Patent ID: 6395017
Filing Date: 2002-05-28
Classification: A61F

Abstract:
A device for delivering, positioning and releasing, within a body lumen, a self-expandable implant comprising:an elongate tubular sheath for maintaining the implant in a low profile configuration, the sheath having a leading end and a trailing end and being open at its leading end; a control handle having a body and a movable portion, the movable portion being connected to a trailing portion of the sheath, the movable portion being movable along the body of the handle to effect forward and rearward motion of the sheath with respect to the body of the handle; an implant retainer engageable with the trailing end of the implant and being disposed to maintain the implant in a fixed position with respect to the body of the handle, the implant retainer being receivable within the sheath whereby the sheath may be moved between a forward, implant-capturing position in which the implant retainer is contained within the sheath and a rearward, implant-release position in which the implant retainer is disposed forwardly beyond the leading end of the sheath; the movable portion of the handle being movable between a forward implant-capturing position and a rearward implant release position, the implant retainer being constructed to engage the implant to enable the leading end of the implant to self-expand as the sheath is moved toward the implant-release position and; a detent carried by the handle to prevent continuous forward-rearward movement of the movable portion of the handle from the implant capture position to the implant release position.