Patent ID: 7892273
Filing Date: 2011-02-22
Classification: A61F,H01Q,H04B

Abstract:
1. A method for delivering prosthetic segments to a body lumen, the method comprising: introducing a plurality of axially separable prosthetic segments positionable over an expandable member so as to be releasably arranged axially along the expandable member and an outer sheath slidably disposed over at least a portion of the prosthetic segments into a body lumen having a lesion with a lesion length at a first treatment site, wherein the sheath comprises an inwardly extending separator disposed on an inside surface of a distal portion of the sheath, the distal portion reinforced so as to resist radial expansion when the expandable member is expanded; retracting the separator proximally relative to a group of unexpanded prosthetic segments selected for delivery, the group of prosthetic segments having a combined length that substantially matches the lesion length; advancing the separator distally so that the separator engages a prosthetic segment in the selected group and axially separates the group of prosthetic segments from one or more remaining prosthetic segments creating a space between the segments selected for delivery and the remaining prosthetic segments; exposing the selected group of unexpanded prosthetic segments so that the selected group of prosthetic segments are radially unconstrained from expansion by retracting the separator proximal of the proximal segment of the segments selected for delivery; and deploying the selected group of prosthetic segments concurrently as a group at the first treatment site by expanding the expandable member.