Patent ID: 6251132
Filing Date: 2001-06-26
Classification: A61F

Abstract:
A system for positioning a prosthesis in contact with tissue within a patient from a remote location, comprising:a prosthesis having a proximal end and a distal end further from said remote location than said proximal end and a tissue-engaging body between said proximal end and said distal end, and having a radially compact state for delivery into the patient and a radially expanded state for making contact with tissue, the prosthesis having a variable length dependent upon the state of expansion of said prosthesis, said prosthesis comprising at least one opening near said distal end, anda catheter for supporting said prosthesis in said compact state during delivery into the patient and constructed for allowing said prosthesis to expand and make contact with tissue, wherein said catheter includes at least one elongate member having a free end adapted to extend through said opening to maintain a distal portion of said prosthesis radially compact at a predetermined axial location while proximal portions of said prosthesis radially expand to make contact with tissue, andwherein said radially compact, distal portion of said prosthesis engaged by said at least one member is releasable from said catheter at an axial location substantially corresponding to said predetermined location by relative axial motion between said at least one member and said prosthesis.