Devices and methods for placing a gastrointestinal device
A delivery system for placing a gastrointestinal device in a mammalian gastrointestinal tract comprises a container assembly; a gastrointestinal implant device that includes proximal and distal ends stored within the container assembly, the proximal end including an anchor and the distal end including a sleeve, coupled to the anchor and folded into the container assembly; and an inner extension to draw a portion of the sleeve from the anchor and from the container assembly as the anchor is retained therein. The inner extension comprises an atraumatic tip, such as a ball, that includes a guidewire rail. Further, a handle is provided that retains or captures an inner catheter within the handle. Within the handle is an elongated element that surrounds a portion of the catheter. A button on a side of the handle is configured to cause engagement of the catheter via the element when the button is depressed.
1 . A catheter handle comprising:
an elongated element comprising slots and open on two ends;
an inner catheter movable within the elongated element;
an inner diameter of the elongated element being about the same as or greater than an outer diameter of the inner catheter; and
a resilient element,
wherein the catheter handle further comprises ramped teeth aligned with the slots and whereupon engagement of the resilient element causes the ramped teeth to engage the slots thereby pressing the inner catheter against the elongated element, thereby immobilizing the inner catheter within the elongated element.
2 . The catheter handle of claim 1 , wherein the slots are transverse slots spaced along a length of the elongated element on two sides of the elongated element.
3 . The catheter handle of claim 2 , wherein the slots on one side of the elongated element are offset from the slots on the other side of the elongated element.
4 . The catheter handle of claim 3 , wherein the slots are ramped, and wherein the ramped teeth and ramped slots define multiple complementary features.
5 . The catheter handle of claim 1 , wherein the elongated element is a lever including a lever jaw, and wherein the resilient element is configured to cause the lever to rotate about a pivot and the lever jaw to engage the inner catheter when the resilient element is engaged, thereby immobilizing the inner catheter within the handle.
6 . The catheter handle of claim 5 , wherein the lever defines a lumen through which the inner catheter extends.
7 . The catheter handle of claim 5 , wherein the lever is configured to translate a force with which the resilient element is engaged into a force with which the inner catheter is engaged at an amplification ratio in the range of about 1:1 to about 2:1.
8 . The catheter handle of claim 5 , wherein the lever jaw includes directional teeth.
9 . The catheter handle of claim 5 , further including a deformable element configured to non-plastically deform when the resilient element is engaged and to provide a restoring force to cause the lever jaw to disengage the inner catheter when the resilient element is released.
10 . A catheter handle comprising;
an elongated element open on two ends;
an inner catheter movable within the elongated element; and
an inner diameter of the elongated element being about the same as or greater than an outer diameter of the inner catheter, wherein the elongated element is a lever including a lever jaw, and, when the lever is rotated about a pivot, the inner catheter is immobilized within the catheter handle.