Capture device for stent graft delivery

In a delivery system for delivering and deploying stents with proximal apices, the delivery system having at least first and second hollow lumens, the first lumen having a distal end and an interior extending along a longitudinal axis, and the second lumen having a distal end and being slidably disposed about the first lumen,

• an apex capture device, comprising:
• a distal capture portion fixedly connected to the distal end of the first hollow lumen, said distal capture portion having:
• a distal portion with a proximal end;
• a stopper having a distal side disposed in a plane approximately perpendicular to the longitudinal axis and defining stopping surface portions;
• and
• an intermediate portion connecting said distal portion to said stopper at a proximal distance from said proximal end of said distal portion;
• a proximal capture portion fixedly connected to the distal end of the second lumen and having fingers extending toward said distal capture portion in a distal direction, said fingers defining an interior cavity shaped to receive said stopper therein;
• and
• said proximal and distal capture portions being formed to hold the proximal apices therebetween and, together, defining a stent captured state in which said stopper is received in said interior cavity and said distal capture portion approximately closes off said interior cavity along said longitudinal axis.

An apex capture device for holding proximal apices of a stent to be implanted, comprising:

• a distal capture portion to be fixedly connected to a distal end of a first hollow lumen, said distal capture portion having:
• a longitudinal axis;
• a distal portion with a proximal end;
• and
• a stopper having a distal side disposed in a plane approximately perpendicular to said longitudinal axis, being disposed at a proximal distance from said proximal end of said distal portion, and defining stopping surface portions;
• a proximal capture portion to be fixedly connected to a distal end of a second lumen and having fingers extending toward said distal capture portion in a distal direction, said fingers defining an interior cavity shaped to receive said stopper therein;
• and
• said proximal and distal capture portions being formed to hold the proximal apices therebetween and, together, defining a stent captured state in which said stopper is received in said interior cavity and said distal capture portion closes off said interior cavity along said longitudinal axis.