Delivery tool for cardiac support device

Abstract

A device for delivery of a cardiac support device for treating cardiac disease of a heart includes a multistage deployment mechanism and an actuating mechanism for controlling the positions of the deployment mechanism. The deployment mechanism is operable to change between a retracted state and an extended state, and includes a plurality of independent stages, including, in one embodiment, a first stage including a guide structure for location adjacent a portion of the patient's heart when in the extended state. A second stage is movably coupled to the first stage, and is guided by the guide structure between the retracted and extended states. The second stage further releasably engages and supports the cardiac support device and positions the cardiac support device at the desired implantation location, guided by the guide structure of the stage. In some embodiments, the deployment mechanism may include additional stages. The actuating mechanism drives the deployment mechanism between the retracted and extended states, and independently controls the positions of the multiple stages of the deployment mechanism.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a delivery device according to one embodiment of the present invention shown with a multistage deployment mechanism in a retracted state.

FIG. 2 is the view of the delivery device of FIG. 1 showing a first stage of the multistage deployment mechanism moved to an extended state and further showing a cardiac support device engaged with a second stage of the deployment mechanism in a retracted state.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the delivery device of FIG. 1 shown in a substantially fully extended state and supporting a cardiac support device for deployment over a patient's heart.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a distal end of the delivery device of FIGS. 1-3 showing the primary members of the multistage deployment mechanism in an extended state.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a distal end of the delivery device of FIGS. 1-3 showing an alternative embodiment of the primary members of the multistage deployment mechanism in an extended state.

FIG. 6 is a view of the distal ends of primary and secondary members of the deployment mechanism of FIGS. 1-3.

FIGS. 7-9 show alternative arrangements for directing the positioning of a primary member of the multistage deployment mechanism.

FIGS. 10-13 are perspective views of a delivery device according to another embodiment of the present invention utilizing a three stage deployment mechanism.

FIG. 14 is a perspective schematic view of a primary, secondary and tertiary member of a multistage deployment mechanism arranged according to another embodiment of the present invention.

FIGS. 15-17 are schematic views of the distal end of the delivery device of FIGS. 1-3 in use in deploying a cardiac support device over a patient's heart.

FIG. 18 is a schematic view of the distal end of a delivery device according to one embodiment showing an open apex end cardiac support device in a deployed position over a patient's heart.

FIGS. 19-21 are schematic views of the distal end of a delivery device according to various embodiments of the present invention shown deploying the primary members of the deployment mechanism through an incision in the pericardium of the patient's heart.

Claims

1. A cardiac support device delivery apparatus, comprising: a multistage deployment mechanism including: a first stage movable between a first state and a second state adjacent a side of a heart; anda second stage movable with respect to the first stage between first and second states for releasably supporting the cardiac support device and positioning the cardiac support device on the heart; andan actuating mechanism coupled to the deployment mechanism for actuating the first and second stages between the first and second states.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the first stage includes a guide structure for guiding the second stage between the first and second states.

3. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein in the second state the second stage releasably supports the cardiac support device in an open position such that the cardiac support device can be slid over at least a portion of the heart.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the second stage is movably coupled to the first stage.

5. The apparatus of claim 4 wherein the second stage is slidably coupled to the first stage.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the actuating mechanism independently actuates the first and second stages.

7. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the actuating mechanism includes a first stage actuating mechanism for actuating the first stage, and a second stage actuating mechanism for actuating the second stage.

8. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein: the first stage includes a guide structure for guiding the second stage between the first and second states; andthe second stage actuating mechanism drives the second stage between the first and second states guided by the guide structure to releasably position the cardiac support device on the heart.

9. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a body, wherein the first state is a retracted state adjacent the body, and the second state is an extended state spaced from the body.

10. The apparatus of claim 9 wherein the body is generally tubular; and wherein in the retracted state the first and second stages are retracted substantially within the tubular body, and wherein in the extended state the first stage extends distally from a distal end of the tubular body and includes a guide structure for guiding the second stage between the first and second states.

11. The apparatus of claim 10 and further wherein in the extended state the second stage extends distally from the distal end of the tubular body guided by the guide structure.

12. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the first stage includes at least one elongated member.

13. The apparatus of claim 12 wherein the second stage includes at least one member movably coupled to the at least one elongated member of the first stage for releasably supporting the cardiac support device.

14. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the first stage includes a plurality of elongated members spaced with respect to one another about the heart.

15. The apparatus of claim 14 wherein the actuating mechanism includes an individual actuating mechanism for individually moving at least one of the plurality of elongated members.

16. The apparatus of claim 14 wherein the second stage includes a plurality of members movably coupled to respective elongated members of the first stage and including structures for releasably supporting the cardiac support device.

17. The apparatus of claim 16 wherein the actuating mechanism includes an individual actuating mechanism for individually moving at least one of the members of the second stage.

18. The apparatus of claim 14 wherein the elongated members include atraumatic distal tips.

19. The apparatus of claim 14 wherein the elongated members include radiopaque distal tips.

20. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein: the deployment mechanism further comprises a third stage movable with respect to the first stage for stiffening the first stage when in the extended state; andthe actuating mechanism independently actuates the first, second, and third stages.

21. The apparatus of claim 20 wherein: the first, second, and third stages each include at least one elongated member; andthe second and third stage members are generally tubular, wherein the second stage member is disposed within and extendable from the third stage member, and the first stage member is disposed within and extendable from the second stage member.

22. An apparatus for delivery of a cardiac support device for treating a cardiac disease, the apparatus comprising: a body;a deployment mechanism on the body, including: a first stage movable between retracted and extended states with respect to the body and including a guide structure for location adjacent at least a portion of the heart when in the extended state, anda second stage movable between retracted and extended states with respect to the body and movably coupled to the first stage for releasably supporting and positioning the cardiac support device on the heart; andan actuating mechanism on the body for driving the first and seconds stages between the retracted and the extended states.

23. The apparatus of claim 22 wherein the actuating mechanism includes: a first stage actuating mechanism for driving the first stage between the first and second states; anda second stage actuating mechanism for driving the second stage between the first and second states.

24. The apparatus of claim 23 wherein the body is generally tubular, and further wherein in the retracted state the deployment mechanism is retracted substantially within the body, and wherein in the extended state the first stage is extended from the body to form the guide structure.

25. The apparatus of claim 24 wherein in the extended state the second stage is extended from the body for positioning the cardiac support device on the heart guided by the guide structure.

26. The apparatus of claim 25 wherein in the extended state the second stage releasably supports the cardiac support device in an open position such that it can be slid over at least a portion of the heart.

27. The apparatus of claim 25 wherein: the first stage includes a plurality of elongated members at spaced locations about the heart each having a distal region preshaped to extend radially outwardly with respect to a longitudinal axis of the body; andthe second stage includes a plurality of elongated members each movably coupled to a respective elongated member of the first stage and further including structures for releasably supporting the cardiac support device.

28. A method for deploying a cardiac support device about a heart of a patient, the cardiac support device, the method comprising: extending a first stage of a deployment mechanism from a delivery device to form a structure adjacent at least a portion of the heart;extending a second stage of the deployment mechanism releasably supporting the cardiac support device along the first stage; anddisengaging the cardiac support device from the second stage.

29. The method of claim 28 further comprising extending a third stage for stiffening the structure adjacent at least a portion of the heart prior to or concurrently with extending the second stage.