Patent ID: 7666219
Filing Date: 2010-02-23
Classification: A61F

Abstract:
1. An introducer for an expandable endovascular prosthesis, the introducer comprising: an expandable prosthesis having a proximal portion, a distal portion, and self-expanding stent extending from the proximal portion; a distal prosthesis positioning mechanism including a distal retention section and a first control member to selectively release the distal retention section from the prosthesis; and a proximal prosthesis positioning mechanism including a retention device to retain the self-expanding stent therein and a second control member to selectively release the retention device from the prosthesis; wherein the retention device comprises a cylindrical body having a cavity, the cavity including an opening at a distal end of the retention device and a surface extending longitudinally therefrom to form the surface of the cavity, the cavity having a first width at the opening and a second width at a longitudinal distance along the surface from the opening, the first width being greater than the second width, where spacing between struts of the self-expanding stent is decreased longitudinally along the surface of the cavity from the opening.