Patent ID: 8831741

Claim:
A catheter system for intraluminal delivery of a medical implant, the system comprising: an elongate catheter having an inner surface defining a lumen extending from a catheter proximal end to an open catheter distal end; a cap disposed at the catheter distal end and having a proximal end removably disposed within the catheter lumen and a rounded distal end extending distally of the catheter distal end; and an elongate actuator wire slidably disposed within the catheter lumen and having a distal end fixedly attached to the cap, the actuator wire having a distal region with a pre-formed shape, the distal region having a substantially straightened shape different from the pre-formed shape when constrained within the catheter lumen and being adapted to assume its pre-formed shape when exposed distally beyond the catheter distal end, the pre-formed shape defining a bend adapted to laterally displace the cap from the catheter distal end when assuming the pre-formed shape; wherein at least a portion of the lumen adjacent the catheter distal end is sized and shaped to slidably receive the medical implant alongside the actuator wire.