Patent ID: 7232462

Claim:
A self centering delivery catheter for delivery of an expandable intraluminal device into a vessel, the delivery catheter comprising: an outer sheath; a cannula disposed inside the outer sheath and axially translatable relative to the outer sheath; a set of centering legs attached to the cannula, the centering legs being operable between a first retracted position and a second extended position, the centering legs moving radially away from the cannula as the centering legs move from the first position to the second position; the relative position of the outer sheath and cannula controlling operation of the centering legs between the first and second positions; a control wire disposed inside the cannula and axially translatable relative to the cannula; and a release mechanism formed near a distal end of the control wire, the release mechanism structured to engage and disengage the expandable intraluminal device, the release mechanism including a cap formed at a distal end of the cannula, the cap including a bore receiving a cylinder, the cylinder operatively connected to a the control wire, the cap including channels receiving struts of the expandable intraluminal device, the cap and cylinder cooperating to engage the expandable intraluminal device, axial translation of the control wire operating the release mechanism to disengage the expandable intraluminal device.