The patch deployment device of claim 43, wherein each deployment wire of the plurality of deployment wires is arranged such that the first curved portion of the deployment wire overlaps the second curved portion of an adjacent deployment wire in a direction substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the pusher wire.

47. The patch deployment device of claim 42, wherein the at least a portion of each of the plurality of wires collectively form a patch applicator, wherein along a first direction that extends across the patch applicator when the plurality of deployment wires are in the expanded state, the distance of the patch applicator from a reference plane is substantially constant; and along a second direction that extends across the patch applicator when the plurality of deployment wires are in the expanded state, the distance of the patch applicator from the reference plane varies.

48. The patch deployment device of claim 47, wherein the reference plane is the plane perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the pusher wire.

49. A patch deployment device, the device comprising: a pusher wire having a proximal end and a distal end; a plurality of deployment wires, wherein each deployment wire: (i) has a first end and a second end, and the first end and the second end are connected to the distal end of the pusher wire; and (ii) is configured to be in an unexpanded state when positioned and constrained within a catheter, and configured to self-expand into an expanded state when positioned beyond a distal end of the catheter and not constrained; wherein at least a portion of each of the plurality of wires collectively form a patch applicator, wherein along a first direction that extends across the patch applicator when the plurality of deployment wires are in the expanded state, the distance of the patch applicator from a reference plane, which is perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the pusher wire, is substantially constant; and along a second direction that extends across the patch applicator when the plurality of deployment wires are in the expanded state, the distance of the patch applicator from the reference plane varies.

50. The patch deployment device of claim 49, wherein, in the expanded state, at least a portion of each of the plurality of wires has an asymmetric form when viewed along a direction parallel to the longitudinal axis of the pusher wire.

51. The patch deployment device of claim 49, wherein the first direction is perpendicular to the second direction.

52. The patch deployment device of claim 49, wherein, along the second direction, the distance of the patch applicator from the reference plane when the plurality of deployment wires are in the expanded state increases with increasing distance from the longitudinal axis of the pusher wire.

53. The patch deployment device of claim 49, wherein, when the plurality of deployment wires are in the expanded state, the patch applicator has a concave shape with respect to a point distal of the patch applicator.

54. The patch deployment device of claim 49, wherein when the plurality of deployment wires are in the expanded state, the patch applicator has a maximum diameter, D, and along the second direction, the distance of the patch applicator from the reference plane varies by more than 0.05 D.

55. The patch deployment device of claim 49, wherein when the plurality of deployment wires are in the expanded state, the patch applicator has a maximum diameter, D, and along the second direction, the distance of the patch applicator from the reference plane varies by less than 0.3 D.

56. The patch deployment device of claim 49, wherein the plurality of deployment wires when in the expanded state are arranged such that they collectively form a ring.

57. The patch deployment device of claim 56, wherein the plurality of wires when in the expanded state are arranged such that they collectively form a further ring, wherein the ring and the further ring are substantially concentric.

58. The patch deployment device of claim 49, wherein the plurality of deployment wires is movable from the unexpanded state within a catheter to the expanded state beyond the distal end of the catheter by moving the pusher wire.

59. The patch deployment device of claim 49, wherein each deployment wire of the plurality of deployment wires has the same form in the expanded state.

60. The patch deployment device of claim 49, wherein the plurality of deployment wires are arranged so as to be evenly distributed around the longitudinal axis of the pusher wire when in the expanded state.

61. The patch deployment device of claim 49, wherein the plurality of deployment wires comprises Nitinol.

62. The patch deployment device of claim 61, wherein the Nitinol has an austenite finish temperature of 28° C. or less.

63. The patch deployment device of claim 49, wherein the plurality of deployment wires comprises 20 deployment wires or fewer.

64. The patch deployment device of claim 49, wherein the plurality of deployment wires comprises 2 deployment wires or more.

65. The patch deployment device of claim 49, wherein the plurality of deployment wires comprises 8 deployment wires.

66. The patch deployment device of claim 49, wherein the plurality of deployment wires have a diameter of 0.127 mm or more.

67. The patch deployment device of claim 49, wherein the plurality of deployment wires have a diameter of 0.508 mm or less.

68. The patch deployment device of claim 49, wherein the plurality of deployment wires has a maximum diameter of 70 mm or less, when each deployment wire of the plurality of deployment wires is in the expanded state.

69. The patch deployment device of claim 49, wherein a further portion of each of the plurality of deployment wires is arranged along the longitudinal axis of the pusher wire such that at least 30% of the length of each of the plurality of deployment wires is arranged along the projection of the longitudinal axis of the pusher wire beyond the distal end of the pusher wire.

70. The patch deployment device of claim 49, wherein the catheter has a size of 30 Fr or less.

71. The patch deployment device of claim 49, wherein the catheter has a size of 6 Fr or greater.

72. The patch deployment device of claim 49, further comprising a patch releasably attached to the plurality of deployment wires.

73. The patch deployment device of claim 72, wherein the patch is attached to the plurality of deployment wires by a single thread, wherein the single thread is threaded through a plurality of loops associated with the patch.

74. The patch deployment device of claim 72, wherein the patch is bioabsorbable.

75. The patch deployment of claim 72, wherein the patch further comprises a bioabsorbable adhesive.

76. A patch deployment system, the system comprising: a pusher wire having a proximal end and a distal end; a plurality of deployment wires, wherein each deployment wire: (i) has a first end and a second end, and the first end and the second end are connected to the distal end of the pusher wire; and (ii) is configured to be in an unexpanded state when positioned and constrained within a catheter, and configured to self-expand into an expanded state when positioned beyond a distal end of the catheter and not constrained; a patch releasably attached to the plurality of deployment wires; wherein at least a portion of each of the plurality of wires collectively form a patch applicator, wherein along a first direction that extends across the patch applicator when the plurality of deployment wires are in the expanded state, the distance of the patch applicator from a reference plane, which is perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the pusher wire, is substantially constant; and along a second direction that extends across the patch applicator when the plurality of deployment wires are in the expanded state, the distance of the patch applicator from the reference plane varies.

77. The patch deployment system of claim 76, wherein the pusher wire can be movably positioned within the catheter.

78. The patch deployment system of claim 77, further comprising a funnel for use when drawing the plurality of deployment wires into the catheter from the expanded state into the unexpanded state.

79. A method of applying a patch comprising the following steps: (i) providing the patch deployment device with the plurality of deployment wires in the unexpanded state within the catheter; (ii) inserting the catheter into a patient so as to position the distal end of the catheter at a patch application site; (iii) moving the pusher wire to move the plurality of deployment wires from the unexpanded state within the catheter to the expanded state beyond the distal end of the catheter; (iv) applying a patch to the patch application site; (v) releasing the patch from the plurality of deployment wires; (vi) moving the pusher wire to move the plurality of deployment wires from the expanded state to the unexpanded state; and (vii) removing the catheter from the patient; and wherein the patch deployment device comprises: a pusher wire having a proximal end and a distal end; a plurality of deployment wires, wherein each deployment wire: a) has a first end and a second end, and the first end and the second end are connected to the distal end of the pusher wire; b) is configured to be in an unexpanded state when positioned and constrained within a catheter, and configured to self-expand into an expanded state when positioned beyond a distal end of the catheter and not constrained; and c) the patch releasably attached to the plurality of deployment wires; wherein at least a portion of each of the plurality of wires collectively form a patch applicator, wherein along a first direction that extends across the patch applicator when the plurality of deployment wires are in the expanded state, the distance of the patch applicator from a reference plane, which is perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the pusher wire, is substantially constant; and along a second direction that extends across the patch applicator when the plurality of deployment wires are in the expanded state, the distance of the patch applicator from the reference plane varies.

Description

[0078] The present invention will now be described with reference to the following figures.

[0079] FIG. 1 depicts a patch deployment system with the patch deployment device of the present invention;

[0080] FIG. 2 depicts detail of the patch deployment device of FIG. 1;

[0081] FIG. 3 depicts the plurality of deployment wires of the patch deployment device of the present invention viewed along the longitudinal axis of the pusher wire;

[0082] FIG. 4 depicts the plurality of deployment wires of FIG. 3 viewed perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the pusher wire;

[0083] FIG. 5 depicts the patch deployment device of the present invention viewed along the longitudinal axis of the pusher wire;

[0084] FIG. 6 depicts the patch deployment device of the present invention with a patch releasably attached;

[0085] FIG. 7 depicts the patch deployment device of the present invention with a patch releasably attached and a funnel at the distal end of the catheter;

[0086] FIG. 8 depicts a steerable catheter that is part of the patch deployment system of the present invention;

[0087] FIG. 9 depicts the patch deployment device of FIG. 8 where the deployment wires are being deployed;

[0088] FIG. 10 depicts the patch deployment device of FIG. 8, where the deployment wires are fully deployed;

[0089] FIG. 11 schematically depicts a cross section of the aorta with a tear in its wall;

[0090] FIG. 12 schematically depicts the patch deployment device of the present invention positioned adjacent a tear in the aorta wall;

[0091] FIG. 13 schematically depicts the patch deployment device in the expanded configuration and a patch applied to the tear in the aorta wall;

[0092] FIG. 14A and 14B depicts an alternative patch deployment system of the present invention with two catheters;

[0093] FIG. 15 depicts an alternative embodiment of the plurality of deployment wires of the patch deployment device of the present invention viewed along the longitudinal axis of the pusher wire;

[0094] FIG. 16 depicts the plurality of deployment wires of FIG. 15 viewed perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the pusher wire;

[0095] FIG. 17 depicts a further embodiment of the plurality of deployment wires of the patch deployment device of the present invention viewed along the longitudinal axis of the pusher wire;

[0096] FIG. 18 depicts the plurality of deployment wires of FIG. 17 viewed perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the pusher wire;

[0097] FIG. 19 depicts a further embodiment of the plurality of deployment wires of the patch deployment device of the present invention viewed along the longitudinal axis of the pusher wire;

[0098] FIG. 20 depicts the plurality of deployment wires of FIG. 19 viewed perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the pusher wire; and

[0099] FIG. 21a depicts the experimental set up for assessing the contact pressure provided by the patch deployment device; and

[0100] FIGS. 21b and 21c depict the results of the experiment depicted in FIG. 21a for the plurality of deployment wires of the form of FIGS. 15 and 19, respectively.

[0101] FIG. 1 depicts a patch deployment device 2 of the present invention. The patch deployment device 2 has a pusher wire 4 that extends the full length of catheter 6. There are a plurality of deployment wires 8 that are shown in the expanded state. The pusher wire 4 is connected to the deployment wires 8 at the distal end of the pusher wire 4. Further, the pusher wire 4 is shown protruding beyond the distal end of the catheter 6. This is shown in further detail in FIG. 2.

[0102] The expanded configuration of the deployment wires 8 is shown in greater detail in FIGS. 3 and 4. The plurality of deployment wires is made up of 8 separate deployment wires. Each of these deployment wires has a first and second end which is connected to the distal end of the pusher wire 4. In this way, each deployment wire forms a loop-like structure when viewed along the longitudinal axis of the pusher wire. Each deployment wire has a portion that lies substantially in a plane that is substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the pusher wire 4. This portion has an asymmetric form similar to a crescent shape. The asymmetric form has a first curved portion 10 and a second curved portion 12 connected by a connecting portion 14. The first curved portion 10 overlaps the second curved portion 12 in a circumferential direction around the longitudinal axis of the pusher wire 4. Also, the first curved portion 10 has a tighter curve shape than the second curved portion 12. This emphasises the asymmetric form of the deployment wire in the plane that is perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the pusher wire 4. The first curved portion 10 has a convex shape and the second curved portion 12 has a concave shape. Each of the first curved portions 10 overlap the second curved portion 12 of an adjacent deployment wire in a direction parallel to the longitudinal axis of the pusher wire 4. Overall, the plurality of deployment wires form a flower-like configuration where each deployment wire has the same form and is evenly distributed around the longitudinal axis of the pusher wire 4.

[0103] FIGS. 5 and 6 show the patch deployment device without a patch 16 attached and with a patch attached, respectively. The patch 16 is depicted as circular with a plurality of holes 18 in the patch 16 through which a single thread can be threaded in order to keep the patch 16 attached to the deployment device. The thread can be unthreaded from the holes from the proximal end of the device so as to release the patch 16 when it is adhered to the required application site.

[0104] FIG. 7 depicts the patch deployment device with a patch attached and a funnel 20 positioned so as to assist the drawing of the plurality of deployment wires 8 into the catheter 6. The funnel 20 is positioned at the distal end of the catheter 6 with the flared portion further from the distal end than the narrow portion. The use of the funnel 20 assists moving the patch deployment wires 8 from the expanded state to the unexpanded state.

[0105] FIGS. 8, 9 and 10 depict the sequence of the plurality of deployment wires 8 being pushed out of catheter 6. In particular, it can be seen that the plurality of deployment wires 8 moves from the unexpanded state within the catheter 6 to an expanded state outside the catheter 6 without requiring a significant amount of headspace around the distal end of the catheter 6. This is a particularly efficient way of deploying a patch in a patient.

[0106] A procedure utilising the patch deployment device will now be described in relation to FIGS. 11, 12 and 13.

[0107] FIG. 11 depicts part of the aorta 22 with a tear 24 in its wall. This results in blood flowing into a region known as a false lumen. FIG. 12 shows a catheter 6 being positioned near the tear in the wall 24, i.e. at the patch application site. FIG. 13 depicts the patch 16 having been applied to the tear 24 by being pressed onto the tear by the plurality of deployment wires 8. The patch deployment device can then be put into the unexpanded state and the catheter 6 removed from the aorta.

[0108] FIGS. 14A and 14B depict a further embodiment of the invention utilising an inner, applier catheter 26 with an associated handle 30 and an outer, guider catheter 28 with an associated handle 34. The pusher wire 4 is movably positioned within the applier catheter 26 and the applier catheter 26 is movably positioned within the guider catheter 28. The handle 30 associated with the applier catheter 26 has a slider 32 that is connected to the pusher wire 4 such that a distal movement of the slider 32, towards the far end of the applier catheter 26, results in a distal movement of the deployment wires 8 out of the distal end of the applier catheter and into the expanded state.

[0109] FIGS. 15 and 16 depict an alternative configuration of the deployment wires 36 in the expanded state. This configuration has a plurality of deployment wires where each deployment wire has the same form and is evenly distributed around the longitudinal axis of the pusher wire 4. Each of these deployment wires has a first and second end which is connected to the distal end of the pusher wire 4. In this way, each deployment wire forms a loop-like structure when viewed along the longitudinal axis of the pusher wire 4. Each deployment wire has a portion that lies substantially in a plane that is substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the pusher wire 4. This portion has an asymmetric form similar to a crescent shape. The asymmetric form has a first curved portion 38 and a second curved portion 40 connected by a connecting portion 42. The first curved portion 38 overlaps the second curved portion 40 in a circumferential direction around the longitudinal axis of the pusher wire 4. Also, the second curved portion 40 has a tighter curve shape than the first curved portion 38. This emphasises the asymmetric form of the deployment wire in the plane that is perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the pusher wire 4. The first curved portion 38 has a convex shape and the second curved portion 40 has a concave shape. Each of the first curved portions 38 overlaps the second curved portion 40 of an adjacent deployment wire in a direction parallel to the longitudinal axis of the pusher wire 4. Further, each of the first curved portions 38 overlaps the first curved portions 38 of two adjacent deployment wires in a direction parallel to the longitudinal axis of the pusher wire 4, one of the adjacent deployment wires being the nearest deployment wire in the clockwise direction and the other adjacent deployment wire being the nearest deployment wire in the anti-clockwise direction around the longitudinal axis of the pusher wire 4. Overall, the plurality of deployment wires form a flower-like configuration where the outer shape of the plurality of deployment wires is a circle.

[0110] FIGS. 17 and 18 illustrate another configuration of deployment wires 44 in the expanded state. This configuration has a plurality of deployment wires 46 where each deployment wire has the same form and is evenly distributed around the longitudinal axis of the pusher wire 4. Each of these deployment wires has a first and second end which is connected to the distal end of the pusher wire 4. In this way, each deployment wire forms a loop-like structure when viewed along the longitudinal axis of the pusher wire 4. Each deployment wire has a portion that lies substantially in a plane that is substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the pusher wire 4. This portion has an asymmetric form. The asymmetric form has a first curved portion 48 and a second curved portion 50 connected by a connecting portion 52. The second curved portion 50 has a tighter curve shape than the first curved portion 48. This emphasises the asymmetric form of the deployment wire in the plane that is perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the pusher wire 4. The first curved portion 48 has a convex shape and the second curved portion 50 also has a convex shape. Each of the first curved portions 48 overlaps the first curved portions of adjacent deployment wires in a direction parallel to the longitudinal axis of the pusher wire 4. Further, each of the second curved portions 50 overlaps the second curved portions of adjacent deployment wires in a direction parallel to the longitudinal axis of the pusher wire 4, one of the adjacent deployment wires being the nearest deployment wire in the clockwise direction and the other adjacent deployment wire being the nearest deployment wire in the anti-clockwise direction around the longitudinal axis of the pusher wire 4. Overall, the plurality of deployment wires form a flower-like configuration where the outer shape of the plurality of deployment wires is a circle.

[0111] The outer circle is a wire ring that has been collectively formed by plurality of deployment wires, specifically it has been formed collectively by the first curved portion 48 of each deployment wire. In addition, there is an inner wire ring that is collectively formed by the second curved portion 50 of each of the plurality of deployment wires. In this way, the overall arrangement provides two rings that can provide a continuous circumferential support. A patch can then be applied using the inner ring to support the outer periphery of a circular patch, while the outer ring can apply continuous pressure to the area around the patch application site, to hold the site in position during the application process and so improve the adhesion of the patch.

[0112] FIGS. 19 and 20 depict a further configuration of the deployment wires 54 in the expanded state. This configuration is analogous to the configuration depicted in FIGS. 15 and 16. The main difference can be appreciated by viewing the plurality of deployment wires perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the pusher wire, as shown in FIG. 20. The plurality of deployment wires 56 form a patch applicator (the surface substantially within the plane that is perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the pusher wire) that has a varying distance from a reference plane 56. The reference plane 56 is perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the pusher wire. The patch applicator has distance from the reference plane 56 that increases with distance from the longitudinal axis of the pusher wire along a direction that goes horizontally across FIG. 20. It also has a constant distance from the reference plane 56 along a direction that goes into the page of FIG. 20. These two directions are perpendicular to each other. The variation in distance along the horizontal direction follows an elliptical path. The patch applicator has a concave shape with respect to a point distal of the patch applicator.

[0113] An experiment was conducted to assess the effect of the patch applicator of FIGS. 19 and 20. In this experiment, a 40 mm diameter cylinder 58 had its internal surface lined with a foam layer 60 containing ink at significantly below the saturation point of the foam 60. An absorbent piece of paper 62 was then rested against this foam 60 and pressed using a patch deployment device having a patch applicator of the form depicted in FIGS. 19 and 20, as well as one having a patch applicator of the form depicted in FIGS. 15 and 16. For the patch applicator of FIGS. 19 and 20, the horizontal direction depicted in FIG. 20 was aligned with the longitudinal axis of the cylinder. The ink transfer indicated the level of contact that had been achieved between the foam and the paper. The experimental setup is illustrated in FIG. 21a. As seen from FIGS. 21b and 21c, the use of a concave patch deployment device of FIGS. 19 and 20 provided a more consistent contact with the inner wall of the cylinder (FIG. 21c) compared to a flat patch applicator as depicted in FIGS. 15 and 16 (FIG. 21b). This illustrates the improved adhesion that can be effected when such a deployment device is used to apply a patch to a patient. The flat patch deployment device was not as good at applying pressure to the edges along the longitudinal direction of the cylinder. Since these edges will experience significant force from the blood flowing in this direction, the shape of FIGS. 19 and 20 is particularly useful for applying patches to a concave cylindrical surface such as the internal surface of an aorta.

[0114] The present invention has been described with reference to specific embodiments. However, the invention is not limited by these specific embodiments and encompasses any subject matter within the scope of the following claims.

[0115] The following list of embodiments forms part of the description. [0116] 1. A patch deployment device, the device comprising [0117] a pusher wire having a proximal end and a distal end; [0118] a plurality of deployment wires, wherein each deployment wire: [0119] (i) has a first end and a second end, and the first end and the second end are connected to the distal end of the pusher wire; and [0120] (ii) is configured to be in an unexpanded state when positioned and constrained within a catheter, and configured to self-expand into an expanded state when positioned beyond a distal end of the catheter and not constrained, wherein in the expanded state at least a portion of the wire is positioned substantially within a plane that is substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the pusher wire and has an asymmetric form when viewed along a direction parallel to the longitudinal axis of the pusher wire. [0121] 2. The patch deployment device of embodiment 1, wherein the plurality of deployment wires is movable from the unexpanded state within a catheter to the expanded state beyond the distal end of the catheter by moving the pusher wire. [0122] 3. The patch deployment device of any preceding embodiment, wherein each deployment wire of the plurality of deployment wires has the same form in the expanded state. [0123] 4. The patch deployment device of any preceding embodiment, wherein the plurality of deployment wires are arranged so as to be evenly distributed around the longitudinal axis of the pusher wire when in the expanded state. [0124] 5. The patch deployment device of any preceding embodiment, wherein the portion of the wire having an asymmetric form comprises a first curved portion and a second curved portion, wherein the first curved portion overlaps the second curved portion in a circumferential direction around the longitudinal axis of the pusher wire, and the first curved portion is convex and the second curved portion is concave, the first curved portion and the second curved portion being connected via a connecting portion. [0125] 6. The patch deployment device of embodiment 5, wherein the first curved portion comprises a minimum radius of curvature that is less than the minimum radius of curvature of the second curved portion. [0126] 7. The patch deployment device of embodiment 5, wherein the first curved portion comprises a minimum radius of curvature that is more than the minimum radius of curvature of the second curved portion. [0127] 8. The patch deployment device of any one of embodiments 5 to 7, wherein each deployment wire of the plurality of deployment wires is arranged such that the first curved portion of the deployment wire overlaps the second curved portion of an adjacent deployment wire in a direction substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the pusher wire. [0128] 9. The patch deployment device of any preceding embodiment, wherein the plurality of deployment wires comprises Nitinol. [0129] 10. The patch deployment device of embodiment 9, wherein the Nitinol has an austenite finish temperature of 28° C. or less. [0130] 11. The patch deployment device of any preceding embodiment, wherein the plurality of deployment wires comprises 20 deployment wires or fewer. [0131] 12. The patch deployment device of any preceding embodiment, wherein the plurality of deployment wires comprises 2 deployment wires or more. [0132] 13. The patch deployment device of any preceding embodiment, wherein the plurality of deployment wires comprises 8 deployment wires. [0133] 14. The patch deployment device of any preceding embodiment, wherein the plurality of deployment wires have a diameter of 0.127 mm or more. [0134] 15. The patch deployment device of any preceding embodiment, wherein the plurality of deployment wires have a diameter of 0.508 mm or less. [0135] 16. The patch deployment device of any preceding embodiment, wherein the plurality of deployment wires has a maximum diameter of 35 mm or less, when each deployment wire of the plurality of deployment wires is in the expanded state. [0136] 17. The patch deployment device of any preceding embodiment, further comprising a patch releasably attached to the plurality of deployment wires. [0137] 18. The patch deployment device of embodiment 17, wherein the patch is attached to the plurality of deployment wires by a single thread, wherein the single thread is threaded through a plurality of loops associated with the patch. [0138] 19. The patch deployment device of any preceding embodiment, wherein the catheter has a size of 18 Fr or less. [0139] 20. The patch deployment device of any preceding embodiment, wherein the catheter has a size of 12 Fr or greater. [0140] 21. A patch deployment system, wherein the patch deployment system comprises [0141] the patch deployment device of any one of embodiments 1 to 16, or embodiments 19 or 20 when dependent on any one of embodiments 1 to 16; and [0142] a patch, wherein the patch is attachable to the patch deployment device. [0143] 22. The patch deployment system of embodiment 21, further comprising the catheter, wherein the pusher wire can be movably positioned within the catheter [0144] 23. A patch deployment system, the patch deployment system comprising [0145] the patch deployment device of embodiments 17 or 18, or embodiments 19 or 20 when dependent on embodiment 17 or 18; and [0146] the catheter, wherein the pusher wire can be movably positioned within the catheter. [0147] 24. A patch deployment system, the patch deployment system comprising [0148] the patch deployment device of any one of embodiments 1 to 16, or embodiments 19 or 20 when dependent on any one of embodiments 1 to 16; and [0149] the catheter, wherein the pusher wire can be movably positioned within the catheter. [0150] 25. The patch deployment system of embodiment 24, further comprising a patch, wherein the patch is attachable to the patch deployment device. [0151] 26. The patch deployment system of any one of embodiments 21 to 25, further comprising a funnel for use when drawing the plurality of deployment wires into the catheter from the expanded state into the unexpanded state. [0152] 27. The patch deployment device of embodiment 17 or 18, or embodiments 19 or 20 when dependent on embodiments 17 or 18, or the patch deployment system of any one of embodiments 21, 22, 23, or 25, or embodiment 26 when dependent on any one of embodiments 21, 22, 23, or 25, wherein the patch is bioabsorbable. [0153] 28. The patch deployment of embodiment 17, 18 or 27, or embodiments 19 or 20 when dependent on embodiments 17 or 18, or the patch deployment system of any one of embodiments 21, 22, 23, 25, or 27, or embodiment 26 when dependent on any one of embodiments 21, 22, 23, or 25, wherein the patch further comprises a bioabsorbable adhesive. [0154] 29. A method of applying a patch comprising the following steps: [0155] (i) providing the patch deployment device of embodiment 17 with the plurality of deployment wires in the unexpanded state within the catheter; [0156] (ii) inserting the catheter into a patient so as to position the distal end of the catheter at a patch application site; [0157] (iii) moving the pusher wire to move the plurality of deployment wires from the unexpanded state within the catheter to the expanded state beyond the distal end of the catheter; [0158] (iv) applying the patch to the patch application site; [0159] (v) releasing the patch from the plurality of deployment wires; [0160] (vi) moving the pusher wire to move the plurality of deployment wires from the expanded state to the unexpanded state; and removing the catheter from the patient.

[0161] A further list of embodiments that forms part of the description is given below [0162] 1. A patch deployment device, the device comprising [0163] a pusher wire having a proximal end and a distal end; [0164] a plurality of deployment wires, wherein each deployment wire: [0165] (i) has a first end and a second end, and the first end and the second end are connected to the distal end of the pusher wire; and [0166] (ii) is configured to be in an unexpanded state when positioned and constrained within a catheter, and configured to self-expand into an expanded state when positioned beyond a distal end of the catheter and not constrained, wherein in the expanded state at least a portion of the wire is positioned substantially within a plane that is substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the pusher wire and has an asymmetric form when viewed along a direction parallel to the longitudinal axis of the pusher wire. [0167] 2. The patch deployment device of embodiment 1, wherein the plurality of deployment wires is movable from the unexpanded state within a catheter to the expanded state beyond the distal end of the catheter by moving the pusher wire. [0168] 3. The patch deployment device of any preceding embodiment, wherein each deployment wire of the plurality of deployment wires has the same form in the expanded state. [0169] 4. The patch deployment device of any preceding embodiment, wherein the plurality of deployment wires are arranged so as to be evenly distributed around the longitudinal axis of the pusher wire when in the expanded state. [0170] 5. The patch deployment device of any preceding embodiment, wherein the portion of the wire having an asymmetric form comprises a first curved portion and a second curved portion, wherein the first curved portion overlaps the second curved portion in a circumferential direction around the longitudinal axis of the pusher wire, and the first curved portion is convex and the second curved portion is concave, the first curved portion and the second curved portion being connected via a connecting portion. [0171] 6. The patch deployment device of embodiment 5, wherein the first curved portion comprises a minimum radius of curvature that is less than the minimum radius of curvature of the second curved portion, or wherein the first curved portion comprises a minimum radius of curvature that is more than the minimum radius of curvature of the second curved portion. [0172] 7. The patch deployment device of embodiment 5 or embodiment 6, wherein each deployment wire of the plurality of deployment wires is arranged such that the first curved portion of the deployment wire overlaps the second curved portion of an adjacent deployment wire in a direction substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the pusher wire. [0173] 8. The patch deployment device of any preceding embodiment, wherein the plurality of deployment wires comprises Nitinol. [0174] 9. The patch deployment device of any preceding embodiment, wherein the plurality of deployment wires comprises 8 deployment wires. [0175] 10. The patch deployment device of any preceding embodiment, wherein the plurality of deployment wires have a diameter of from 0.127 mm to 0.508 mm. [0176] 11. The patch deployment device of any preceding embodiment, wherein the plurality of deployment wires has a maximum diameter of 35 mm or less when each deployment wire of the plurality of deployment wires is in the expanded state. [0177] 12. The patch deployment device of any preceding embodiment, further comprising a patch releasably attached to the plurality of deployment wires. [0178] 13. The patch deployment device of any preceding embodiment, wherein the catheter has a size of 18 Fr or less. [0179] 14. A patch deployment system, the patch deployment system comprising [0180] the patch deployment device of any preceding embodiment; and [0181] the catheter, wherein the pusher wire can be movably positioned within the catheter. [0182] 15. The patch deployment system of embodiment 14, further comprising a funnel for use when drawing the plurality of deployment wires into the catheter from the expanded state into the unexpanded state.