Introducer for introduction of a prosthesis into a lumen of a patient

An introducer and a delivery assembly for introduction of a prosthesis into a lumen of a patient, the introducer comprising:

• a sheath having a proximal end and a distal end;
• a housing mounted to the distal end of the sheath, the housing having a passage there-through adapted to receive a delivery assembly;
• a port for introducing flushing fluid, the port communicating with the passage;
• a liquid absorbing seal for sealably receiving the delivery assembly, a material of the liquid absorbing seal composed of a hydrophilic thermoplastic polyurethane elastomer hydrogel, the liquid absorbing seal disposed within the housing distally of the port;
• and a compression assembly operable to compress the liquid absorbing seal comprising a rotatable body and a compression segment, wherein the compression segment is disposed between the liquid absorbing seal and the rotatable body and is a separate component to the rotatable body, and wherein the compression segment and the rotatable body are mutually arranged and constructed to allow rotation of the rotatable body relative to the compression segment, and the delivery assembly comprising:
• a guide wire catheter;
• a tip mounted to a proximal end of the guide wire catheter;
• a distal delivery member mounted around the guide wire catheter and located distal of the tip;
• and a prosthesis receiving portion between the tip and the distal delivery member wherein the delivery assembly is slidably mounted through the introducer, and wherein in a first condition the liquid absorbing seal engages an external surface of the distal delivery member, and Response to Final Office Action dated Mar. 18, 2019 (BGL No. 12730-1738) wherein in a second condition the liquid absorbing seal engages an external surface of a guide wire, whereby in at least the second condition, absorption of fluid swells the liquid absorbing seal, which is compressed by the compression segment.