Controlled release and recapture prosthetic deployment device

1. A controlled release and recapture prosthetic deployment device comprising:

a handle;

a tubular sheath fixedly attached to and extending distally from the handle;

an elongate pusher member extending through the handle and through a longitudinal lumen of the sheath; and

a self-expanding prosthesis removably disposed within a distal portion of the sheath and attached to the pusher member;

wherein the handle comprises:

a handle body;

an advancement member in the handle body, where the advancement member is biased toward a proximal device end;

a keeper member attached to the handle body, where the keeper member is also biased toward the proximal device end; and

a trigger member,

pivotable relative to the handle body,

disposed in mechanical communication with the advancement member, and

configured to move the advancement member distally when the trigger member is pivoted in a first direction;

wherein the advancement member comprises an advancement member aperture through which the pusher member extends, where the advancement member aperture

is configured to capturingly engage the pusher member when the advancement member is disposed at a first angle relative to the pusher member, which corresponds with pivoting movement of the trigger in the first direction, and

is configured to allow freely sliding passage therethrough of the pusher member when the advancement member is disposed at a second angle relative to the pusher member;

wherein the keeper member comprises a keeper member aperture through which the pusher member extends, where the keeper member aperture is configured to capturingly engage the pusher member to prevent its movement in a proximal direction when the keeper member is disposed at a first angle relative to the pusher member, and is configured to allow freely sliding proximal passage therethrough of the pusher member when the keeper member is disposed at a second angle relative to the pusher member.

2. The device of claim 1 , wherein the sheath and the pusher member are flexible and elongate to introduce device the self-expanding prosthesis into a patient's alimentary canal.

3. The device of claim 2 , wherein the sheath and the pusher member are flexible and elongate to introduce the self-expanding prosthesis into a patient's esophagus via the patient's mouth.

4. The device of claim 1 , wherein the elongate pusher member includes at least one proximal region including at least one flexible joint.

5. The device of claim 4 , wherein the at least one flexible joint is configured to allow the at least one proximal region including the at least one flexible joint to coil up within the handle body.

6. The device of claim 4 , further comprising a second trigger member attached to the handle body and disposed in mechanical communication with the keeper member and the pusher member.

7. The device of claim 6 , wherein the second trigger member mechanical communication with the keeper member and the pusher member is configured such that actuation of the second trigger member engages the keeper member with the pusher member to move the pusher member proximally.

8. The device of claim 7 , wherein actuation of the second trigger member moves the self-expanding prosthesis proximally relative to the sheath.

9. The device of claim 1 , further comprising a second trigger member attached to the handle body and disposed in mechanical communication with the keeper member and the pusher member.

10. The device of claim 9 , wherein the second trigger member mechanical communication with the keeper member and the pusher member is configured such that actuation of the second trigger member engages the keeper member with the pusher member to move the pusher member proximally.

11. The device of claim 10 , wherein actuation of the second trigger member moves the self-expanding prosthesis proximally relative to the sheath.

12. A delivery device for delivering a self-expanding prosthesis comprising:

a handle member;

a tubular sheath attached to and extending distally from the handle member;

a first plate member disposed in the handle member and biased toward a proximal end of the handle member, the first plate member including a first aperture therethrough;

a second plate member disposed in the handle member and biased toward a proximal end of the handle member, the second plate member including a second aperture therethrough;

an elongate pusher member extending through the first and second apertures and a length of the tubular sheath; and

a self-expanding prosthesis removably disposed within a distal portion of the sheath and attached to the pusher member;

wherein the first and second apertures each have a longitudinal axis and are configured such that when said longitudinal axes are disposed in a first orientation, the pusher member will be freely movable in a distal but not a proximal direction, and when said longitudinal axes are disposed in a second orientation, the pusher member will be freely movable in a proximal but not a distal direction.

13. The delivery device of claim 12 , configured wherein a distal movement of the pusher member relative to the tubular sheath is configured to deploy the self-expanding prosthesis.

14. The delivery device of claim 12 , further comprising a first trigger member disposed in mechanical communication with the first plate member, said mechanical communication configured to, when the trigger is actuated, engage the first aperture with the pusher member and advance the pusher member distally.

15. The delivery device of claim 14 , further comprising a second trigger member disposed in mechanical communication with the second plate member, said mechanical communication configured to, when the trigger is actuated, engage the second aperture with the pusher member and move the pusher member proximally.

16. The delivery device of claim 15 , wherein the proximal movement is configured to effect a resheathing of any unsheathed portion of the self-expanding prosthesis.

17. A method of deploying a self-expanding prosthesis, said method comprising the steps of:

providing the delivery device of claim 1 ; and

actuating the first trigger to advance the pusher member distally.

18. A method of deploying a self-expanding prosthesis, said method comprising the steps of:

providing the delivery device of claim 1 ;

actuating the first trigger to advance the pusher member distally in a manner unsheathing at least a portion of the self-expanding prosthesis;

observing a condition making it desirable to at least partially resheath the self-expanding prosthesis; and

actuating the second trigger and moving the pusher member proximally in a manner at least partially resheathing the self-expanding prosthesis.