Patent ID: 8545544

Claim:
A delivery catheter for delivering a medical device, the delivery catheter comprising: a constraining sheath having a proximal end coupled to a distal end of the delivery catheter and a free distal end, said constraining sheath holding the medical device in a constrained state, the constraining sheath including spaced-apart holes arranged longitudinally from the free distal end of the constraining sheath; a wire threaded through the holes proximally starting from the free distal end of the sheath, the wire having a first free end section extending proximally therefrom and a second free distal end; and a said cutting member at the second free distal end of said wire, said cutting member having a cutting edge directed toward said proximal end such that cutting member tears the constraining sheath longitudinally when a pulling force is applied proximally to the first free end section, thereby releasing the medical device from a constrained configuration to an expanded configuration.