Patent ID: 8187284

Claim:
In combination, an apparatus for moving an object disposed within a body lumen an object, the apparatus comprising: a first sheath for insertion into the body lumen; a coupling member movable relative to the first sheath between a retracted position wherein a distal portion of the coupling member is disposed within the first sheath and a capture position wherein the coupling member distal portion is disposed outside the first sheath, the coupling member selectively attachable to the object in at least the capture position; and at least one contraction member for engaging at least a portion of the object, the object comprising a collapsible medical device, said contraction member and said coupling member capable of being retracted such that they are substantially disposed within said first sheath, whereby when the coupling member is attached to the collapsible medical device and the contraction member is directly engaged with the collapsible medical device then a predetermined coupling member movement relative to the contraction member radially contracts at least a portion of the collapsible medical device thereby facilitating movement of the collapsible medical device within the body lumen, wherein the coupling member and the contraction member cooperate to draw the collapsible medical device within the first sheath without substantially deforming the first sheath, said collapsible medical device having an expanded cross-sectional size that exceeds a cross-sectional size of said first sheath.