Patent ID: 9554904
Date: 2017-01-31
CPC Classifications: A61F,A61M

Claim:
1. A catheter for implanting a prosthesis, comprising: a retaining sleeve defining a hollow cavity for containing a prosthesis, the retaining sleeve comprising an outer diameter and a distal edge; and a distal tip assembly disposed distal of the retaining sleeve and configured to move axially relative to the retaining sleeve, the distal tip assembly comprising, wherein the first outer diameter of the balloon element in the contracted position is constant along the entire length of the balloon element and substantially equal to the outer diameter of the retaining sleeve, wherein the retaining sleeve is configured to move relative to the distal tip assembly from a closed configuration in which the retaining sleeve abuts against the balloon element of the distal tip assembly and contains the prosthesis to an open configuration in which the retaining sleeve separates from the balloon element of the distal tip assembly for releasing the prosthesis from the catheter, wherein when the retaining sleeve is in the closed configuration, the balloon element of the distal tip assembly in each of the contracted position and the expanded position contacts the distal edge of the retaining sleeve.