Patent ID: 6159228
Filing Date: 2000-12-12
Classification: A61F,A61M

Abstract:
A device for positioning a radially extendable luminal endoprosthesis in an anatomical conduit, the device comprising:a distal tip;a tubular sheath, positioned behind the distal tip, and having a distal end and a proximal end, the sheath defining an internal chamber for a radially extendable endoprosthesis to be inserted in the sheath in a radially contracted shape prior to positioning, the sheath comprising at least one layer of material and having several zones;a sliding device, adapted to slide the sheath with respect to the distal tip to open the chamber for releasing the endoprosthesis from the internal chamber into an anatomical conduit; anda radiopaque material incorporated in at least one component of at least one of the layers in at least one of the zones of the sheath, said at least one layer extending along a portion of the distal end of the sheath, such that the sheath comprises, near the distal end, at least one zone whose radiopacity is lower than the radiopacity of an adjacent zone, and at least one boundary limit between two zones of different radiopacity, which is disposed at a predetermined axial distance from the distal end and corresponds to a position at which one of the ends of the endoprosthesis is to be located when the endoprosthesis is released to assume a radially extended shape.