System to deliver a bodily implant
A catheter system with a proximal end and a distal end element at the proximal end to actuate a device at the distal end of the system, and an actuator element ( 32 ) that runs the length of the system, from the actuator element to the device and actuates the device by transmitting a physical force from the proximal end to the distal end and characterized by a pre-tensioner ( 40 ) near the distal end of the system, that can be set in a pre-tensioning disposition prior to actuation of the device, the pre-tensioner thereby reducing the magnitude of the physical force that must be transmitted from the proximal end when actuation of the device is required.
1. A transluminal catheter system to deliver a bodily implant, the system comprising: a proximal end with an implant release and a distal end that carries the implant radially confined within an inner sheath which, to release the implant, is pulled proximally from the proximal end of the system by the release to translate the inner sheath proximally relative to the implant to release the implant from its radial confinement, progressively, starting at the distal end of the implant; and a pre-tensioner which is actuable, prior to actuation of the implant release, to set the pre-tensioner in a tensioning disposition in which it imposes on at least a portion of the inner sheath a tension which pulls the portion in a proximal direction, thereby to reduce the force which the release must impose on the proximal end of the inner sheath to initiate said proximal translation of the inner sheath to begin said release of said implant, wherein the pre-tensioner takes the form of an outer sheath that covers said inner sheath, wherein said inner sheath has two long edges held together by stitches that run lengthwise along the implant, the pre-tensioner bonded to the inner sheath, or contiguous with the inner sheath around the circumference at the distal end of the inner sheath, and the pre-tensioner arranged to be put into end-wise tension, whilst the inner sheath is not in end-wise tension.
2. The system according to claim 1 , wherein the stitches run the full axial length of the implant.
3. The system according to claim 1 , wherein the implant is a stent.
4. The system according to claim 3 , wherein the stent is a self-expanding stent.
5. The system according to claim 1 , wherein the system is an over a wire system.
6. The system according to claim 1 , wherein the system is a rapid exchange system.
7. The system according to claim 1 , wherein the implant is radially confined within the inner sheath.