Abstract: A method of making a delivery system for a prosthesis includes providing a catheter shaft, sliding a plurality of rings over the catheter shaft, each of the rings having an inner diameter larger than an outer diameter of the catheter shaft, fixing a pull wire to each of the plurality of rings at a common circumferential location of the catheter shaft, and coupling a sheath to the pull wire, the sheath positioned over the prosthesis at a distal end of the catheter shaft. Fixing the pull wire to each of the plurality of rings can include wrapping a heat shrink film around each of the plurality of rings and the pull wire, and heating the heat shrink material.

Abstract: A stent delivery device includes a sheath covering a compressed stent and a housing. The housing includes a mover reel coupled to an actuator that rotates the mover reel in a winding direction when actuated. A sheath pull wire is coupled to the mover reel and the sheath. Rotation of the mover reel in the winding direction winds the sheath pull wire on the mover reel and moves the sheath in a proximal direction. A pre-mover is provided separate from the actuator, the pre-mover including an arm having a proximal end engaged with the mover reel to prevent rotation in the locked position. The pre-mover includes a pre-mover actuator coupled to the arm and having a portion projecting outside of the housing, wherein movement of the pre-mover actuator disengages the arm from the mover reel and rotates the mover reel a predetermined amount in the winding direction.

Abstract: A hand-held actuator device for releasing into the body from a delivery system a medical prosthesis, like a stent, comprising a frame that acts as a housing, a reel for receiving a wire, a manually operable slider mounted to the frame and a one-way connection between the slider and the reel. Actuating the slider causes the reel to wind up the wire and release the medical prosthesis.

Abstract: A catheter system with a proximal end and a distal end means at the proximal end to actuate a device at the distal end of the system, and an actuator element that runs the length of the system, from the actuator means to the device and actuates the device by transmitting a physical force from the proximal end to the distal end and characterized by a pre-tensioner near the distal end of the system, that can be set in a pre-tensioning disposition prior to actuation of the device, the pre-tensioner thereby reducing the magnitude of the said physical force that must be transmitted from the proximal end when actuation of the device is required.

Abstract: A method of making a delivery system for a prosthesis includes providing a catheter shaft, sliding a plurality of rings over the catheter shaft, each of the rings having an inner diameter larger than an outer diameter of the catheter shaft, fixing a pull wire to each of the plurality of rings at a common circumferential location of the catheter shaft, and coupling a sheath to the pull wire, the sheath positioned over the prosthesis at a distal end of the catheter shaft. Fixing the pull wire to each of the plurality of rings can include wrapping a heat shrink film around each of the plurality of rings and the pull wire, and heating the heat shrink material.

Abstract: A transluminal delivery system and a method of assembling. The system includes a cylindrical, inner-catheter component and a retractable sheath surrounding the component and defining a space between the component and the sheath to receive a self-expanding luminal prosthesis between the component and the sheath. The inner-catheter component may include at least one sleeve having fibers, at least one connected sleeve portion connected to the inner catheter, and at least one unconnected sleeve portion slidably engaging the inner catheter such that when the sheath retracts, the unconnected portion expands and sleeve fibers engage the prosthesis's luminal surface, wherein the engagement opposes proximal stent movement.

Abstract: A stent delivery device includes a sheath covering a compressed stent and a housing. The housing includes a mover reel coupled to an actuator that rotates the mover reel in a winding direction when actuated. A sheath pull wire is coupled to the mover reel and the sheath. Rotation of the mover reel in the winding direction winds the sheath pull wire on the mover reel and moves the sheath in a proximal direction. A pre-mover is provided separate from the actuator, the pre-mover including an arm having a proximal end engaged with the mover reel to prevent rotation in the locked position. The pre-mover includes a pre-mover actuator coupled to the arm and having a portion projecting outside of the housing, wherein movement of the pre-mover actuator disengages the arm from the mover reel and rotates the mover reel a predetermined amount in the winding direction.

Abstract: A device for moving an elongate member relative to an elongate body through which it extends, the device including a housing, a mover, and a pre-mover. The housing is connectable to the elongate body. The mover is associated with the housing and is connectable to the elongate member for moving the elongate member relative to the housing. The pre-mover is associated with the housing and is connectable to the elongate member for adjusting the elongate member in preparation for moving the elongate member with the mover.

Abstract: A hand-held actuator device for releasing into the body from a delivery system a medical prosthesis, like a stent, comprising a frame that acts as a housing, a reel for receiving a wire, a manually operable slider mounted to the frame and a one-way connection between the slider and the reel. Actuating the slider causes the reel to wind up the wire and release the medical prosthesis.

Abstract: A hand-held actuator device for releasing into the body from a delivery system a medical prosthesis, like a stent, comprising a frame that acts as a housing, a reel for receiving a wire, a manually operable slider mounted to the frame and a one-way connection between the slider and the reel. Actuating the slider causes the reel to wind up the wire and release the medical prosthesis.

Abstract: A catheter system with a proximal end and a distal end means at the proximal end to actuate a device at the distal end of the system, and an actuator element that runs the length of the system, from the actuator means to the device and actuates the device by transmitting a physical force from the proximal end to the distal end and characterized by a pre-tensioner near the distal end of the system, that can be set in a pre-tensioning disposition prior to actuation of the device, the pre-tensioner thereby reducing the magnitude of the said physical force that must be transmitted from the proximal end when actuation of the device is required.

Abstract: A catheter system with a proximal end and a distal end element at the proximal end to actuate a device at the distal end of the system, and an actuator element (32) that runs the length of the system, from the actuator element to the device and actuates the device by transmitting a physical force from the proximal end to the distal end and characterized by a pre-tensioner (40) near the distal end of the system, that can be set in a pre-tensioning disposition prior to actuation of the device, the pre-tensioner thereby reducing the magnitude of the physical force that must be transmitted from the proximal end when actuation of the device is required.

Abstract: A device for moving an elongate member relative to an elongate body through which it extends, the device including a housing, a mover, and a pre-mover. The housing is connectable to the elongate body. The mover is associated with the housing and is connectable to the elongate member for moving the elongate member relative to the housing. The pre-mover is associated with the housing and is connectable to the elongate member for adjusting the elongate member in preparation for moving the elongate member with the mover.

Abstract: A tube of material is disclosed having a seam extending between a proximal end and a distal end, two edges of the material meeting and at least partially overlapping along the seam and being sewn together at the seam by stitches of relatively flexible thread, the thread of one or more of the stitches passing from a first side of the overlapped edges of material, through both layers of overlapped material, crossing a relatively rigid member which is disposed on a second, opposite side of the overlapped edges of material, and passing back to the first side. There is further disclosed an implant delivery catheter incorporating the tube of material, and associated methods for its manufacture.

Abstract: A device for moving an elongate member relative to an elongate body through which it extends, the device including a housing, a mover, and a pre-mover. The housing is connectable to the elongate body. The mover is associated with the housing and is connectable to the elongate member for moving the elongate member relative to the housing. The pre-mover is associated with the housing and is connectable to the elongate member for adjusting the elongate member in preparation for moving the elongate member with the mover.

Abstract: A hand-held actuator device for releasing into the body from a delivery system a medical prosthesis, like a stent, comprising a frame that acts as a housing, a reel for receiving a wire, a manually operable slider mounted to the frame and a one-way connection between the slider and the reel. Actuating the slider causes the reel to wind up the wire and release the medical prosthesis.

Abstract: The invention provides a delivery system for a prosthesis, said delivery system comprising a catheter shaft with a distal end, a proximal end and a longitudinal axis, a space for a prosthesis with a distal end and a proximal end, the space being at the distal end of the catheter shaft, a sheath with a proximal end and a distal end, the sheath being disposed at the distal end of catheter shaft so as to surround the space, a pusher element attached to the distal end of the catheter shaft and arranged at the proximal end of the space for abutting prosthesis, a pull element with a longitudinal axis, the pull element running the length of the catheter shaft and having a distal end attached to the proximal end of the sheath and a proximal end for pulling the pull element proximally, thereby retracting the sheath proximally relative to the prosthesis space, and at least one fixation element having a proximal end and a distal end and being disposed within a flexible portion of the length of the shaft that lies betwee

Abstract: A hand-held actuator device for releasing into the body from a delivery system a medical prosthesis, like a stent, comprising a frame (10) that acts as a housing, a reel (30) for receiving a wire (8), a manually operable slider (34) mounted to the frame and a one-way connection between the slider and the reel. Actuating the slider causes the reel to wind up the wire and release the medical prosthesis.

Abstract: There is disclosed herein a tube of material (1) having a seam (12) extending between a proximal end and a distal end, two edges (10a, 10b) of the material meeting and at least partially overlapping along the seam (12) and being sewn together at the seam by stitches (21, 22, 24) of relatively flexible thread (20), the thread of one or more of the stitches (22, 24) passing from a first side (12a) of the overlapped edges (10a, 10b) of material, through both layers of overlapped material, crossing a relatively rigid member (30) which is disposed on a second, opposite side (12b) of the overlapped edges of material, and passing back to the first side (12a). There is further disclosed an implant delivery catheter (40) incorporating the tube of material (1), and associated methods for its manufacture.

Abstract: A transluminal delivery system and a method of assembling. The system includes a cylindrical, inner-catheter component and a retractable sheath surrounding the component and defining a space between the component and the sheath to receive a self-expanding luminal prosthesis between the component and the sheath. The inner-catheter component may include at least one sleeve having fibers, at least one connected sleeve portion connected to the inner catheter, and at least one unconnected sleeve portion slidably engaging the inner catheter such that when the sheath retracts, the unconnected portion expands and sleeve fibers engage the prosthesis's luminal surface, wherein the engagement opposes proximal stent movement.