Abstract: A delivery device for delivering a stent device that is expandable from a radially reduced, delivery configuration to a radially expanded, deployed configuration. A retaining sheath is disposed over the stent device for maintaining the stent device in the delivery configuration. A pull line to be pulled upon is provided to retract the retaining sheath in a rolling manner such that the retaining sheath is folded back on itself to provide a radially inner sheath of the retaining sheath, a radially outer sheath of the retaining sheath and a fold portion therebetween. The retaining sheath may be made of a cold drawn plastic at least along the path of travel of the fold portion in retracting the retaining sheath from over the stent device.

Abstract: A delivery device and method for use, the delivery device including a stent device, a restraining sheath, and a pull member. The restraining sheath is mounted coaxially over the stent device for maintaining the stent device in a delivery configuration, and may include a line of weakness extending axially. The pull member is to be pulled so as to split the restraining sheath at the line of weakness and withdraw the restraining sheath from over the stent device. The pull member and the line of weakness may be located on opposing sides of the restraining sheath. The pull member may have an inner part extending inside of the restraining sheath, an outer part extending outside of the restraining sheath, and a wraparound portion there between for wrapping around an axial end of the restraining sheath to radially capture the restraining sheath between the inner and outer parts.

Abstract: An elongate hand unit for deploying an elongate implant from the distal end of a delivery catheter. The hand unit has a distal end and a proximal end separated by a hand unit length. The hand unit may include a pull component and a push component. The pull component may include a pull grip sliding on the push component to deploy the implant. The push component may be operatively connected to the push element and include at its proximal end a push surface to receive during deployment of the implant a force that pushes on the push element shaft to resist proximal movement of the implant during deployment. The push component may provide a guide rail that defines a guide path for the pull grip, whereby proximal movement of the pull grip along the guide path deploys the implant.

Abstract: An elongate hand unit for deploying an elongate implant from the distal end of a delivery catheter. The hand unit has a distal end and a proximal end separated by a hand unit length. The hand unit may include a pull component and a push component. The pull component may include a pull grip sliding on the push component to deploy the implant. The push component may be operatively connected to the push element and include at its proximal end a push surface to receive during deployment of the implant a force that pushes on the push element shaft to resist proximal movement of the implant during deployment. The push component may provide a guide rail that defines a guide path for the pull grip, whereby proximal movement of the pull grip along the guide path deploys the implant.

Abstract: A delivery system (114) for a self-expanding device (110) for placement in a bodily lumen, the system comprising a sheath (112) that confines the device to a radially compact delivery disposition until the device is to be released into the lumen, the system having an elongate pull element (118) to be pulled proximally from its proximal end, which pull element is arranged radially inside the sheath for pulling preferentially on a pull zone on the circumference of the distal end of the sheath, thereby to tear the sheath progressively along a tear line running the length of the sheath, starting at the distal end of the sheath, to release the device from the confining effect of the sheath, progressively, beginning at the distal end of the device and wherein the sheath is of polyethylene-terephthalate, cold drawn along its long axis, and in that the distal end of the sheath tapers inwardly to provide an inwardly tapered distal end of the system.

Abstract: A delivery system for a self-expanding device for placement in a bodily lumen, the system comprising a sheath that confines the device to a radially compact delivery disposition until the device is to be released into the lumen, the system having an elongate pull element to be pulled proximally from its proximal end, which pull element is arranged radially inside the sheath for pulling preferentially on a pull zone on the circumference of the distal end of the sheath, thereby to tear the sheath progressively along a tear line running the length of the sheath, starting at the distal end of the sheath, to release the device from the confining effect of the sheath, progressively, beginning at the distal end of the device and wherein the sheath is of polyethylene-terephthalate, cold drawn along its long axis, and in that the distal end of the sheath tapers inwardly to provide an inwardly tapered distal end of the system.

Abstract: A delivery device and method for use, the delivery device including a stent device, a restraining sheath, and a pull member. The restraining sheath is mounted coaxially over the stent device for maintaining the stent device in a delivery configuration, and may include a line of weakness extending axially. The pull member is to be pulled so as to split the restraining sheath at the line of weakness and withdraw the restraining sheath from over the stent device. The pull member and the line of weakness may be located on opposing sides of the restraining sheath. The pull member may have an inner part extending inside of the restraining sheath, an outer part extending outside of the restraining sheath, and a wraparound portion there between for wrapping around an axial end of the restraining sheath to radially capture the restraining sheath between the inner and outer parts.

Abstract: A delivery device and method for use, the delivery device including a stent device, a restraining sheath, and a pull member. The restraining sheath is mounted coaxially over the stent device for maintaining the stent device in a delivery configuration, and may include a line of weakness extending axially. The pull member is to be pulled so as to split the restraining sheath at the line of weakness and withdraw the restraining sheath from over the stent device. The pull member and the line of weakness may be located on opposing sides of the restraining sheath. The pull member may have an inner part extending inside of the restraining sheath, an outer part extending outside of the restraining sheath, and a wrap around portion therebetween for wrapping around an axial end of the restraining sheath to radially capture the restraining sheath between the inner and outer parts.

Abstract: A delivery device and method for use, the delivery device including a stent device, a restraining sheath, and a pull member. The restraining sheath is mounted coaxially over the stent device for maintaining the stent device in a delivery configuration, and may include a line of weakness extending axially. The pull member is to be pulled so as to split the restraining sheath at the line of weakness and withdraw the restraining sheath from over the stent device. The pull member and the line of weakness may be located on opposing sides of the restraining sheath. The pull member may have an inner part extending inside of the restraining sheath, an outer part extending outside of the restraining sheath, and a wrap around portion therebetween for wrapping around an axial end of the restraining sheath to radially capture the restraining sheath between the inner and outer parts.

Abstract: A percutaneous trans-luminal catheter delivery system for an implant. The system includes a catheter shaft with a distal end to carry the implant and an elongate housing at a proximal end that an operator can grasp when deploying the implant. The shaft has an inner push component which can push on the implant in a distal direction and an outer sheath component which radially surrounds the implant until deployment of the implant into the bodily lumen. The outer sheath component is capable of being pulled proximally, from the housing, to deploy the implant, the housing being mounted on a proximal end portion of the push component and defining a channel. The housing may contain a sheath slitter that is fixedly mounted relative to the length of the channel that can slit the outer sheath as the outer sheath is caused to move proximally in the channel relative to the slitter.

Abstract: An elongate hand unit for deploying an elongate implant from the distal end of a delivery catheter. The hand unit has a distal end and a proximal end separated by a hand unit length. The hand unit may include a pull component and a push component. The pull component may include a pull grip sliding on the push component to deploy the implant. The push component may be operatively connected to the push element and include at its proximal end a push surface to receive during deployment of the implant a force that pushes on the push element shaft to resist proximal movement of the implant during deployment. The push component may provide a guide rail that defines a guide path for the pull grip, whereby proximal movement of the pull grip along the guide path deploys the implant.

Abstract: A delivery device is provided for delivering a stent device. The stent device (2) is radially expandable from a radially reduced, delivery configuration to a radially expanded, deployment configuration. A restraining sheath (4) is mounted coaxially over the stent device for maintaining the stent device in the delivery configuration. The restraining sheath has a line of weakness (6) extending axially therealong. A pull member is provided, which is to be pulled so as to split the restraining sheath at the line of weakness and withdraw the restraining sheath from over the stent device. The pull member and the line of weakness are located on opposing sides of the restraining sheath. The pull member (5) is wrapped around a distal end of the restraining sheath. The wrap around portion may be formed by a hook of a metal pull member. The wrap around portion may be formed by an open loop of polymer thread.

Abstract: A delivery device is provided for delivering a stent device. The stent device (2) is radially expandable from a radially reduced, delivery configuration to a radially expanded, deployment configuration. A restraining sheath (4) is mounted coaxially over the stent device for maintaining the stent device in the delivery configuration. The restraining sheath has a line of weakness (6) extending axially therealong. A pull member is provided, which is to be pulled so as to split the restraining sheath at the line of weakness and withdraw the restraining sheath from over the stent device. The pull member and the line of weakness are located on opposing sides of the restraining sheath. The pull member (5) is wrapped around a distal end of the restraining sheath. The wrap around portion may be formed by a hook of a metal pull member. The wrap around portion may be formed by an open loop of polymer thread.

Abstract: A delivery system (114) for a self-expanding device (110) for placement in a bodily lumen, the system comprising a sheath (112) that confines the device to a radially compact delivery disposition until the device is to be released into the lumen, the system having an elongate pull element (118) to be pulled proximally from its proximal end, which pull element is arranged radially inside the sheath for pulling preferentially on a pull zone on the circumference of the distal end of the sheath, thereby to tear the sheath progressively along a tear line running the length of the sheath, starting at the distal end of the sheath, to release the device from the confining effect of the sheath, progressively, beginning at the distal end of the device and wherein the sheath is of polyethylene-terephthalate, cold drawn along its long axis, and in that the distal end of the sheath tapers inwardly to provide an inwardly tapered distal end of the system.

Abstract: A stent device delivery system, comprising a stent device pusher, a radially expandable stent device and an outer sheath. A tacky material provides a tackiness between the stent device pusher and an inner surface of the stent device. The tacky material is distributed along the length of the stent device. The tacky material serves to resist axial movement of the stent device relative to the stent device pusher as the outer sheath slides axially over the stent device, yet allows the stent device to peel from the tacky material and expand to a radially expanded state as the outer sheath slides axially over the stent device to release the stent device. The tacky material may be compressible such that the stent device is embedded in the compressible tacky material.