Patent ID: 7488344

Claim:
A deployment device and prosthesis in combination, the prosthesis being mounted on the deployment device, the deployment device comprising a central catheter extending from a proximal end to a distal end, the proximal end in use remaining outside a patient and the distal end in use being inserted into the descending aorta of a patient, a nose cone on the distal end of the central catheter, the nose cone including means to retain the distal end of the prosthesis with the assistance of a trigger wire, and a deployment catheter co-axially around the central catheter and slidable longitudinally with respect to the central catheter and means to lock the movement of the deployment catheter with respect to the central catheter, the deployment catheter extending from a distal end thereof adjacent the nose cone to a position which in use is outside the patient, a manipulator coaxially around the deployment catheter, the manipulator being slidable longitudinally with respect to the deployment catheter and extending to a position which in use is outside the patient the prosthesis being tubular and having a proximal end and a distal end and being formed from a biocompatible material, the proximal end to be surgically fastened adjacent and around the sortic heart valve of a patient and the distal end to extend in use into the descending aorta, the distal end including at least one self-expanding stent, the prosthesis being averted and the proximal and distal ends of the prosthesis extending towards the distal end of the deployment device with the proximal end within the distal end and a central portion of the prosthesis extending proximally and wherein the central portion of the prosthesis is releasably mounted to the manipulator, the proximal end of the prosthesis is fastened to the distal end of the deployment catheter and the distal end of the prosthesis is fastened to the nose cone dilator.