A deployment device configured to fit within an enclosure of a prosthesis, comprising: a flexible support structure configured in generally planar form having a first total circumferential area in a deployed configuration, and configured with an elasticity sufficient to cause the flexible support structure to independently apply a radial deployment force and assume the deployed configuration; a separation line in the flexible support structure extending in a generally serpentine shape from a central portion of the flexible support structure to a perimeter of the flexible support structure; a through-cut disposed at an innermost end of the separation line at the central portion of the flexible support structure; a strap coupled with the flexible support structure in the central portion, the strap comprising a first appendage having a first end extending from the flexible support structure at a first location and a second appendage that is shorter than the first appendage and having a second end extending from the flexible support structure at a location, wherein the first and second locations (174a, 174b) are distinguishable based on their proximity to the through-cut, with the second end positioned at the second location that is more distal from the through-cut than the first end positioned at the first location; wherein the first appendage and the second appendage are adapted to lock together at their ends (177a, 177b) by engaging together a slit and a protuberance formed at their ends (177a, 177b), such that when in a locked configuration tensile forces exerted on the first appendage at the end of the first appendage are distributed along the second appendage to the flexible support structure, while in an unlocked configuration tensile forces exerted on the first appendage are distributed along the first appendage to the flexible support structure; wherein due to the first appendage being coupled to the flexible support structure at the location more proximate to the through-cut, a pulling force applied to the first appendage at the end of the first appendage can be used to initiate separation of the flexible support structure along the separation line when in the unlocked configuration, but such that the same pulling force when applied to the first appendage does not initiate separation along the separation line when in the locked configuration; and wherein the deployment device can be removed from the enclosure of the prosthesis when separated along the separation line. a flexible support structure configured in generally planar form having a first total circumferential area in a deployed configuration, and configured with an elasticity sufficient to cause the flexible support structure to independently apply a radial deployment force and assume the deployed configuration; a separation line in the flexible support structure extending in a generally serpentine shape from a central portion of the flexible support structure to a perimeter of the flexible support structure; a through-cut disposed at an innermost end of the separation line at the central portion of the flexible support structure; a strap coupled with the flexible support structure in the central portion, the strap comprising a first appendage having a first end extending from the flexible support structure at a first location and a second appendage that is shorter than the first appendage and having a second end extending from the flexible support structure at a location, wherein the first and second locations (174a, 174b) are distinguishable based on their proximity to the through-cut, with the second end positioned at the second location that is more distal from the through-cut than the first end positioned at the first location; wherein the first appendage and the second appendage are adapted to lock together at their ends (177a, 177b) by engaging together a slit and a protuberance formed at their ends (177a, 177b), such that when in a locked configuration tensile forces exerted on the first appendage at the end of the first appendage are distributed along the second appendage to the flexible support structure, while in an unlocked configuration tensile forces exerted on the first appendage are distributed along the first appendage to the flexible support structure; wherein due to the first appendage being coupled to the flexible support structure at the location more proximate to the through-cut, a pulling force applied to the first appendage at the end of the first appendage can be used to initiate separation of the flexible support structure along the separation line when in the unlocked configuration, but such that the same pulling force when applied to the first appendage does not initiate separation along the separation line when in the locked configuration; and wherein the deployment device can be removed from the enclosure of the prosthesis when separated along the separation line.