Delivery system with helical shaft

1. A method of using a minimally invasive delivery system for a medical device comprising:

guiding a distal end of a catheter to an area for treatment, the catheter having a proximal end adjacent the user and opposite the distal end, the catheter comprising a sheath attached to a first handle and a shaft attached to a second handle, the shaft fitting within the sheath, the first and second handles located at the proximal end of the catheter;

rotating the shaft and the sheath relative to each other while substantially maintaining the longitudinal relationship of the shaft and the sheath relative to each other to cause an implantable medical device, which is initially positioned within the sheath, to move in a distal direction relative to the sheath, the sheath thereby being capable of fully withdrawing from an entire length of the implantable medical device by rotating the shaft and the sheath relative to each other; and

placing the implantable medical device beyond a distal end of the sheath and at the area for treatment.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising pulling the first handle in a proximal direction to withdraw the sheath from a length of the implantable medical device to place the implantable medical device at the area for treatment.

3. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

pulling the first handle in a proximal direction to withdraw the sheath relative to the shaft over a distance of a portion of a length of the implantable medical device prior to rotating the shaft and the sheath relative to each other; and

wherein the rotating step further comprises pulling the first and second handles in the proximal direction, while maintaining a longitudinal relationship between the first and second handles.

4. The method of claim 3 further comprising:

holding the first handle in a constant position while rotating the shaft and the sheath relative to each other and pulling the second handle in a proximal direction to position a distal portion of the shaft within the sheath after placing the implantable medical device;

rotating the shaft and the sheath relative to each other to cause a second implantable medical device to move in a distal direction relative to the sheath.

5. The method of claim 4 further comprising:

pulling the first handle in a proximal direction to withdraw the sheath relative to the shaft over a distance of a portion of a length of the second implantable medical device prior to the last step of claim 4 ;

wherein the last step of claim 4 further comprises pulling the first and second handles in the proximal direction, while maintaining the longitudinal relationship between the first and second handles; and

placing the second implantable medical device beyond the distal end of the sheath.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein the rotating step also advances a second implantable medical device towards the distal end of the sheath.

7. The method of claim 6 further comprising pulling the first handle in a proximal direction to withdraw the sheath relative to the shaft over a distance of a portion of a length of the second implantable medical device prior to placing the second implantable medical device beyond the distal end of the sheath.

8. The method of claim 1 further comprising causing a second implantable medical device to move in the distal direction relative to the sheath by rotating the shaft and the sheath relative to each other.

9. The method of claim 1 further comprising pulling the first and second handles in the proximal direction while performing the rotating step and maintaining the longitudinal spacing between the first and second handles.

10. A method for using a minimally invasive delivery system for a medical device comprising:

guiding a distal end of a catheter to an area for treatment, the catheter having a proximal end adjacent the user and opposite the distal end, the catheter comprising a sheath attached to a first handle and a shaft attached to a second handle, the shaft fitting within the sheath, the first and second handles located at the proximal end of the catheter;

withdrawing the sheath in the proximal direction a first distance without rotating the shaft and the sheath relative to each other, where the first distance is shorter than a length of an implantable medical device, which is located within the sheath;

rotating the shaft and the sheath relative to each other while pulling the second handle in the proximal direction and holding the first handle in a constant position to withdraw a distal portion of the shaft into the sheath and cause the implantable medical device to remain substantially unmoved longitudinally and rotationally during the rotation of the shaft and sheath relative to each other;

withdrawing the sheath further in the proximal direction a second distance without rotating the shaft and the sheath relative to each other; andplacing the implantable medical device beyond a distal end of the sheath and at the area for treatment.

11. The method of claim 10 further comprising:

rotating the shaft and the sheath relative to each other while pulling the second handle in the proximal direction and holding the first handle in a constant position to withdraw the distal portion of the shaft into the sheath and cause a second implantable medical device to remain substantially unmoved longitudinally and rotationally during the rotation of the shaft after placing the implantable medical device; and

withdrawing the sheath in the proximal direction a third distance without rotating the shaft and the sheath relative to each other, where the third distance is shorter than a length of a second implantable medical device, which is located within the sheath.

12. A method for using a minimally invasive delivery system for a stent comprising:

guiding a distal end of a catheter to an area for treatment, the catheter having a proximal end adjacent the user and opposite the distal end, the catheter comprising a sheath attached to a first handle and a shaft attached to a second handle, the shaft fitting within the sheath, the first and second handles located at the proximal end of the catheter;

rotating the shaft and the sheath relative to each other while substantially maintaining the longitudinal relationship of the shaft and the sheath relative to each other to cause a stent, which is initially positioned within the sheath, to move in a distal direction relative to the sheath, the shaft thereby being capable of fully withdrawing from an entire length of the stent by rotating the shaft and the sheath relative to each other; and

placing the stent into beyond a distal end of the sheath and at the area for treatment.

13. The method of claim 12 wherein the stent is 8 cm or longer in length.

14. The method of claim 12 further comprising pulling the first and second handles in the proximal direction while performing the rotating step and maintaining the longitudinal spacing between the first and second handles.

15. The method of claim 12 further comprising pulling the first handle in a proximal direction to withdraw the sheath relative to the shaft over a distance of a portion of a length of the stent prior to rotating the shaft and the sheath relative to each other.

16. The method of claim 12 wherein rotating the shaft and the sheath relative to each other moves a second stent towards the distal end of the sheath.

17. The method of claim 16 further comprising pulling the first handle in a proximal direction to withdraw the sheath relative to the shaft over a distance of a portion of the length of the second stent prior to placing the second stent beyond the distal end of the sheath.

18. The method of claim 16 wherein the second stent is 8 cm in length or longer.

19. The method of claim 12 further comprising:

holding the first handle in a constant position while rotating the shaft and pulling the second handle in the proximal direction to position a distal portion of the shaft within the sheath after placing the stent;

rotating the shaft and the sheath relative to each other to cause a second stent to move in a distal direction relative to the sheath.

20. The method of claim 19 further comprising:

pulling the first handle in a proximal direction to withdraw the sheath relative to the shaft over a distance of a portion of a length of the second stent prior to the last step of claim 19 ;

pulling the first and second handles in the proximal direction, while maintaining the longitudinal relationship between the first and second handles, while also rotating the shaft and sheath relative to each other to cause the second implantable medical device to move in the distal direction relative to the sheath; and

placing the second stent beyond the distal end of the sheath.