Patent ID: 8241344

Claim:
A medical device comprising: a tubular implant having a circumference, first and second ends and extending for an initial length L 1 along a longitudinal axis; and an implant delivery system comprising: a catheter having an outer tubular member disposed about an inner tubular member, the first end of the implant operatively secured to the outer tubular member and the second end of the implant operatively secured to the inner tubular member such that changes in the relative positions of the outer tubular member and the inner tubular member change the initial length L 1 of the implant to a modified length L 2 along the longitudinal axis, L 1 being the un-stretched length of the implant, and L 2 being the maximum stretched length of the implant; and an actuator mechanism movably coupled to one of the outer tubular member and the inner tubular member for changing relative positions of the outer tubular member and the inner tubular member, the relative movement of the outer tubular member and the inner tubular member moving the implant between tensioned and relaxed configurations such that movement of the implant towards the tensioned configuration stretches the implant to the modified length L 2 while the circumference of the implant remains substantially unchanged.