Patent ID: 7959661
Filing Date: 2011-06-14
Classification: A61F

Abstract:
1. A delivery system for delivering an endoluminal implant to a distal deployment location inside a body lumen from a proximal access location outside the body lumen, the delivery system comprising: the implant having a proximal end and a distal end; a catheter comprising at least one of a stabilizer, a catheter tip, or a combination thereof, the stabilizer having a distal end located adjacent the implant proximal end, the catheter tip attached to a central core slideably disposed relative to the implant and having a proximal end located adjacent the implant distal end; at least one of the catheter tip proximal end or the stabilizer distal end comprising a docking section adapted to releasably engage a portion of the implant, each docking section comprising an engagement geometry for engaging the implant, and; a slidable sheath having an advanced position in which the sheath covers the implant and a retracted position in which the implant is exposed; each docking section engagement geometry comprising an outwardly flared engagement surface that extends inside a short axial length of the implant or a pocket having a bottleneck geometry; wherein the sheath cooperates with the docking section to keep the implant in a compressed configuration, the docking section adapted to release engagement of the portion of the compressed implant upon retraction of the sheath beyond a location at which the sheath at least partially overlies the docking section.