阅读说明：本技术 用于将医疗器械装载到导管中的装载装置和方法 (Loading device and method for loading a medical instrument into a catheter ) 是由 R·罗斯·法布里加 I·加尔韦·穆里略 O·阿拉德·阿达尔 A·利萨拉苏·冈萨雷斯 于 2019-12-24 设计创作，主要内容包括：提供了一种用于将医疗器械装载到导管中的装载装置。该装载装置包括具有容纳医疗器械的可扩张部分的内腔的主体。当可扩张部分处于收缩构型时,内腔具有与可扩张部分相同的长度,并且具有大于收缩构型的直径。主体包括第一部分和第二部分,第一部分和第二部分可以可逆地分离,以在开放构型暴露内腔和在闭合构型封闭内腔。第一和第二部分各自包括内面,该内面具有分别限定内腔的第一部分的凹槽和限定内腔的第二部分的凹槽。主体还具有远侧尖端部分,远侧尖端部分与输送导管的止血阀可逆地耦合。还提供了一种将医疗器械装载到导管中的方法。(A loading device for loading a medical instrument into a catheter is provided. The loading device includes a body having an inner lumen that receives an expandable portion of a medical device. The lumen has the same length as the expansible portion when the expansible portion is in the collapsed configuration, and has a diameter greater than the collapsed configuration. The body includes a first portion and a second portion that are reversibly separable to expose the lumen in an open configuration and to enclose the lumen in a closed configuration. The first and second portions each include an inner face having a groove defining a first portion of the internal cavity and a groove defining a second portion of the internal cavity, respectively. The body also has a distal tip portion that is reversibly coupled with the hemostatic valve of the delivery catheter. A method of loading a medical device into a catheter is also provided.)

1. A loading device for loading a medical device into a catheter, the medical device having a non-expandable portion and an expandable portion, the expandable portion having an expanded configuration and a collapsed configuration, the loading device comprising:

a body having a lumen configured to receive an expandable portion of a medical device, the lumen being at least as long as the expandable portion of the medical device when the expandable portion is in a collapsed configuration, the lumen having a diameter greater than a collapsed configuration of the medical device, the body comprising a first portion and a second portion that are reversibly separable to expose the lumen in an open configuration and enclose the lumen in a closed configuration, the first portion comprising an interior face and the second portion comprising an interior face, wherein the interior face of the first portion has a first groove defining the first portion of the lumen and the interior face of the second portion has a second groove defining the second portion of the lumen;

wherein the body has a distal tip portion sized, shaped, and configured to reversibly couple with a hemostasis valve of a catheter such that when the distal tip portion is coupled with the hemostasis valve of the catheter, the lumen of the loading device is aligned with the lumen of the catheter, wherein the lumen of the loading device extends through the distal tip portion.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein the distal tip portion is formed from the first portion and the second portion, wherein the distal tip portion in the closed configuration includes a cylindrical wall portion and a central tubular member, wherein the lumen extends through the central tubular member.

3. The device of claim 1, wherein the lumen has a substantially constant diameter.

4. The device of claim 1, wherein the distal tip portion has a length that allows for extending at least partially within the hemostasis valve.

5. The device of claim 1, wherein the distal tip portion has a length that allows for extension through a sealing mechanism in the hemostasis valve.

6. The device of claim 1, wherein the lumen is straight.

7. The device of claim 1, wherein the first recess defines one half of the lumen and the second recess defines the other half of the lumen.

8. The device of claim 1, wherein the first groove defines approximately three-quarters of the lumen and the second groove defines approximately one-quarter of the lumen.

9. The device of claim 1, further comprising a plurality of alignment features disposed about the first groove and extending from the inner face of the first portion, and a plurality of receptacles on the inner face of the second portion configured to receive the plurality of alignment features when the inner face of the first portion abuts the inner face of the second portion, wherein the alignment features about the first groove each have a receiving surface configured to guide a non-expandable portion of a medical instrument to the first groove.

10. The device of claim 9, further comprising a plurality of alignment features disposed about the second groove and extending from the inner face of the second portion and a plurality of receptacles on the inner face of the first portion configured to receive the plurality of alignment features about the second groove when the inner face of the second portion abuts the inner face of the first portion, wherein the alignment features about the second groove each have a receiving surface configured to guide the non-expandable portion of the medical instrument to the second groove.

11. The device of claim 9, wherein the receiving surface of the alignment feature slopes downward toward the first recess.

12. The device of claim 1, wherein the body is made of a translucent or transparent material.

13. The device of claim 1, wherein a hinge connects the first portion with the second portion.

14. The device of claim 1, wherein the first portion has a first tab extending therefrom and the second portion has a second tab extending therefrom, wherein the first and second tabs are proximate to each other when the first and second portions are in the closed configuration.

15. The device of claim 14, further comprising a third tab located between about 30 degrees and 120 degrees from the first tab and a fourth tab located between about 30 degrees and 120 degrees from the second tab.

16. A method of loading a medical device into a catheter, the medical device having a non-expandable portion and an expandable portion having an expanded configuration and a collapsed configuration, the method comprising:

placing the non-expandable portion in a first recess of a first portion of a loader body, wherein the loader body is in an open configuration that exposes the first recess on the first portion of the loader body and a second recess on a second portion of the loader body;

closing a loader body around a non-expandable portion of a medical device such that the second recess is aligned with the first recess to form a lumen that encloses the non-expandable portion of the medical device while an expandable portion of the medical device remains outside the loader body;

retracting the expansible portion of the medical device into the closed loader body lumen such that the expansible portion adopts a collapsed configuration within the lumen;

placing the distal end of the loader body against a hemostasis valve at the proximal end of the catheter;

advancing the expandable portion of the medical device through the hemostasis valve and into the catheter;

retracting the loader body from the hemostasis valve;

opening the loader body; and

the loader body is removed from the medical instrument.

17. The method of claim 16, further comprising inserting a distal end of the loader body into a hemostasis valve.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the distal end of the loader body is not inserted through a sealing mechanism within the hemostasis valve.

19. The method of claim 17, wherein the distal end of the loader body is inserted through a sealing mechanism within the hemostasis valve.

Technical Field

The present invention generally relates to medical devices. More particularly, the present invention relates to a loading device for loading a medical instrument into a catheter. The invention also relates to a method of loading a medical device into a catheter.

Background

Since the 90's of the 20 th century, intravascular treatment has been used to treat stroke cases. The number of patients to whom this therapy is applied is growing slowly but steadily. Recently, the first positive randomized study (Berkheimer O.A.et al, "A randomized tertiary of interstitial chemical stroke." N Engl J Med. January 2015; 372: 11-20. doi: 10.1056/NEJMoa1411587. Epub 2014 17 December. PubMed PMID:25517348) published a demonstration of the efficacy of thrombectomy treatment, which decreased disability rates three months after stroke compared to more conventional drug treatments. Furthermore, the other four main similar clinical trials published in 2015 clearly demonstrate the superiority of thrombectomy treatment with the latest generation of equipment to reduce injury compared to other drug treatments.

For intravascular treatment, the initial strategy was to locally infuse the fibrinolytic agent into the thrombus via a microcatheter. In the beginning of the 21 st century, a new device was introduced, with which it seems more effective than intra-arterial thrombolysis. This is a spiral that opens around the thrombus and aids in the extraction of the thrombusIn 2006, a system based primarily on placing a large gauge catheter close to the thrombus to aspirate the thrombus began to prevail. The conduit is connected to a continuous suction pumpThrough development for many years, the system strives to obtain catheters with larger and larger diameters, and can navigate to approach thrombus.

So-called stent extractors began to be used in about 2009. Their use involves passing the thrombus through a microcatheter and then advancing the stent through the microcatheter. Once the distal end of the sheathed device reaches the distal-most portion of the thrombus, the stent exits the sheath, self-expands at the thrombus level and traps the thrombus. It is recommended to wait for several minutes for the stent to expand within the thrombus to increase its engagement with the thrombus. The expanded stent is then withdrawn, pulling the thrombus out with it. This last step may be performed simultaneously with aspiration through the catheter to attempt to reverse flow, thereby increasing the chance of thrombus recovery. Due to their high efficiency, ease of use and saving on surgical time, stent extractors have completely replaced the first generation of devices described above.

In addition, when using a stent extractor, a guiding balloon catheter is often used. When treating clots in the cerebral blood vessels, the catheter only enters the extracranial carotid artery (away from thrombi located in the intracranial arteries). When the balloon at the end of the catheter is expanded, the catheter can stop the flow in the arterial segment distal to the balloon, where the thrombus is to be extracted. By catheter aspiration, the flow in the balloon distal arterial segment can be reversed to facilitate removal of the thrombus with the stent extractor.

In summary, there are currently two trends in the use of embolectomy devices: on the one hand the so-called stent extractor (with or without balloon catheter) and on the other hand suction catheter based devices (manual suction with syringe or automatic suction with suction pump). These two techniques can be used in combination.

An expandable stent (e.g., a stent extractor) requires contraction to load it into a delivery catheter. Accordingly, it is desirable to provide a device and method to facilitate loading of an expandable stent into a delivery catheter in a simple and reliable manner.

Disclosure of Invention

The present invention generally relates to a loading device for loading a medical instrument into a catheter. For example, the loading device may be used to load a funnel of a suction catheter into a lumen of a delivery catheter.

One aspect of the present invention provides a loading device for loading a medical device into a catheter, the medical device having a non-expandable portion and an expandable portion having an expanded configuration and a collapsed configuration. In some embodiments, the loading device comprises a body having a lumen configured to receive an expandable portion of a medical device, the lumen being at least as long as the expandable portion of the medical device when the expandable portion is in a collapsed configuration, the lumen having a diameter greater than a collapsed configuration of the medical device, the body comprising a first portion and a second portion, the first portion and the second portion being reversibly separable to expose the lumen in an open configuration and to close the lumen in a closed configuration, the first portion comprising an interior face and the second portion comprising an interior face, wherein the interior face of the first portion has a first groove defining the first portion of the lumen and the interior face of the second portion has a second groove defining the second portion of the lumen, wherein the body has a distal tip portion sized, shaped and configured to reversibly couple with a hemostatic valve of a catheter (i.e., a valve that allows passage of a medical device while infusing a drug or contrast agent into the vascular system), such that when the distal tip is coupled with the hemostasis valve of the catheter, the lumen of the loading device is aligned with the lumen of the catheter, wherein the lumen of the loading device extends through the distal tip portion.

In some embodiments of the loading device, the distal tip portion is formed from a first portion and a second portion, wherein the distal tip portion in the closed configuration includes a cylindrical wall portion and a central tubular member, wherein the lumen extends through the central tubular member.

In some embodiments, the lumen has a substantially constant diameter and/or the lumen may be straight.

In some embodiments, the distal tip portion has a length sufficient to extend at least partially within the hemostatic valve. In some embodiments, the distal tip portion has a length sufficient to extend through a sealing mechanism in the hemostatic valve.

In some embodiments, the first recess defines one half of the lumen and the second recess defines the other half of the lumen. In other embodiments, the first recess defines about three-quarters of the internal cavity and the second recess defines about one-quarter of the internal cavity.

Some embodiments further comprise a plurality of alignment features disposed about the first groove and extending from the inner face of the first portion, and a plurality of receptacles on the inner face of the second portion configured to receive the plurality of alignment features when the inner face of the first portion abuts the inner face of the second portion, wherein the alignment features about the first groove each have a receiving surface configured to guide the non-expandable portion of the medical instrument to the first groove. Some such embodiments further comprise a plurality of alignment features disposed about the second groove and extending from the inner face of the second portion, and a plurality of receptacles on the inner face of the first portion configured to receive the plurality of alignment features about the second groove when the inner face of the second portion abuts the inner face of the first portion, wherein the alignment features about the second groove each have a receiving surface configured to guide the non-expandable portion of the medical instrument to the second groove. In some embodiments, the receiving surface of the alignment feature slopes downward toward the first recess.

In some embodiments, the body is made of a translucent or transparent material. Some embodiments may further include a hinge connecting the first portion with the second portion.

In some embodiments, the first portion has a first tab extending therefrom and the second portion has a second tab extending therefrom, wherein the first tab and the second tab are proximate to each other when the first portion and the second portion are in the closed configuration. Some such embodiments also have a third tab located between about 30 degrees and 120 degrees from the first tab and a fourth tab located between about 30 degrees and 120 degrees from the second tab.

Another aspect of the invention provides a method of loading a medical device into a catheter, the medical device having a non-expandable portion and an expandable portion having an expanded configuration and a collapsed configuration. The method comprises the following steps: placing the non-expandable portion in a first recess on a first portion of a loader body, wherein the loader body is in an open configuration that exposes the first recess on the first portion of the loader body and a second recess on a second portion of the loader body; closing the loader body around the non-expandable portion of the medical device such that the second groove is aligned with the first groove to form a lumen that encloses the non-expandable portion of the medical device while the expandable portion of the medical device remains outside the loader body; retracting the expansible portion of the medical device into the closed loader body lumen such that the expansible portion adopts a collapsed configuration within the lumen; placing the distal end of the loader body against a hemostasis valve at the proximal end of the catheter; advancing the expandable portion of the medical device through the hemostasis valve and into the catheter; the loader body is retracted from the hemostasis valve; opening the loader body; and removing the loader body from the medical instrument.

Some embodiments of the method further comprise the step of inserting the distal end of the loader body into the hemostasis valve. In some such embodiments, the distal end of the loader body is not inserted through a sealing mechanism within the hemostasis valve. In other such embodiments, the distal end of the loader body is inserted through a sealing mechanism within the hemostasis valve.

Drawings

The novel features of the invention are set forth with particularity in the appended claims. A better understanding of the features and advantages of the present invention will be obtained by reference to the following detailed description that sets forth illustrative embodiments, in which the principles of the invention are utilized, and the accompanying drawings of which:

FIG. 1 is a schematic elevational view of an embolectomy device according to the present invention in its approximated configuration for clearing a path through a blood vessel and reaching an artery in which a thrombus is located.

FIG. 2 is a schematic elevational view of the embolectomy device according to the present invention in its retracted or navigated configuration for navigating the delivery catheter (with the aspiration funnel catheter inside) to the surface of the thrombus.

FIG. 3 is a schematic front view of an embolectomy device according to the present invention in its aligned or ready-to-expand configuration, i.e., delivering a suction funnel.

FIG. 4 is a schematic front view of an embolectomy device according to the present invention in its expanded or about to be aspirated configuration, with the funnel conforming to the shape of the vessel and facing the thrombus prior to aspiration.

Figures 5A-5H illustrate one embodiment of a loading device for loading a thrombectomy device into a delivery catheter.

Fig. 6A-6F illustrate another embodiment of a loading device for loading a thrombectomy device into a delivery catheter.

Figures 7A-7C illustrate another embodiment of a loading device for loading a thrombectomy device into a delivery catheter.

Detailed Description

The loading device according to the present invention may be used, for example, to load an embolectomy device designed to remove a thrombus 7 from an intracranial artery 6 without causing or causing rupture of the thrombus 7 and without causing damage to the intracranial artery 6, thereby avoiding formation of additional thrombus, such as the device described in U.S. patent application No. 15/649,266, published as US 2017/0303949, or the device described in U.S. patent application No. 62/760,786, filed 11/13/2018. Although these devices are particularly suitable for removing intracranial arterial thrombi, they can also be used to remove thrombi 7 in any artery or vein 6. The loading device of the present invention may be used to load other expandable medical devices into a catheter, such as a flow diverter or balloon guide catheter.

For example, a loading device according to the present invention may be used to load the embolectomy device shown in FIGS. 1-4. The embolectomy device of fig. 1-4 specifically includes a tapered dilator catheter 5, an aspiration funnel catheter 2 (including an expandable stent 3 and a pusher element, e.g., an aspiration catheter formed of, e.g., hypotube), and a delivery catheter 1. As shown in fig. 1 to 4, the thrombectomy device of this embodiment specifically further comprises radiographic markers 12 for indicating the position of the thrombus 7 in the artery 6 and radiographic markers 13 for indicating the position of the thrombectomy device in the vascular system. Further, as shown in fig. 1-3, an embolectomy device may be advanced through the delivery catheter 1 in the collapsed configuration in which the expandable stent 3 is collapsed (other aspects of the exemplary device are described in US 2017/0303949). As shown in fig. 4, when the delivery catheter 1 is withdrawn from the expandable stent 3, the stent 3 expands to its expanded configuration (shown here as a funnel) in which it may contact the vessel wall adjacent the thrombus 7. Aspiration may then be performed to draw the thrombus 7 into the expandable stent 3.

In one embodiment of the invention, the loading device may be used to load the expandable stent or funnel 3 of such an embolectomy device into the lumen of the delivery catheter 1 in a quick, efficient and easy to use manner. Fig. 5A-6F illustrate various embodiments of a loading device. The function of the loading device is to collapse the expandable stent or funnel 3 in a uniform manner so that it can be loaded into the lumen of the delivery catheter 1 in a manner that does not interfere with the deployment of the funnel 3 from the delivery catheter 1. In some embodiments, the loading devices described herein may be used to similarly load other types of expandable medical devices into the lumen of a delivery catheter.

Fig. 5A-5H show one embodiment of a loading device 500 for loading a funnel 3 of a thrombectomy device into a delivery catheter 1. The loading device 500 has a body 502 enclosing an inner lumen 504, the inner lumen 504 being sized and shaped to receive an expandable stent or funnel 3 and extending from a proximal end 518 of the body 502 to a distal end 520 of the body 502. In some embodiments, as shown in fig. 5A-5H, the lumen 504 may have a substantially constant diameter and be slightly larger (e.g., about 5-25% larger) than the diameter of the suction catheter 2 to which the funnel 3 is attached. In some embodiments, the diameter of the lumen 504 is between about 2 to 3 mm. In some embodiments, the diameter of the lumen 504 is less than about 2, 3, 4, and 5 mm. The lumen may be cylindrical and straight and have at least the same length as the funnel 3 in the collapsed configuration. The use of a constant diameter lumen may improve the pushability of the collapsing funnel 3 through the loading device 500 compared to the lumen 504 with a tapered diameter described below, while also reducing the problems of collapsing and deformation of the funnel 3 that may occur when using a tapered lumen, since the constant diameter lumen distributes the radial collapsing force exerted by the loading device 500 evenly over the entire length of the collapsing funnel 3.

To access the lumen 504, the body 502 may be reversibly opened and/or split into two portions 506, 508 to expose the lumen 504. In some embodiments, as shown in fig. 5A-5H, the two portions 506, 508 may be two halves of the body 502, which may be joined together at a hinge 509 or joint to facilitate opening and closing of the two portions of the body 502. In the open configuration, the inner surfaces 510, 512 of the two portions 506, 508 each have a groove 514, 516 that defines a portion (e.g., half) of the lumen.

The body 502 of the loading device has a proximal end 518 and a distal end 520, with the lumen 504 extending through the proximal and distal ends 518, 520. The distal end 520 (from now on referred to as the distal tip portion) is sized and shaped to reversibly couple with the hemostasis valve 4 of the delivery catheter 1. When the distal tip section 520 is coupled with the hemostasis valve 4, the lumen 504 of the loading device 500 is aligned with the lumen of the delivery catheter 1 such that the collapsed funnel 3 can be advanced from the loading device 500 and into the lumen of the delivery catheter 1.

In some embodiments, as particularly shown in fig. 5F, when in the closed configuration, the distal tip portion 520 can have a cylindrical wall portion 522 surrounding a central tubular member 524 extending from the distal tip portion 520 of the tapered protrusion 526. As shown, the lumen 504 extends through the central tubular member 524. This shape allows the distal tip section 520 of the loading device 500 to be tightly coupled with the hemostatic valve 4 of the delivery catheter 1. In some embodiments, the central tubular member 524 extends at least partially into the lumen of the delivery catheter 1 when the distal tip portion 520 is coupled to the hemostasis valve 4. In some embodiments, when the distal tip portion 520 is coupled to the hemostasis valve 4, the central tubular member 524 extends through the sealing mechanism of the hemostasis valve 4. In other embodiments, the central tubular member 524 rests against the end of the hemostasis valve 4 when the distal tip portion 520 is coupled to the hemostasis valve 4.

Fig. 5A, 5C, and 5D illustrate embodiments of alignment features 528 that may be disposed around one or both of the recesses 514, 516. The addition of the alignment feature 528 to both grooves 514, 516 allows a user to place an aspiration catheter in either portion 506, 508 when loading the aspiration catheter 2 into the loading device 500. Each alignment feature 528 may extend from an inner face around the groove and may have an inclined surface 530 that tapers towards the groove, the inclined surface 530 serving to guide the suction catheter 2 into the groove. On the opposing inner face are a plurality of sockets 532, the sockets 532 being sized and shaped to receive the plurality of alignment features 528 such that the two portions 506, 508 may be tightly closed together. The plurality of alignment features 528 and the receptacle 532 also function to assist in properly aligning the two portions 506, 508 during closure, thereby ensuring that the two portions 506, 508 are properly closed together to form the inner cavity 504 in the closed configuration.

In some embodiments, the body 502 may be made of a translucent or transparent material, such as a polycarbonate material or other material, so that a user may visually confirm that the suction catheter 2 and funnel 3 are properly loaded within the loading device 500. In other embodiments, body 502 may be made of an opaque material.

In some embodiments, for example, as shown in fig. 5B, 5E, and 5G, body 502 may include one or more finger tabs 534 that provide a surface for a user to press to open and close body 502. For example, the tab 534 may extend from an outer surface of each portion 506, 508 near a free edge (i.e., the edge opposite the hinge) of each portion 506, 508. The pair of tabs 534 may be adjacent or proximate to each other when the body 502 is in the closed configuration. In some embodiments, the loading device may have additional tabs, such as a third tab located between about 30 degrees and 120 degrees from the first tab and a fourth tab located between about 30 degrees and 120 degrees from the second tab.

The loading device of the present invention may be used to load the expandable and non-expandable portions of an embolectomy device into a catheter. The loading device 500 is opened by grasping the tab 534 and separating the two portions 506, 508 of the body 502 from one another to expose the two recesses 514, 516 forming the internal cavity 504. In some embodiments, the loading device 500 can be transported and provided to a user in either an open configuration or a closed configuration. As shown in fig. 5A, the shaft of the aspiration catheter 2 may be placed in one of the grooves 514, 516 with an alignment feature 528. In embodiments where both recesses 514, 516 have an alignment feature 528, the shaft of the aspiration catheter 2 may be placed in either recess 514, 516. The shaft of the aspiration catheter 2 is placed so that the expandable stent or funnel 3 is completely distal to the distal tip 520 of the loading device 500. In some embodiments, the shaft of the aspiration catheter 2 may be placed roughly in one of the grooves 514, 516, meaning that the shaft need only be placed near or near the groove and, as long as the shaft is disposed within the boundaries of the alignment feature 528, the shaft will be guided into the groove when the body 502 is closed.

Once the shaft is placed in or near one of the recesses 514, 516 as described above, the user can close the two portions 506, 508 of the body 502 together, which results in the shaft of the suction catheter 2 being enclosed by the lumen 504 of the loading device 500 and the funnel 3 being located outside of the loading device 500 and distal to the distal end 520, as shown in fig. 5B. The alignment feature 528 guides and helps to retain the shaft of the suction catheter 2 within the groove during closure of the body 502. The alignment feature 528 also enters and is retained within the socket 532.

Specifically, the alignment feature 528 is square.

Next, as shown in fig. 5E and 5F, the aspiration catheter 2 is retracted in the proximal direction to draw the expandable stent or funnel 3 toward the distal tip 520 of the loading device 500 and into the lumen 504 of the enclosure 502. As the funnel 3 is pulled into the lumen 504 of the loading device, the stent or funnel 3 collapses into a collapsed configuration within the lumen 504. The suction catheter 2 is retracted proximally until the stent or funnel 3 is completely enclosed by the lumen 504 of the loading device 500. The stent or funnel 3 is longer in its contracted configuration than in its expanded configuration. Thus, the lumen 504 is long enough to accommodate the length of the collapsed stent or funnel 3.

Next, as shown in fig. 5G, the distal tip 520 of the loading device 500 is placed against the hemostasis valve 4 at the proximal end of the delivery catheter 1. In some embodiments, the distal tip 520 is reversibly coupled to the hemostasis valve 4. In some embodiments, a portion of the distal tip 520 (e.g., the central tubular member 524 as described above) may be inserted into the lumen of the hemostatic valve 4 and the delivery catheter 1. In some embodiments, a portion of the distal tip 520 (e.g., the central tubular member 524 as described above) may be inserted through a sealing mechanism within the hemostasis valve 4. In other embodiments, the distal tip 520 remains proximal to the sealing mechanism of the hemostasis valve 4. An advantage of advancing the distal tip 520 through the sealing mechanism of the hemostasis valve 4 is that it allows the funnel 3 to be advanced from the loading device 500 into the lumen of the delivery catheter 1 at the point of passing through the sealing mechanism. In contrast, if the distal tip 520 simply abuts against the proximal end of the hemostasis valve 4 or does not extend through the sealing mechanism, the funnel 3 must be pushed out of the loading device 500 and into the lumen of the delivery catheter 1 and then advanced through the lumen of the delivery catheter 1 and through the sealing mechanism of the hemostasis valve 4, which in some embodiments may damage the distal end of the collapsed funnel 3 (e.g., causing the distal end of the funnel to fold). In other embodiments, due to the mechanical properties of the funnel 3 and/or the properties of the sealing mechanism, advancing the funnel 3 through the sealing mechanism is not an issue. Inserting at least a portion of the distal tip 520 into the hemostasis valve 4 is beneficial because it aligns and stabilizes the connection between the suction catheter 2 and the delivery catheter 1, allowing the user to grasp the delivery catheter 1 in one hand while grasping and pushing the shaft of the suction catheter in the other hand.

As shown in fig. 5H, after the distal tip 520 is reversibly coupled to the hemostasis valve 4, the funnel 3 is advanced distally through the hemostasis valve 4 and into the lumen of the delivery catheter 1. The loading device 500 may then be retracted from the hemostasis valve 4, and the body 502 of the loading device 500 may be opened to release and remove the loading device 500 from the shaft of the suction catheter 2. The funnel 3 of the aspiration catheter 2 can then be advanced to the distal portion of the delivery catheter 1 by pushing the shaft of the aspiration catheter 2 in the distal direction within the lumen of the delivery catheter 1.

Fig. 6A-6F illustrate another embodiment of a loading device 600 for loading an expandable medical device (e.g., an expandable stent or funnel 3) into a delivery catheter 1. The loading device 600 has many of the same features as the loading device 500 described above and shown in fig. 5A-5H. For example, the loading device 600 shown in fig. 6A-6F also has a body 602 enclosing a lumen 604, the lumen 604 being sized and shaped to receive a stent or funnel and extending from a proximal end 618 of the body 602 to a distal end 620 of the body 602. The lumen 604 may also have a substantially constant diameter that is slightly larger than the diameter of the aspiration catheter 2 to which the stent or funnel 3 is attached. The lumen 604 may be cylindrical and straight and have at least the same length as the stent or funnel 3 in the collapsed configuration. To access the lumen 604, the body 602 may be reversibly opened and/or separated into two portions 606, 608 to expose the lumen 604.

This is the main difference between the two embodiments. The two portions are no longer two equal or substantially equal halves, and as shown in fig. 6C-6F, the first portion 606 of the body 602 is about three-quarters of a cylinder (e.g., between about 240 degrees and 300 degrees) and the second portion 608 is about one-quarter of a cylinder (e.g., between about 60 degrees and 120 degrees), such that when the two portions 606, 608 are closed together, the body 602 forms a complete cylinder. The relationship between the two portions 606, 608 is described in another way, namely, the first portion 606 has a recess 614 that defines about three-quarters of the lumen 604 of the loading device 600 in the closed configuration (e.g., between about 240 degrees and 300 degrees), and the second portion 608 has a recess 616 that defines about one-quarter of the lumen 604 of the loading device 600 in the closed configuration (e.g., between about 60 degrees and 120 degrees). In some embodiments, the first portion 606 is approximately 260 degrees and the second portion 608 is approximately 100 degrees. The V-shaped surface of the first portion 606 acts as an alignment feature that guides the shaft of the suction catheter 2 into the groove 614 when the body 602 is closed.

The remaining features may be substantially similar to those described above in connection with fig. 5A-5H. For example, the body 602 of the loading device 600 has a proximal end 618 and a distal end 620 (also referred to as a distal tip portion), with the lumen 604 extending through the proximal end 618 and the distal end 620. The distal tip portion 620 is sized and shaped to reversibly couple with the hemostasis valve 4 of the delivery catheter 1. When the distal tip portion 620 is coupled with the hemostasis valve 4, the lumen 604 of the loading device 600 is aligned with the lumen of the delivery catheter 1 such that the collapsed funnel 3 can be advanced from the loading device 600 and into the lumen of the delivery catheter 1.

Further, when in the closed configuration, the distal tip portion 620 can have a cylindrical wall portion 622, the cylindrical wall portion 622 surrounding a central tubular member 624, the central tubular member 624 extending from the distal tip portion 620 of the tapered protrusion 626. As shown, the lumen 604 extends through the central tubular member 624. This shape allows the distal tip portion 620 of the loading device 600 to be tightly coupled with the hemostatic valve 4 of the delivery catheter 1. In some embodiments, the central tubular member 624 extends at least partially into the lumen of the delivery catheter 1 when the distal tip portion 620 is coupled to the hemostasis valve 4. In some embodiments, the central tubular member 624 extends through the sealing mechanism of the hemostasis valve 4 when the distal tip portion 620 is coupled to the hemostasis valve 4. In other embodiments, the central tubular member 624 abuts against the end of the hemostasis valve 4 when the distal tip portion 620 is coupled to the hemostasis valve 4.

The loading device 600 described in connection with fig. 6A-6F may be used in a similar manner as the loading device 500 described above in connection with fig. 5A-5H.

Fig. 7A-7C illustrate different views of another embodiment of a loading device 700, the device 700 being used to load an expandable medical device, such as an expandable stent or funnel 3, into a delivery catheter 1. The loading device 700 has many of the same features as the loading devices 500 and 600 described above and may be used in a similar manner to the loading devices 500 and 600 described above. For example, the loading device 700 shown in fig. 7A-7C also has a body 702 enclosing a lumen 704, the lumen 704 being sized and shaped to receive the stent or funnel 3 and extending from a proximal end 718 of the body 702 to a distal end 720 of the body 702. The lumen 704 may also have a substantially constant diameter that is slightly larger than the diameter of the aspiration catheter 2 to which the stent or funnel 3 is attached. To access the lumen 704, the body 702 may be reversibly opened and/or split into two portions 706, 708 to expose the lumen 704. In the open configuration, the inner surfaces 710, 712 of the two portions 706, 708 each have a groove 714, 716 that defines a portion (e.g., one half) of the lumen 704. As shown, the inner surfaces 710, 712 of the first and second portions 706, 708 define a plurality of alignment features 728.

The lumen 704 also extends through the distal end 720 of the body 702. The distal end 720 or distal tip portion is sized and shaped to reversibly couple with the hemostasis valve 4 of the delivery catheter 1. When the distal end 720 is coupled to the hemostasis valve 4, the lumen 704 of the loading device 700 is aligned with the lumen of the delivery catheter 1 so that the collapsed funnel 3 can be advanced from the loading device 700 and into the lumen of the delivery catheter 1. As shown in fig. 7A, the distal end 720, when in the closed configuration, can have a cylindrical wall portion 722, the cylindrical wall portion 722 surrounding a central tubular member 724, the central tubular member 724 extending from the distal end 720 of a tapered protrusion 726. The lumen 704 extends through the central tubular member 724. This shape allows the distal end 720 to be tightly coupled with the hemostatic valve 4 of the delivery catheter 1. When the distal tip section 720 is coupled to the hemostasis valve 4, the central tubular member 724 can extend at least partially into the lumen of the delivery catheter 1. Optionally, when the distal end 720 is coupled to the hemostasis valve 4, the central tubular member 724 may extend through the sealing mechanism of the hemostasis valve 4. Even further, when the distal end 720 is coupled to the hemostatic valve 4, the central tubular member 724 may rest against the end of the hemostatic valve 4.

In some embodiments, as shown in fig. 7B, body 702 also includes one or more finger tabs 734 that provide a surface for a user to press to open and close body 702.

When a feature or element is referred to herein as being "on" another feature or element, it can be directly on the other feature or element or intervening features and/or elements may also be present. In contrast, when a feature or element is referred to as being "directly on" another feature or element, there are no intervening features or elements present. It will also be understood that when a feature or element is referred to as being "connected," "attached," or "coupled" to another feature or element, it can be directly connected, attached, or coupled to the other feature or element or intervening features or elements may also be present. In contrast, when a feature or element is referred to as being "directly connected," "directly attached" or "directly coupled" to another feature or element, there are no intervening features or elements present. Although described or illustrated with respect to one embodiment, the features and elements so described or illustrated may be applicable to other embodiments. Those skilled in the art will also appreciate that references to a structure or feature that is disposed "adjacent" another feature may have portions that overlap or underlie the adjacent feature.

The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting of the invention. For example, as used herein, the singular forms "a", "an" and "the" are intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. It will be further understood that the terms "comprises" and/or "comprising," when used in this specification, specify the presence of stated features, steps, operations, elements, and/or components, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, steps, operations, elements, components, and/or groups thereof. As used herein, the term "and/or" includes any and all combinations of one or more of the associated listed items and may be abbreviated as "/".

Spatially relative terms, such as "under", "below", "lower", "above", and the like, are used herein to facilitate describing one element or feature's relationship to another element or feature as illustrated in the figures. It will be understood that the spatially relative terms are intended to encompass different orientations of the device in use or operation in addition to the orientation depicted in the figures. For example, if the device in the figures is turned over, elements described as "below" or "beneath" other elements or features would then be oriented "above" the other elements or features. Thus, the exemplary term "below" can encompass both an orientation of above and below. The device may be otherwise oriented (rotated 90 degrees or at other orientations) and the spatially relative descriptors used herein interpreted accordingly. Similarly, the terms "upward," "downward," "vertical," "horizontal," and the like are used herein for explanatory purposes only, unless specifically stated otherwise.

Although the terms "first" and "second" may be used herein to describe various features/elements (including steps), these features/elements should not be limited by these terms unless the context indicates otherwise. These terms may be used to distinguish one feature/element from another feature/element. Thus, a first feature/element discussed below could be termed a second feature/element, and similarly, a second feature/element discussed below could be termed a first feature/element, without departing from the teachings of the present invention.

In this specification and the claims which follow, unless the context requires otherwise, the word "comprise", and variations such as "comprises" and "comprising", will imply the use of various components in both the method and article of manufacture (e.g. including apparatus and method components and devices). For example, the term "comprising" will be understood to imply the inclusion of any stated elements or steps but not the exclusion of any other elements or steps.

As used herein in the specification and claims, including in the examples, unless expressly specified otherwise, all numbers may be understood as beginning with the word "about" or "approximately", even if the word does not expressly appear. When values and/or locations are described, the phrase "about" or "approximately" may be used to indicate that the described values and/or locations are within a reasonably expected range of values and/or locations.

For example, a numerical value may be +/-0.1% of the value (or numerical range), +/-1% of the value (or numerical range), +/-2% of the value (or numerical range), +/-5% of the value (or numerical range), +/-10% of the value (or numerical range), and the like. Unless the context indicates otherwise, any numerical value given herein is also to be understood as encompassing or approximating that value. For example, if the value "10" is disclosed, then "about 10" is also disclosed. Any numerical range recited herein is intended to include all sub-ranges subsumed therein. It is also understood that when a value is disclosed, as is well understood by those skilled in the art, "less than or equal to" the value, "greater than or equal to the value," and possible ranges between values are also disclosed. For example, if the value "X" is disclosed, "less than or equal to X" and "greater than or equal to X" (e.g., where X is a numerical value) are also disclosed. It should also be understood that throughout this application, data is provided in a number of different formats, and that the data represents endpoints and starting points, and ranges for any combination of data points. For example, if a particular data point "10" and a particular data point "15" are disclosed, it is understood that greater than, greater than or equal to, less than or equal to, equal to 10 and 15, and between 10 and 15 may be considered disclosed. It is also understood that each unit between two particular units is also disclosed. For example, if 10 and 15 are disclosed, then 11, 12, 13, and 14 are also disclosed.

Although various exemplary illustrative embodiments have been described above, any modifications may be made to the various embodiments without departing from the scope of the invention as described in the claims. For example, in alternative embodiments, the order in which the various described method steps are performed may generally be varied, and in other alternative embodiments, one or more method steps may be skipped altogether. Optional features of various apparatus and system embodiments may be included in some embodiments and not in others. Accordingly, the foregoing description is provided primarily for the purpose of illustration and should not be construed as limiting the scope of the invention as set forth in the claims.

The examples and illustrations included herein show, by way of illustration and not limitation, specific embodiments in which the subject matter may be practiced. As described above, other embodiments may be utilized and derived therefrom, such that structural and logical substitutions and changes may be made without departing from the scope of this disclosure. Such embodiments of the inventive subject matter may be referred to herein, individually or collectively, by the term "invention" merely for convenience and without intending to voluntarily limit the scope of this application to any single invention or inventive concept if more than one is in fact disclosed. Thus, although specific embodiments have been illustrated and described herein, any arrangement calculated to achieve the same purpose may be substituted for the specific embodiments shown. This disclosure is intended to cover any and all adaptations or variations of various embodiments. Combinations of the above embodiments, and other embodiments not specifically described herein, will be apparent to those of skill in the art upon reviewing the above description.