Vascular prosthetic delivery device and method of use

An actuator (80) for selectively engaging rotation of a proximal handle (36) of a delivery device to thereby cause longitudinal movement of the proximal handle (36) along a handle body (20), comprising:

• a) a linking gear assembly (158), including
• i. an upper linking gear (160) configured to engage with teeth (156) of the proximal handle (36),
• ii. a lower linking gear (162) fixed to the upper linking gear (160), the upper linking gear (160) and the lower linking gear (162) having a common axis of rotation that is normal to a longitudinal axis of the handle body (20), about which the proximal handle is rotatable;
• and
• b) a pinion gear assembly (164), including
• i. an upper pinion gear (166) engaged with the lower linking gear (162), the upper pinion gear (166) defining an upper pinion gear orifice and rotatable about a pinion gear axis,
• ii. a lower pinion gear (168) axially aligned with the upper pinion gear (166) and defining a lower pinion gear orifice, the lower pinion gear (168) including
• a lower portion (172) extending toward the longitudinal axis of the handle body (20),
• a gear portion engaged with a gear rack (106), and
• a pinion gear extension (169) that extends within the upper pinion gear orifice, wherein the pinion gear extension (169) defines a pinion gear extension orifice, the pinion gear extension (169) and the upper pinion gear (166) together defining an opening (182) that, when occupied, prevents rotation of the upper pinion gear (166) and the lower pinion gear (168) relative to each other, the pinion gear extension further defining a plurality of fenestrations (180),
• a ball bearing (178) in at least one of the plurality of fenestrations (180), the ball bearing (178) having a diameter greater than a thickness of a wall defining the plurality of fenestrations (180),
• a center pin (170) moveable along the pinion gear axis and within the upper pinion gear orifice, the lower pinion gear orifice and the pinion gear extension orifice, the center pin (170) including a frustoconical portion (176) between a base portion having a first diameter within the lower pinion gear orifice and a second diameter that is less than the first diameter, and located in the upper pinion gear orifice, whereby movement of the frustoconical portion (176) of the center pin (170) causes radially outward displacement of the ball bearing (178) into the opening (182), thereby causing an interfering relation between rotation of the upper pinion gear (166) and the lower pinion gear (168), and
• a spring (184) at the lower pinion gear (168) that provides bias to the center pin (170) radially outward from the longitudinal axis of the handle body (20), whereby the ball bearing (178) is biased toward the opening (182), thereby causing the interfering relation between the upper pinion gear (166) and the lower pinion gear (168).