Granted Patent B2

US 12,440,332 · App. 17/399,410 · Granted Oct 14, 2025

Inventors: Randolf von Oepen (Aptos, CA); Sean A. McNiven (Menlo Park, CA); Francisco Valencia (East Palo Alto, CA); Ken C. Salvador (Hayward, CA); Yongjin Xie (Cupertino, CA)

Assignee: CEPHEA VALVE TECHNOLOGIES, INC.

A61F2/2436A61B17/00234A61B17/1285A61F2/2427A61M25/0045A61M25/0136A61M25/0147A61M25/0662A61M25/09A61B2017/00243A61B2017/00323A61B2017/00867A61B17/122A61F2/9517A61F2/9522A61F2210/0014A61M2025/0046

Abstract

Claims (47)

1. A method of deploying an intravascular device, the method comprising:

loading an intravascular device to a distal end of an intravascular device delivery system to dispose the intravascular device to be both within an intravascular device cover and distal of a distal end cap of the intravascular device delivery system, wherein in a loaded state with the intravascular device fully disposed within the intravascular device cover a proximal end of the distal end cap is disposed within the intravascular device cover proximal to the intravascular device and distal a tensioning catheter, at least one tensioning element extends from a distal end of the tensioning catheter through the distal end cap to the intravascular device to releasably attach the tensioning catheter to the intravascular device;

positioning the intravascular device at a target location;

partially deploying the intravascular device from the intravascular device delivery system;

repositioning the intravascular device; and

fully deploying the intravascular device from the intravascular device delivery system with the distal end cap being disposed within the intravascular device cover.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein releasing the at least one tensioning element includes heating at least one electrically conductive element.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein partially deploying the intravascular device further comprises advancing the distal end cap longitudinally to urge the intravascular device longitudinally relative to an outer sleeve.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the intravascular device is a self-expanding device.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein loading the intravascular device to the distal end of the intravascular device delivery system further comprises loading the intravascular device using a loading assembly, the loading assembly comprising:

a fixture to support a proximal end of the intravascular device delivery system;

another fixture to support a distal end of the intravascular device delivery system; and

a reservoir to receive a portion of the intravascular device delivery system and an unloaded intravascular device.

6. The method of claim 5 , wherein the another fixture comprises an angularly orientated support and a member extending into the reservoir.

7. The method of claim 5 , wherein the another fixture comprises a base member from which a member extends, the member being configured to transmit forces to the base member.

8. The method of claim 5 , further comprising a support extending from an angularly orientated support of the another fixture.

9. The method of claim 8 , further comprising another support extending form a base member.

10. The method of claim 5 , wherein the fixture comprises a base member and a sliding support selectively movable along at least a portion of the base member.

11. The method of claim 10 , further comprising a locking mechanism to receive a stabilizer that supports the proximal end of the intravascular device delivery system.

12. The method of claim 11 , wherein the stabilizer comprises:

a base; and

a plurality of mounts to receive a proximal end of the intravascular device delivery system, the plurality of mounts being selectively movable relative to the base.

13. The method of claim 12 , wherein the base comprises a stabilizer base and a sliding member mountable to a sliding mechanism.

14. The method of claim 13 , wherein the stabilizer base is pivotally mounted to the sliding member.

15. The method of claim 14 , where the base comprises the stabilizer base with at least one mount of the plurality of mounts extends from the stabilizer base.

16. The method of claim 15 , further comprising a micro adjustor to move at least one mount of the plurality of mounts relative to a base.

17. The method of claim 15 , further comprising a macro adjustor to move at least one mount of the plurality of mounts relative to the base.

18. The method of claim 15 , further comprising a combination micro and macro adjustor.

19. The method of claim 15 , further comprising a secondary sliding member disposed at a proximal end of the stabilizer.

20. The method of claim 19 , wherein one of the plurality of mounts is supported by the secondary sliding member.

21. A method for delivering an intravascular device to a target location, comprising:

preparing an intravascular device for loading into an intravascular device delivery system;

flushing the intravascular device delivery system;

moving the intravascular device into a cover;

following releasing a tension of one or more tensioning elements coupled to a proximal end of the intravascular device disposed within the cover to a tension catheter, advancing the intravascular device delivery system towards a target location;

unsheathing at least a portion of the intravascular device from the cover while preventing the intravascular device to move distally during unsheathing of the at least the portion of the intravascular device; and

disconnecting the intravascular device from the intravascular device delivery system.

22. The method of claim 21 , further comprising one or more of the following:

mounting a distal tip of the intravascular device delivery system to a guidewire tubular member;

mounting the distal tip to the cover;

advancing the intravascular device delivery system through a septum;

positioning the intravascular device near a mitral annulus;

advancing the intravascular device through at least a portion of the mitral annulus; and

tensioning a tensioning element connecting the intravascular device to the intravascular device delivery system.

23. The method of claim 21 , wherein unsheathing at least the portion of the intravascular device delivery system further comprises:

unsheathing an arterial disk of the intravascular device while maintaining a remainder of the intravascular device within the cover.

24. The method of claim 23 , further comprising moving one or more mounts of a plurality of mounts of a fixture supporting the intravascular device delivery system to selectively move one or more of the cover, the intravascular device, a distal tip, a guidewire tube, a delivery catheter, and a compression element.

Assignments (1)

Continuity (5)

References Cited (400)