Patent ID: 7691139

Claim:
A delivery system for placement of a tubular prosthesis at a selected location within a lumen of a patient, the delivery system comprising: an inner tubular member having a proximal end and a distal end, an outer tubular member having a proximal end and having a distal end spaced longitudinally some distance from the inner tubular member distal end so that a projecting portion of the inner tubular member projects distally beyond the outer tubular member distal end, the projecting portion being adapted to carry a tubular prosthesis, an intermediate tubular member having a proximal end projecting proximally beyond the proximal end of both the inner and outer tubular members, having a distal end adapted to cover at least the tubular prosthesis carrying portion of the inner tubular member, the intermediate tubular member having a longitudinal slot, and a coupling member comprising a protection extending outwardly from proximal end of the inner tubular member and extending through the longitudinal slot coupling the inner and outer tubular members to each other in permanent fixed relationship, the outwardly extending projection having an outer end coupled to the interior of the outer tubular member, the coupling member being longitudinally shorter than the longitudinal slot so that the intermediate tubular member is longitudinally movable with respect to the inner and outer tubular members, the longitudinal slot being sufficiently long to permit movement of the intermediate tubular member by a distance sufficient to retract the intermediate tubular member distal end from any position covering the tubular prosthesis carrying portion of the inner tubular member.