Delivery apparatus for self-expanding medical device

1. A delivery apparatus for delivering a radially self-expanding medical device having a proximal portion and a distal portion, said delivery apparatus comprising:

i. a radially self-expanding medical device having a proximal end and a distal end;

ii. an elongated tubular member having a proximal end, a distal end, and a lumen extending along a longitudinal axis from the proximal end to the distal end;

iii. a sheath, said sheath being coaxially disposed around the elongated tubular member; wherein the elongated tubular member is movable relative to the sheath; and wherein the sheath is configured for receiving the radially self-expanding medical device in a radially compressed state; and

iv. a holding and retrieving mechanism having a first end and a second end; the holding and retrieving mechanism being configured to constrain radially the proximal portion of the radially self-expanding medical device such that in response to a proximal movement of the elongated tubular member relative to the sheath, the holding and retrieving mechanism constrains radially the proximal portion of the radially self-expanding medical device and the radially self-expanding medical device is collapsed within the sheath;

wherein the elongated tubular member is capable of releasably holding the first and second ends of the holding and retrieving mechanism near the distal end of the elongated tubular member and releasing the first end with an actuation at the proximal end of the elongated tubular member; and

wherein the holding and retrieving mechanism is connected only to the proximal end of the radially self-expanding medical device;

wherein the releasable holding of the first end of the holding and retrieving mechanism is achieved by a first aperture and a second aperture through the elongated tubular member from the lumen to an outer wall, said first and second apertures being disposed near the distal end of the elongated tubular member and said first aperture being disposed proximally of said second aperture; and a trigger wire disposed within the lumen of the elongated tubular member; the trigger wire exits said lumen of said elongated tubular member through the first aperture and re-enters said lumen of said elongated tubular member through the second aperture such that said trigger wire forms a bend, said bend of said trigger wire engaging said first end of the holding and retrieving mechanism; said trigger wire being configured to be withdrawn in the proximal direction through said lumen of said elongated tubular member such that said trigger wire disengages said first end of the holding and retrieving mechanism.

2. The delivery apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the holding and retrieving mechanism comprises a longitudinal axis and the ratio between the length along the longitudinal axis and the greater length in the transverse plane is greater than 3.

3. The delivery apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the releasable holding of the second end of the holding and retrieving mechanism is achieved with a third aperture and a fourth aperture through the elongated tubular member from the lumen to an outer wall, said third and fourth aperture being disposed near the distal end of the elongated tubular member and said third aperture being disposed proximally of said fourth aperture; and a trigger wire disposed within the lumen of the elongated tubular member; the trigger wire exits said lumen of said elongated tubular member through the third aperture and re-enters said lumen of said elongated tubular member through the fourth aperture such that said trigger wire forms a bend, said bend of said trigger wire engaging said second end of the holding and retrieving mechanism; said trigger wire being configured to be withdrawn in the proximal direction through said lumen of said elongated tubular member such that said trigger wire disengage said second end of the holding and retrieving mechanism.

4. The delivery apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the elongated tubular member non-detachably holds the second end of the holding and retrieving mechanism near the distal end of the elongated tubular member with a hook and the second end of the holding and retrieving mechanism comprises a loop configured to be hooked to the hook of the elongated tubular member.

5. The delivery apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the elongated tubular member non-detachably holds the second end of the holding and retrieving mechanism near the distal end of the elongated tubular member with a through-hole in the elongated tubular member and wherein the second end of the holding and retrieving mechanism may be knotted to the elongated tubular member through said trough-hole.

6. The delivery apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the elongated tubular member non-detachably holds the second end of the holding and retrieving mechanism near the distal end of the elongated tubular member by a recess having a shape complementary to the shape of the distal end of the holding and retrieving mechanism, said recess being configured for retaining the distal end of the holding and retrieving mechanism.

7. The delivery apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the radially self-expanding medical device comprises a plurality of proximal apices disposed at a proximal end of the radially self-expanding medical device; and wherein the holding and retrieving mechanism engages at least one apex.

8. The delivery apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the radially self-expanding medical device comprises a plurality of proximal apices disposed at a proximal end of the radially self-expanding medical device and a filament extending through the plurality of proximal apices; and wherein the holding and retrieving mechanism engages the filament.

9. The delivery apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the radially self-expanding medical device comprises a radially collapsible and expandable heart valve prosthesis.

10. A delivery apparatus for delivering a radially self-expanding medical device having a proximal portion and a distal portion, said delivery apparatus comprising:

i. a radially self-expanding medical device having a proximal end and a distal end;

ii. an elongated tubular member having a proximal end, a distal end, and a lumen extending along a longitudinal axis from the proximal end to the distal end;

iii. a sheath, said sheath being coaxially disposed around the elongated tubular member; wherein the elongated tubular member is movable relative to the sheath; and wherein the sheath is configured for receiving the radially self-expanding medical device in a radially compressed state; and

iv. a holding and retrieving mechanism having a first end and a second end; the holding and retrieving mechanism being configured to constrain radially the proximal portion of the radially self-expanding medical device such that in response to a proximal movement of the elongated tubular member relative to the sheath, the holding and retrieving mechanism constrains radially the proximal portion of the radially self-expanding medical device and the radially self-expanding medical device is collapsed within the sheath;

wherein the elongated tubular member is capable of releasably holding the first and second ends of the holding and retrieving mechanism near the distal end of the elongated tubular member and releasing the first end by an actuation at the proximal end of the elongated tubular member; and wherein the holding and retrieving mechanism is connected only to the proximal end of the radially self-expanding medical device;

wherein the delivery apparatus includes a retaining mechanism configured for releasably retaining the radially self-expanding medical device within the sheath; said retaining mechanism comprising a first portion connected to the elongated tubular member and a second expandable portion disposed adjacent the distal end of the elongated tubular member and extending through the proximal portion of the radially self-expanding medical device, said second expandable portion being configured to expand from a collapsed profile to an expanded profile wherein the second expandable portion presses the proximal portion of the radially self-expanding medical device against the inner wall of the sheath so as to secured the radially self-expanding medical device therein; and wherein the second expandable portion exhibits a longitudinal flexibility.

11. The delivery apparatus of claim 10 , wherein the releasable holding of the first end of the holding and retrieving mechanism is achieved with a first aperture and a second aperture through the elongated tubular member from the lumen to an outer wall, said first and second apertures being disposed near the distal end of the elongated tubular member and said first aperture being disposed proximally of said second aperture; and a trigger wire disposed within the lumen of the elongated tubular member; the trigger wire exits said lumen of said elongated tubular member through the first aperture and re-enters said lumen of said elongated tubular member through the second aperture such that said trigger wire forms a bend, said bend of said trigger wire engaging said first end of the holding and retrieving mechanism; said trigger wire being configured to be withdrawn in the proximal direction through said lumen of said elongated tubular member such that said trigger wire disengages said first end of the holding and retrieving mechanism.

12. The delivery apparatus of claim 10 , wherein the releasable holding of the first end of the holding and retrieving mechanism is achieved with an elastic hook which holds one end of the holding and retrieving mechanism in an aperture near the distal end of the elongated tubular member.

13. The delivery apparatus of claim 10 , wherein the releasable holding of the first end of the holding and retrieving mechanism is achieved with pliers configured to releasably hold the first end of the holding and retrieving mechanism.

14. The delivery apparatus of claim 10 , wherein the releasable holding of the first end of the holding and retrieving mechanism is achieved using a coaxial element movable relative to the elongated member; which comprises a sharp window, wherein the inner edge of said sharp window is configured to cut the holding and retrieving mechanism, and wherein the holding and retrieving mechanism passes through the sharp window.

15. The delivery apparatus of claim 10 , wherein said second expandable portion comprises a balloon and said first portion comprises a channel in fluid communication with the balloon for injecting a fluid into the balloon so as to expand the balloon.

16. The delivery apparatus of claim 10 , wherein said second expandable portion comprises a flexible member comprising a proximal end and a distal end; and said first portion comprises an actuator engaged with the distal end of the flexible member; wherein in response to a proximal movement of the actuator relative to the proximal end of the flexible member, the flexible member expands to the expanded profile.

17. The delivery apparatus of claim 16 , wherein the proximal end of the flexible member is secured to the distal end of the elongated tubular member.

18. The delivery apparatus of claim 10 , wherein

the holding and retrieving mechanism comprises a longitudinal axis and the ratio between the length along the longitudinal axis and the greater length in the transverse plane is greater than 3.

19. The delivery apparatus of claim 18 , wherein

the releasable holding of the first end of the holding and retrieving mechanism is achieved with a first aperture and a second aperture through the elongated tubular member from the lumen to an outer wall, said first and second apertures being disposed near the distal end of the elongated tubular member and said first aperture being disposed proximally of said second aperture; and a trigger wire disposed within the lumen of the elongated tubular member; the trigger wire exits said lumen of said elongated tubular member through the first aperture and re-enters said lumen of said elongated tubular member through the second aperture such that said trigger wire forms a bend, said bend of said trigger wire engaging said first end of the holding and retrieving mechanism; said trigger wire being configured to be withdrawn in the proximal direction through said lumen of said elongated tubular member such that said trigger wire disengages said first end of the holding and retrieving mechanism.

20. A delivery apparatus for delivering a radially self-expanding medical device having a proximal portion and a distal portion, said delivery apparatus comprising:

i. a radially self-expanding medical device having a proximal end and a distal end;

ii. an elongated tubular member having a proximal end, a distal end, and a lumen extending along a longitudinal axis from the proximal end to the distal end;

iii. a sheath, said sheath being coaxially disposed around the elongated tubular member; wherein the elongated tubular member is movable relative to the sheath; and wherein the sheath is configured for receiving the radially self-expanding medical device in a radially compressed state; and

iv. a holding and retrieving mechanism having a first end and a second end; the holding and retrieving mechanism being configured to constrain radially the proximal portion of the radially self-expanding medical device such that in response to a proximal movement of the elongated tubular member relative to the sheath, the holding and retrieving mechanism constrains radially the proximal portion of the radially self-expanding medical device and the radially self-expanding medical device is collapsed within the sheath;

wherein the elongated tubular member is capable of releasably holding the first end of the holding and retrieving mechanism near the distal end of the elongated tubular member and releasing the first end by an actuation at the proximal end of the elongated tubular member; and wherein the holding and retrieving mechanism is connected only to the proximal end of the radially self-expanding medical device;

wherein the elongated tubular member non-detachably holds the second end of the holding and retrieving mechanism near the distal end of the elongated tubular member with a hook and the second end of the holding and retrieving mechanism comprises a loop configured to be hooked to the hook of the elongated tubular member;

wherein the holding and retrieving mechanism comprises a longitudinal axis and the ratio between the length along the longitudinal axis and the greater length in the transverse plane is greater than 3;

wherein the releasable holding of the first end of the holding and retrieving mechanism is achieved with a first aperture and a second aperture through the elongated tubular member from the lumen to an outer wall, said first and second apertures being disposed near the distal end of the elongated tubular member and said first aperture being disposed proximally of said second aperture; and a trigger wire disposed within the lumen of the elongated tubular member; the trigger wire exits said lumen of said elongated tubular member through the first aperture and re-enters said lumen of said elongated tubular member through the second aperture such that said trigger wire forms a bend, said bend of said trigger wire engaging said first end of the holding and retrieving mechanism; said trigger wire being configured to be withdrawn in the proximal direction through said lumen of said elongated tubular member such that said trigger wire disengages said first end of the holding and retrieving mechanism.