Patent ID: 8043352
Filing Date: 2011-10-25
Classification: A61F

Abstract:
1. A delivery system for placing a medical device within a body vessel, said delivery system comprising: a sheath member having a sheath member proximal end, a sheath member distal end, a circumferential wall, an inner surface, and an outer surface, the sheath member defining a first passageway having a first passageway proximal end and a first passageway distal end, the first passageway extending between the sheath member proximal and sheath member distal ends and having a distal cavity located within the first passageway and axially spaced from the sheath member proximal end, the circumferential wall defining an opening providing access from the environment external to the sheath member to the first passageway; an inner member having an inner member distal end comprising a distal tip, an inner member proximal end comprising a proximal flange, and a mounting region about which said medical device can be disposed, the inner member defining a second passageway extending between the distal tip and proximal flange and being slidably disposed within the distal cavity such that the inner member proximal end is disposed within the distal cavity, the inner member movable between a first position in which the inner member is disposed entirely within the first passageway and a second position in which the inner member is partially disposed within the first passageway and partially disposed outside the first passageway; and a fluid disposed in the first passageway and in contact with the proximal flange; wherein only the fluid is disposed within an axial portion of the first passageway extending between the first passageway proximal end and the opening in the circumferential wall; wherein the inner surface of the sheath member defines a groove adapted to temporarily engage the proximal flange of the inner member.