Medical cannulae, delivery systems and methods

1. A delivery system, comprising:

an outer tubular member defining an outer tubular member lumen;

a cannula disposed within the outer tubular member lumen, the cannula comprising:

an elongate tubular member having a lengthwise axis and a circumferential wall extending between a proximal end and a distal end and defining an interior lumen;

the elongate tubular member having an intermediate axial portion extending between a proximal axial portion that includes the proximal end and a distal axial portion that includes the distal end, the distal axial portion extending from the distal end toward the proximal end;

a pattern of openings in the circumferential wall of the elongate tubular member, the pattern of openings comprising a plurality of openings arranged in an interrupted spiral that extends circumferentially along the intermediate axial portion of the elongate tubular member;

wherein the distal axial portion is free of the pattern of openings and comprises an uninterrupted circumferential wall; and

wherein the proximal axial portion is longer than the distal axial portion;

an intraluminal medical device circumferentially disposed around the distal axial portion of the elongate tubular member and within the lumen of the outer tubular member, the intraluminal medical device having an intraluminal medical device proximal end and an intraluminal medical device distal end; and

a pusher slidably disposed over the cannula and within the outer tubular member lumen, the pusher having a pusher proximal end and a pusher distal end, the pusher distal end disposed between the pusher proximal end and the intraluminal medical device proximal end.

2. The delivery system of claim 1 , wherein the pusher distal end abuts the intraluminal medical device proximal end.

3. The delivery system of claim 1 , wherein the pusher comprises a tubular member.

4. The delivery system of claim 1 , wherein the proximal axial portion of the elongate tubular member is free of the pattern of openings and comprises an uninterrupted circumferential wall.

5. The delivery system of claim 1 , further comprising a conical distal tip secured to the distal end of the elongate tubular member.

6. The delivery system of claim 1 , further comprising a double-tapered distal tip secured to the distal end of the elongate tubular member;

wherein the double-tapered distal tip has an outer diameter that is greater than an outer diameter of the elongate tubular member.

7. The delivery system of claim 1 , wherein the elongate tubular member comprises a metal.

8. The delivery system of claim 7 , wherein the metal comprises stainless steel.

9. The delivery system of claim 1 , wherein the intraluminal medical device comprises a self-expandable medical device.

10. The delivery system of claim 9 , wherein the intraluminal medical device comprises a stent.

11. The delivery system of claim 9 , wherein the intraluminal medical device comprises a valve.

12. The delivery system of claim 1 , wherein each opening of the plurality of openings comprises an elongate slit that extends through the circumferential wall of the elongate tubular member.

13. A delivery system, comprising:

an outer tubular member defining an outer tubular member lumen;

a cannula disposed within the outer tubular member lumen, the cannula comprising:

an elongate tubular member having a lengthwise axis and a circumferential wall extending between a proximal end and a distal end and defining an interior lumen;

the elongate tubular member having an intermediate axial portion extending between a proximal axial portion that includes the proximal end and a distal axial portion that includes the distal end, the distal axial portion extending from the distal end toward the proximal end; and

a pattern of openings in the circumferential wall of the elongate tubular member, the pattern of openings comprising a plurality of openings arranged in an interrupted spiral that extends circumferentially along the intermediate axial portion of the elongate tubular member;

wherein the proximal axial portion and the distal axial portion are free of the pattern of openings and comprise an uninterrupted circumferential wall; and

wherein the proximal axial portion is longer than the distal axial portion;

a self-expandable intraluminal medical device circumferentially disposed around the distal axial portion of the elongate tubular member and within the lumen of the outer tubular member, the intraluminal medical device having an intraluminal medical device proximal end and an intraluminal medical device distal end; and

a tubular pusher slidably disposed over the cannula and within the outer tubular member lumen, the tubular pusher having a pusher distal end that abuts the intraluminal medical device proximal end.

14. The delivery system of claim 13 , wherein the intraluminal medical device comprises a stent.

15. The delivery system of claim 13 , wherein the intraluminal medical device comprises a valve.

16. The delivery system of claim 13 , wherein each opening of the plurality of openings comprises an elongate slit that extends through the circumferential wall of the elongate tubular member.

17. A delivery system, comprising:

an outer tubular member defining an outer tubular member lumen;

a cannula disposed within the outer tubular member lumen, the cannula comprising:

an elongate tubular member having a lengthwise axis and a circumferential wall extending between a proximal end and a distal end and defining an interior lumen;

the elongate tubular member having an intermediate axial portion extending between a proximal axial portion that includes the proximal end and a distal axial portion that includes the distal end, the distal axial portion extending from the distal end toward the proximal end;

a pattern of openings in the circumferential wall of the elongate tubular member, the pattern of openings comprising a plurality of openings arranged in an interrupted spiral that extends circumferentially along the intermediate axial portion of the elongate tubular member; and

a double-tapered distal tip secured to the distal end of the elongate tubular member, the double-tapered distal tip having an outer diameter that is greater than an outer diameter of the elongate tubular member;

wherein the proximal axial portion and the distal axial portion are free of the pattern of openings and comprise an uninterrupted circumferential wall; and

wherein the proximal axial portion is longer than the distal axial portion;

a self-expandable intraluminal medical device circumferentially disposed around the distal axial portion of the elongate tubular member and within the lumen of the outer tubular member, the intraluminal medical device having an intraluminal medical device proximal end and an intraluminal medical device distal end; and

a tubular pusher slidably disposed over the cannula and within the outer tubular member lumen, the tubular pusher having a pusher distal end that abuts the intraluminal medical device proximal end.

18. The delivery system of claim 17 , wherein each opening of the plurality of openings comprises an elongate slit that extends through the circumferential wall of the elongate tubular member.

19. The delivery system of claim 17 , wherein the intraluminal medical device comprises a stent.

20. The delivery system of claim 17 , wherein the intraluminal medical device comprises a valve.