Pistol stent delivery device and method of operating same

1. A stent delivery device comprising:

a pistol shaped handle with a barrel portion extending atop a grip portion;

a trigger actuator pivotably mounted to the pistol shaped handle and defining an angle with respect to the grip portion;

a carrier slidably mounted to the barrel portion of the pistol shaped handle;

a mechanical linkage, which includes a roller clutch, interconnecting the trigger actuator to the carrier;

wherein the angle is reduced responsive to pivoting the trigger actuator in an actuation direction toward the grip portion, and the angle is increased responsive to pivoting the trigger actuator in a reset direction;

wherein the roller clutch is oriented in the mechanical linkage to rotate responsive to the trigger pivoting in the reset direction, but the roller clutch holding against rotation responsive to pivoting the trigger in the actuation direction.

2. The stent delivery device of claim 1 wherein the mechanical linkage is an analog mechanical linkage; and

the carrier is slidable a continuum of distances along the barrel portion proportional to a reduction of the angle when the trigger actuator is pivoted in the actuation direction.

3. The stent delivery device of claim 2 wherein the mechanical linkage includes a rack with teeth meshed with a pinion; and

the continuum of distances include a distance that is less than a teeth spacing of the rack.

4. The stent delivery device of claim 3 wherein the mechanical linkage includes a planetary gear assembly in which the pinion is attached to rotate with a sun gear, and the trigger actuator is attached to a planetary gear that is meshed with the sun gear.

5. The stent delivery device of claim 4 wherein the roller clutch includes a cam positioned in a gear housing that is meshed with the rack, and the carrier is attached to the cam.

6. The stent delivery device of claim 1 wherein the roller clutch includes a cam positioned in a gear housing that is meshed with the rack, and the carrier is attached to the cam.

7. The stent delivery device of claim 6 wherein the mechanical linkage is an analog mechanical linkage; and

the carrier is slidable a continuum of distances along the barrel portion proportional to a reduction of the angle when the trigger actuator is pivoted in the actuation direction.

8. The stent delivery device of claim 6 wherein the mechanical linkage includes a rack that moves for and aft along the barrel portion responsive to pivoting of the trigger actuator in the reset and actuation directions, respectively.

9. The stent delivery device of claim 1 including a catheter assembly that includes a catheter attached to pistol shaped handle and a retractable sheath connected to move with the carrier relative to the catheter; and

the retractable sheath being movable from a first position covering a stent supported on the catheter toward a second position uncovering, and out of contact with, the stent.

10. The stent delivery device of claim 9 wherein the catheter assembly includes a control wire;

a secondary actuator mounted to, and moveable with respect to, the pistol shaped handle from a first position to a second position;

one end of the control wire being coupled to the stent, and an opposite end being connected to move with the secondary actuator.

11. The stent delivery device of claim 10 wherein the secondary actuator includes a secondary handle that moves along a line parallel to the barrel portion form the first position to the second position;

the secondary actuator also includes a clutched gear attached to move with the secondary handle; and

the secondary actuator includes a rack slider connected to the opposite end of the control wire and including teeth meshed with teeth of the clutched gear.

12. The stent delivery device of claim 11 wherein the control wire is a first control wire, and the rack slider is a first rack slider;

a second control wire having one end coupled to the stent, and an opposite end connected to move with a second rack slider that has a position abutting the first rack slider.

13. The stent delivery device of claim 12 wherein the first and second rack sliders are shaped to produce a gear tooth interference stop relative to the clutched gear when abutting each other.

14. The stent delivery device of claim 1 including a secondary actuator mounted to, and moveable with respect to, the pistol shaped handle from a first position to a second position;

the secondary actuator includes a clutched gear attached to move with a secondary handle; and

the secondary actuator includes a plurality of rack sliders slidably mounted on the pistol shaped handle; and

one of the rack sliders has teeth meshed with teeth of the clutched gear.

15. The stent delivery device of claim 14 wherein the plurality of rack sliders include a first rack slider and a second rack slider that are shaped to produce a gear tooth interference stop relative to the clutched gear when abutting each other.

16. The stent delivery device of claim 14 wherein the mechanical linkage is an analog mechanical linkage; and

the carrier is slidable a continuum of distances along the barrel portion proportional to a reduction of the angle when the trigger actuator is pivoted in the actuation direction.

17. The stent delivery device of claim 16 wherein the mechanical linkage includes a rack with teeth meshed with a pinion; and

the continuum of distances includes a distance that is less than a teeth spacing of the rack.

18. The stent delivery device of claim 17 wherein the mechanical linkage includes a planetary gear assembly in which the pinion is attached to rotate with a sun gear, and the trigger is attached to a planetary gear that is meshed with the sun gear.

19. The stent delivery device of claim 18 wherein the roller clutch includes a cam positioned in a gear housing that is meshed with the rack, and the carrier is attached to the cam.

20. A method of operating a stent delivery device that includes a pistol shaped handle with a barrel portion extending atop a grip portion; a trigger actuator pivotably mounted to the pistol shaped handle and defining an angle with respect to the grip portion; a carrier slidably mounted to the barrel portion of the pistol shaped handle; an analog mechanical linkage, which includes a roller clutch, interconnecting the trigger actuator to the carrier; wherein the angle is reduced responsive to pivoting the trigger actuator in an actuation direction toward the grip portion, and the angle is increased responsive to pivoting the trigger actuator in a reset direction; wherein the roller clutch is oriented in the mechanical linkage to rotate responsive to the trigger pivoting in the reset direction, but the roller clutch holding against rotation responsive to pivoting the trigger in the actuation direction, and the method comprising the steps of:

pivoting the trigger actuator of the pistol shaped handle toward the grip portion in the actuation direction;

moving the analog mechanical linkage that interconnects the trigger actuator to the carrier responsive to pivoting the trigger actuator, and wherein the analog mechanical linkage includes the roller clutch;

sliding the carrier along the barrel portion of the pistol shaped handle responsive to movement of the analog mechanical linkage;

stopping the carrier anywhere within a continuum of distances responsive to stopping the trigger actuator;

pivoting the trigger actuator in a reset direction, which is opposite to the actuation direction; and

holding the roller clutch against rotation when the trigger actuator is pivoted in the actuation direction, and rotating the roller clutch when the trigger actuator is pivoted in the reset direction.