Abstract: There is disclosed herein a transluminal delivery system for a self-expanding luminal prosthesis, the system comprising an inner catheter component (30) and a retractable sheath (12) to surround the component thereby to define an annular space to receive the prosthesis (10), the component exhibiting an anti-sliding component, for abutting a luminal surface portion of the prosthesis (10) to restrain the prosthesis from sliding with the sheath (12), and relative to the inner catheter (30), while the sheath retracts relative to the prosthesis to release the prosthesis progressively into the target bodily lumen characterized in that the anti-sliding component is or includes at least one sleeve (36, 50, 66, 76) having a length direction parallel to the longitudinal axis of the annular space and having at least one bound portion (33, 52, 64, 65, 74) of its length that is not free to slide on the inner catheter, and at least one unbound portion of its length with a capability to slide axially on the inner catheter (

Abstract: A retractable catheter for use in an implant delivery system, the catheter including an elongate tubular sheath made of a relatively flexible material, and a pull element for transmitting a pull force to the sheath to retract it longitudinally. The pull element includes an end portion disposed in the relatively flexible material, at least the thickness of the end portion being substantially less than its length.

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 retractable catheter for use in an implant delivery system, the catheter including an elongate tubular sheath made of a relatively flexible material, and a pull element for transmitting a pull force to the sheath to retract it longitudinally. The pull element includes an end portion disposed in the relatively flexible material, at least the thickness of the end portion being substantially less than its length.

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 (32) 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 (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 said physical force that must be transmitted from the proximal end when acutation of the device is required.

Abstract: There is disclosed herein a transluminal delivery system for a self-expanding luminal prosthesis, the system comprising an inner catheter component (30) and a retractable sheath (12) to surround the component thereby to define an annular space to receive the prosthesis (10), the component exhibiting an anti-sliding component, for abutting a luminal surface portion of the prosthesis (10) to restrain the prosthesis from sliding with the sheath (12), and relative to the inner catheter (30), while the sheath retracts relative to the prosthesis to release the prosthesis progressively into the target bodily lumen characterised in that the anti-sliding component is or includes at least one sleeve (36, 50, 66, 76) having a length direction parallel to the longitudinal axis of the annular space and having at least one bound portion (33, 52, 64, 65, 74) of its length that is not free to slide on the inner catheter, and at least one unbound portion of its length with a capability to slide axially on the inner catheter (

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: 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 retrieval catheter having a wall that defines a catheter lumen and a distal tip that is tapered towards an open distal orifice that defines the distal end of the lumen, the wall over the length of said tapered tip being distensible to allow the orifice to expand, and a distender within the lumen that can be urged distally along the lumen such that the distender presses radially outwardly the catheter wall within the distal tip, so as to distend said orifice.

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: A retractable catheter for use in an implant delivery system, the catheter including an elongate tubular sheath made of a relatively flexible material, and a pull element for transmitting a pull force to the sheath to retract it longitudinally. The pull element includes an end portion disposed in the relatively flexible material, at least the thickness of the end portion being substantially less than its length.

Abstract: A retractable catheter including an elongate tubular sheath having at least in a distal portion made of a relatively flexible material, a reinforcing structure made of a relatively inextensible material incorporated in the relatively flexible material of the sheath along at least a portion thereof, and a pull element for transmitting a pull force longitudinally to the sheath and the reinforcing structure, wherein the pull element is connected directly to a portion of the reinforcing structure exposed from the relatively flexible material to transmit the pull force directly to the reinforcing structure.

Abstract: A catheter introducer includes a flexible introducer tube that extends percutaneously in use and defines a bore along which a distal shaft portion of a catheter may be advanced into a bodily lumen. The flexible introducer tube includes a co-axial assembly of a structural element having a multiplicity of full wall thickness openings, and a sealing element that restrains fluid flow through the openings, a radial wall thickness of the sealing element being less than a radial wall thickness of the structural element.

Abstract: A retrieval catheter (30) for retrieving from a bodily lumen a device (48) attached to the distal end of a pull line (16), the catheter having a wall (32) that defines a catheter lumen (22) and a distal tip (36) that is tapered towards an open distal orifice (38) that defines the distal end of the lumen, the wall over the length of said tapered tip being distensible to allow the orifice to expand, the catheter having: a distender within the lumen that can be urged distally along the lumen such that the distender presses radially outwardly the catheter wall within the distal tip, so as to distend said orifice; the distender having a distal end annulus and a proximal end annulus (42) separated by a radially outward-facing circumferential wall and an axial lumen extending through the distender between said distal and proximal annuli; a pusher shaft (46) that extends from the distender proximally along the catheter lumen to proximally beyond the proximal end of the catheter lumen and that is arranged to push the