Endovascular delivery device having an improved top-cap assembly

An endovascular delivery device, for delivering an endograft, the endograft having barbs at a proximal portion thereof, the delivery device comprising:

• a handle assembly at a distal end thereof;
• a top-cap assembly at a proximal end thereof, the top-cap assembly having an open configuration and a closed configuration, the top-cap assembly comprising:
• a capsule comprising an inner portion and an outer tubular portion and defining a cavity within the outer tubular portion, the cavity having an annular shape and receiving a proximal portion of the endograft in the open configuration, thereby covering the barbs;
• and
• a retriever assembly having a body portion, the body portion arranged and constructed to fit within the cavity of the capsule in the closed configuration;
• a guide wire catheter extending through the handle assembly, the guide wire catheter being affixed at a proximal end thereof to the top-cap assembly;
• an endograft receiving portion extending distally with respect to the top-cap assembly,
• whereby in the closed configuration, the cavity is closed by the body portion of the retriever assembly;
• and
• a connector extending from the top-cap assembly to the handle assembly, the connector arranged to transfer motion from the handle assembly to the top-cap assembly so as to slide the top-cap assembly from its open configuration to its closed configuration,
• whereby the outer tubular portion extends distally beyond the body portion when in the open configuration, and
• wherein the inner portion and the outer tubular portion are joined by a radially extending joiner portion, the joiner portion extending through at least one elongate longitudinally extending slot within the body portion of the retriever assembly, thereby allowing the top-cap assembly to slide from the open configuration to the closed configuration.

An endovascular delivery device, for delivering an endograft having an exposed stent, the delivery device comprising:

• a handle assembly at a distal end thereof;
• a top-cap assembly at a proximal end thereof, the top-cap assembly having an open configuration and a closed configuration, the top-cap assembly comprising:
• a capsule comprising an inner portion and an outer tubular portion and defining a cavity within the outer tubular portion, the cavity receiving a proximal portion of the endograft in the open configuration;
• and
• a retriever assembly having a body portion, the body portion arranged and constructed to fit within the cavity of the capsule in the closed configuration;
• a guide wire catheter extending through the handle assembly, the guide wire catheter being affixed at a proximal end thereof to the top-cap assembly;
• and
• an endograft receiving portion extending distally with respect to the top-cap assembly,
• whereby in the closed configuration, the cavity is closed by the body portion of the retriever assembly,
• whereby the outer tubular portion extends distally beyond the body portion when in the open configuration to hold compressed a length of the exposed stent of the endograft, and
• wherein the body portion of the retriever assembly comprises a tapered distal end portion, the tapered distal end portion tapering in a distal direction.

An endovascular delivery device, for delivering an endograft having an exposed stent, the delivery device comprising:

• a handle assembly at a distal end thereof;
• a top-cap assembly at a proximal end thereof, the top-cap assembly having an open configuration and a closed configuration, the top-cap assembly comprising:
• a capsule comprising an inner portion and an outer tubular portion and defining a cavity within the outer tubular portion, the cavity receiving a proximal portion of the endograft in the open configuration;
• and
• a retriever assembly having a body portion, the body portion arranged and constructed to fit within the cavity of the capsule in the closed configuration;
• a guide wire catheter extending through the handle assembly, the guide wire catheter being affixed at a proximal end thereof to the top-cap assembly;
• an endograft receiving portion extending distally with respect to the top-cap assembly,
• whereby in the closed configuration, the cavity is closed by the body portion of the retriever assembly,
• whereby the outer tubular portion extends distally beyond the body portion when in the open configuration to hold compressed a length of the exposed stent of the endograft, and
• whereby movement of the capsule from the open configuration towards the closed configuration yields expansion of the stent;
• and
• a connector extending from the top-cap assembly to the handle assembly, the connector arranged to transfer motion from the handle assembly to the top-cap assembly so as to slide the top-cap assembly from its open configuration to its closed configuration,
• wherein the connector comprises an elongate tube co-axially mounted over the guide wire catheter.