Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 25
Claim 1
Independent Claim
136 words
1 . A medical treatment system, comprising: a first elongate support member having a distal mount; a second elongate support member having a proximal mount, the second elongate support member being selectively movable relative to the first elongate support member along a longitudinal axis; a self-expanding medical implant that foreshortens upon radially expanding from a radially compacted state; a distal interface configured to attach the distal mount to the implant; a proximal interface configured to attach the proximal mount to the implant; wherein moving the distal mount away from the proximal mount applies a longitudinal tension to the implant causing the implant to expand longitudinally and contract radially and wherein moving the distal mount toward the proximal mount reduces a longitudinal tension in the implant allowing the implant to expand radially toward a fully expanded state.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
136 words
1 . A medical treatment system, comprising: a first elongate support member having a distal mount; a second elongate support member having a proximal mount, the second elongate support member being selectively movable relative to the first elongate support member along a longitudinal axis; a self-expanding medical implant that foreshortens upon radially expanding from a radially compacted state; a distal interface configured to attach the distal mount to the implant; a proximal interface configured to attach the proximal mount to the implant; wherein moving the distal mount away from the proximal mount applies a longitudinal tension to the implant causing the implant to expand longitudinally and contract radially and wherein moving the distal mount toward the proximal mount reduces a longitudinal tension in the implant allowing the implant to expand radially toward a fully expanded state.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
44 words
2 . The medical treatment system of claim 1 , wherein the distal mount is attached to the distal interface by at least one distal flexible member and the proximal mount is attached to the proximal interface by at least one proximal flexible member.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
23 words
3 . The medical treatment system of claim 2 , wherein the distal flexible member and the proximal flexible member comprise a suture.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
30 words
4 . The medical treatment system of claim 1 , wherein the distal interface comprises at least one distal eyelet and the proximal interface comprises at least one proximal eyelet.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
25 words
5 . The medical treatment system of claim 1 additionally comprising a release mechanism configured to release the distal and proximal mounts from the implant.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
41 words
6 . The medical treatment system of claim 1 , wherein the distal interface has a length and the implant has a length in the expanded state, and the distal interface length is at least the same as the implant length.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
37 words
7 . The medical treatment system of claim 1 additionally comprising an endoscope that extends through the first elongate support member so as to provide a view adjacent the distal end of the first elongate support member.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
29 words
8 . The medical treatment system of claim 1 , wherein a controller controls the movement of the first elongate support member longitudinally relative the second elongate support member.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
31 words
9 . The medical treatment system of claim 1 , wherein an actuator selectively moves the first elongate support member in a longitudinal direction relative to the second elongate support member.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
16 words
10 . The medical treatment system of claim 1 in combination with a secondary restraint system.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
31 words
11 . The medical treatment system of claim 10 , wherein the secondary restraint system comprises a sheath configured to hold the implant at least partially therein in a compacted state.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
179 words
12 . A medical treatment system, comprising: a first elongate support member having a first engagement member; a second elongate support member having a second engagement member, the second elongate support member being selectively movable relative to the first elongate support member along a longitudinal axis; a distal mount; a proximal mount slidingly coupled relative to the distal mount along the longitudinal axis; a first spring interposed between the proximal and distal mounts so as to bias the proximal and distal mounts longitudinally away from one another; a self-expanding medical implant that foreshortens upon radially expanding from a radially compacted state; a distal interface configured to attach the distal mount to the implant; a proximal interface configured to attach the proximal mount to the implant; wherein moving the distal mount away from the proximal mount applies a longitudinal tension to the implant causing the implant to expand longitudinally and contract radially and wherein moving the distal mount toward the proximal mount reduces a longitudinal tension in the implant allowing the implant to expand radially toward a fully expanded state.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
179 words
12 . A medical treatment system, comprising: a first elongate support member having a first engagement member; a second elongate support member having a second engagement member, the second elongate support member being selectively movable relative to the first elongate support member along a longitudinal axis; a distal mount; a proximal mount slidingly coupled relative to the distal mount along the longitudinal axis; a first spring interposed between the proximal and distal mounts so as to bias the proximal and distal mounts longitudinally away from one another; a self-expanding medical implant that foreshortens upon radially expanding from a radially compacted state; a distal interface configured to attach the distal mount to the implant; a proximal interface configured to attach the proximal mount to the implant; wherein moving the distal mount away from the proximal mount applies a longitudinal tension to the implant causing the implant to expand longitudinally and contract radially and wherein moving the distal mount toward the proximal mount reduces a longitudinal tension in the implant allowing the implant to expand radially toward a fully expanded state.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
25 words
13 . The medical treatment system of claim 12 , wherein the proximal and distal mounts are arranged between the first and second engagement members.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
69 words
14 . The medical treatment system of claim 12 , wherein at least one of the proximal and distal interfaces comprises a ring assembly having at least one flexible arm fixedly attached to the ring at a first end and releasably attached to the implant at a second end, the second end extending beyond the diameter of the ring, and wherein the at least one flexible arm is resilient.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
60 words
15 . The medical treatment system of claim 12 , wherein the first and second engagement members are configured so that as the first and second engagement are moved toward one another, the proximal and distal mounts are urged toward each other and the biasing of the center spring is overcome so that the implant contracts longitudinally and expands radially.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
69 words
16 . The medical treatment system of claim 15 , wherein a second spring is interposed between the second engagement member and one of the proximal and distal mounts, and a third spring is interposed between the first engagement member and the other of the proximal and distal mounts, and the second and third springs each have a spring constant greater than a spring constant of the first spring.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
24 words
17 . The medical treatment system of claim 16 , wherein the spring constants of the second and third springs are substantially the same.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
169 words
18 . A method of delivering a medical implant, comprising: providing an implant delivery system comprising a self expanding implant configured to longitudinally foreshorten upon radially expanding from a compacted radial state, a delivery device comprising proximal and distal mounts that selectively connect to the implant by a proximal and a distal interface, respectively, the delivery device configured so that the proximal and distal mounts can be selectively moved relative to one another so as to selectively apply a longitudinal tension on the implant to urge the implant into the compacted radial state; advancing the implant in a compacted radial state within a patient to a desired deployment location; positioning the implant adjacent the desired deployment location; actuating the delivery device so as to move the proximal and distal mounts toward one another so as to reduce the longitudinal tension on the implant and allow the implant to radially expand toward a fully expanded state; verifying the implant is properly positioned at the desired deployment location within the patient.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
169 words
18 . A method of delivering a medical implant, comprising: providing an implant delivery system comprising a self expanding implant configured to longitudinally foreshorten upon radially expanding from a compacted radial state, a delivery device comprising proximal and distal mounts that selectively connect to the implant by a proximal and a distal interface, respectively, the delivery device configured so that the proximal and distal mounts can be selectively moved relative to one another so as to selectively apply a longitudinal tension on the implant to urge the implant into the compacted radial state; advancing the implant in a compacted radial state within a patient to a desired deployment location; positioning the implant adjacent the desired deployment location; actuating the delivery device so as to move the proximal and distal mounts toward one another so as to reduce the longitudinal tension on the implant and allow the implant to radially expand toward a fully expanded state; verifying the implant is properly positioned at the desired deployment location within the patient.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
65 words
19 . The method of delivering a medical implant of claim 18 , wherein if it is determined that the implant is not properly positioned, additionally comprising moving the proximal and distal mounts away from one another so as to increase the longitudinal tension on the implant to longitudinally expand and radially contract the implant so as to disengage the implant from the patient's tissues.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
40 words
20 . The method of delivering a medical implant of claim 19 additionally comprising adjusting the position of the implant, and again moving the proximal and distal mounts toward one another so as to allow the implant to radially expand.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
30 words
21 . The method of delivering a medical implant of claim 18 , additionally comprising verifying whether the implant is poised to be properly positioned after partially expanding the implant.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
29 words
22 . The method of delivering a medical implant of claim 18 additionally comprising providing an endoscope, and using the endoscope to verify whether the implant is properly positioned.