Patent ID: 8021416

Claim:
A method for delivering a prosthesis to a site in a body, comprising: providing a delivery system comprising a tubular member having a sheath releasably affixed to a distal end of the tubular member, said sheath having a distal opening and a lumen therethrough, said distal opening and said lumen of sufficient size to maintain patent blood flow through the lumen; advancing the tubular member through a vessel in a body to position the tubular member distal end at a site in the body; advancing a prosthesis which is not within the sheath, through an opening in the tubular member distal end and into the sheath, the delivery of the prosthesis into the sheath causing the sheath to release from the tubular member, such that the sheath containing the prosthesis is delivered to the site; and maintaining patent blood flow through the lumen and through the distal opening while said sheath is positioned at the site in the body.