Patent ID: 7801626

Claim:
A combination of: an implantable intraluminal or intravascular device for use in a body lumen having walls, and an apparatus for positioning said implantable device in the body lumen, the combination comprising: said implantable device comprising: an elongated body; an expandable section having elongated straight struts with a proximal section connected to said elongated body and extending at an angle to said elongated body, and a distal section extending parallel to said elongated body, said expandable section having a variable dimension allowing a compressed value for delivery to said body lumen and an expanded value, larger than said compressed value, for implantation in said body lumen so that the proximal sections press the distal sections outwardly against said body lumen walls to removably engage the device with said body lumen; a link section, at one end of said device comprising a grip, for detachably joining said device to a catheter, and for applying an axial force on said device, wherein said grip comprises a head having a transversal dimension, and a neck connecting said head to said device, having a dimension smaller than said transversal dimension of said head; at least one sensor joined to said device; wherein said device is arranged for reacting to an axial pulling force to said grip, by assuming said compressed value of said variable dimension, for retrieval or repositioning of at least part of said implantable device; and said apparatus comprising: a flexible catheter, inserted into a flexible sleeve; a grasp section, fixed to the tip of said catheter, for cooperating with the link section of said implantable device, said grasp section comprising at least two opposed flexible fingers; said flexible sleeve interacting with said flexible fingers for opening and closing said flexible fingers on said link section of said implantable device, and interacting with an expandable section of said implantable device for reducing the variable dimension of said implantable device.