Apparatus and a method for delivery of a self-expanding medical device

A method for delivery of a self-expanding device into a body vessel, said device in a contracted state thereof having a smaller diameter than a diameter of the body vessel and being self-expanding to a diameter at least equal to the diameter of the body vessel when the temperature of the device exceeds a transformation temperature, which is lower than the body temperature, said method comprising:

• positioning said device on a distal part of an elongate flexible delivery means,
• cooling the self-expanding device when positioned on said distal part by transferring heat from the device towards a proximal part of the delivery means for maintaining the self-expanding device in its contracted state,
• introducing said distal part of delivery means with the self-expanding device to a desired position in the body vessel, and
• suspending or at least reducing the cooling of the self-expanding device such that the self-expanding device is allowed to self-expand to an expanded state.

A method for delivery of a self-expanding device into a body vessel, said device in a contracted state thereof having a smaller diameter than a diameter of the body vessel and being self-expanding to a diameter at least equal to the diameter of the body vessel when the temperature of the device exceeds a transformation temperature, which is lower than the body temperature, said method comprising:

• positioning said device on a distal part of an elongate flexible delivery means,
• cooling the self-expanding device when positioned on said distal part by a thermoelectric element at said distal part of the delivery means for maintaining the self-expanding device in its contracted state,
• introducing said distal part of delivery means with the self-expanding device to a desired position in the body vessel, and
• suspending or at least reducing the cooling of the self-expanding device such that the self-expanding device is allowed to self-expand to an expanded state.