Patent ID: 7527643

Claim:
A delivery system for placing a self-expandable prosthetic device within a body vessel, said delivery system comprising: an elongate tubular member comprising a circumferential wall and having first proximal and distal ends, the elongate tubular member defining a first passageway extending between the first proximal and distal ends and an exchange port extending through the wall and providing access to the first passageway; a distal tip member having second proximal and distal ends, defining a second passageway extending between the second proximal and distal ends, and defining a mounting region about which said self-expandable prosthetic device can be disposed, the second proximal end defining a proximal surface and being slideably disposed within the first passageway; a pusher disposed within the first passageway and comprising a third distal end adapted to interact with the proximal surface of the distal tip member; and means for retaining the second proximal end of the distal tip member within the first passageway; wherein the second proximal end of the distal tip member defines a projection directed radially outward; wherein the means for retaining the second proximal end of the distal tip member within the first passageway comprises a track defined by the wall of the elongate tubular member, wherein the track terminates proximal to the distal end of the elongate tubular member; and wherein the projection is slideably disposed within the track; wherein the second proximal end of the distal tip member further defines a second projection directed radially outward; wherein the means for retaining the second proximal end of the distal tip member within the first passageway further comprises a second track defined by the wall of the elongate tubular member, wherein the second track terminates proximal to the distal end of the elongate tubular member; and wherein the second projection is slideably disposed within the second track.