Patent ID: 8986362
Filing Date: 2015-03-24
Classification: A61F

Abstract:
1. A prosthesis delivery catheter for delivering a prosthesis into a vessel, said catheter comprising: an outer shaft having a distal end, a first lumen, and a substantially inexpandable outer diameter, the outer shaft defining a lumen space; a plurality of self-expanding tubular prostheses having a contracted configuration and a radially expanded configuration with an expanded diameter adapted to contact the vessel, the prostheses carried within the first lumen and being adapted to radially expand into the expanded configuration upon deployment from the first lumen, wherein adjacent self-expanding prostheses are unconnected and free of material deployable with the prostheses extending therebetween thereby allowing axial separation of one prosthesis from an adjacent prosthesis in the contracted configuration; and a control member comprising a plurality of tines arranged in a cylindrical pattern and extending distally from the distal end of the outer shaft and defining an interior communicating with the first lumen for receiving one or more of the prostheses when the prostheses are advanced distally, the tines having an undeflected shape when not engaged by any of the prostheses and each of the tines comprising a straight portion and an arcuate distal tip that is biased radially inward in the undeflected shape so that the arcuate distal tip protrudes into the lumen space, wherein the tines deflect radially outwardly under expansion force imparted by a first prosthesis to at least the expanded diameter of the prostheses when engaged by the first prosthesis during the expansion thereof and resiliently return to the undeflected shape when the first prosthesis is removed from the interior; wherein the control member further comprises a web extending between the tines and the web is a distensible elastomer.