Low profile prosthesis delivery device

A low profile prosthesis delivery system, the system comprising:

• at least one introducer comprising an inner cannula having a proximal end and a distal end;
• a prosthesis formed of biocompatible graft material and having a proximal end and a distal end, and a lumen therebetween, and is substantially unsupported along its length;
• wherein the prosthesis is disposed about the proximal end of the inner cannula, wherein the prosthesis comprises a first configuration in which the prosthesis is releasably secured to the inner cannula in a radially inwardly contracted low profile delivery configuration and a second configuration in which the prosthesis is at least partially radially outwardly deployed;
• a first trigger wire having tensioned condition and a relaxed condition and extending longitudinally and circumferentially about the prosthesis in only a helical configuration from the proximal end of the prosthesis to the distal end of the prosthesis;
• a second trigger wire, separate from the first trigger wire, having tensioned condition and a relaxed condition and extending longitudinally and circumferentially about the prosthesis in only a helical configuration from the proximal end of the prosthesis to the distal end of the prosthesis;
• wherein when the first and second helical trigger wires are in the tensioned condition, the prosthesis is releasably secured to the inner cannula in the radially inwardly contracted low profile delivery configuration;
• and
• a stent subassembly separate from the prosthesis comprising one or more stents,
• wherein the first and second helical trigger wires are woven in and out of the graft material as they extend from the proximal end to the distal end of the prosthesis and cross over each other at a plurality of points along the length of the graft within the lumen.

A method for releasably retaining a prosthesis to a delivery cannula, the delivery cannula having a proximal end and a distal end and a prosthesis releasably secured to the proximal end of the delivery cannula, the prosthesis comprising a biocompatible graft material having a proximal end and a distal end, wherein the prosthesis comprises a first configuration in which the prosthesis is releasably secured to the delivery cannula in a radially inwardly contracted low profile delivery configuration and a second configuration in which the prosthesis is at least partially radially outwardly deployed, the method comprising:

• (a) extending a first trigger wire having a tensioned condition and a relaxed condition longitudinally and circumferentially about the prosthesis in only a helical configuration from the proximal end of the prosthesis to the distal end of the prosthesis, wherein the first trigger wire is helically wound;
• (b) extending a second trigger wire, separate from the first trigger wire, having a tensioned condition and a relaxed condition longitudinally and circumferentially about the prosthesis in only a helical configuration from the proximal end of the prosthesis to the distal end of the prosthesis, wherein the second trigger wire is helically wound;
• (c) tensioning the first and second helical trigger wires to releasably secure the prosthesis in a radially inwardly contracted low profile delivery configuration to the delivery cannula,
• wherein each of the first and second trigger wires cross over each other within an internal lumen of the prosthesis.