Patent ID: 7785360

Claim:
An instrument for implanting an expandable cylindrical prosthesis, in particular a stent or an endoprosthesis, comprising an outer tube and an inner tube which are moveable relative to one another, wherein the inner tube has a distal end which includes a slot having a first portion extending in a proximal-distal direction adjacent the distal end of the inner tube and a second portion that extends in a circumferential direction about the inner tube, wherein at least a portion of the first portion extends substantially parallel to a longitudinal axis of the inner tube and at least a portion of the second portion extends substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the inner tube, and wherein the outer tube is configured to be retracted relative to the inner tube to deploy the prosthesis such that said slot of the inner tube is configured to distend as the prosthesis expands and is deployed from the outer tube.