Unidirectional delivery system

The combination of an expandable tubular prosthesis and a delivery system for placement of the tubular prosthesis at a selected location within a lumen of a patient, the combination comprising:

• an inner tubular member dimensioned to be received over a guide wire, the inner tubular member having a proximal end intended to remain outside the patient, a distal end, and a distal portion adjacent to the distal end carrying an expandable tubular prosthesis,
• an outer tubular member having a proximal end and having a distal end spaced longitudinally some distance from the inner member distal end so that the projecting portion of the inner member and the expandable tubular prosthesis project distally beyond the outer member distal end, a coupling member coupling the inner and outer tubular members to each other, and
• an intermediate tubular member having a distal end adapted to cover the tubular prosthesis carried by the inner member projecting portion, the intermediate tubular member having a proximal end that projects proximally beyond the proximal end of both the inner and outer members, the intermediate tubular member being longitudinally movable with respect to the coupled inner and outer tubular members by a distance sufficient to retract the intermediate tubular member distal end from any position covering the inner member projecting portion and any prosthesis carried thereby so that that the prosthesis can expand radially.

A method of placement of a tubular prosthesis at a selected location within a lumen of a patient, the method comprising the steps of:

• providing a tubular prosthesis on a distal portion of an inner tubular member having a proximal end intended to remain outside and a distal end,
• locating coaxially an outer tubular member having a proximal end and a distal end so that the outer tubular member distal end is spaced longitudinally some distance from the inner member distal end so that a projecting portion of the inner member and the tubular prosthesis projects distally beyond the outer member distal end,
• locating an intermediate tubular member having a longitudinal slot between the inner and outer tubular members so that a distal end of the intermediate tubular member covers the prosthesis carried by the inner member projecting portion and so that a proximal end of the intermediate tubular member projects proximally beyond the proximal end of both the inner and outer members,
• coupling the inner and outer tubular members to each in fixed relationship by a coupling member extending through the longitudinal slot in the intermediate tubular member,
• positioning the prosthesis at a desired location within a patient, and
• moving the proximal end of the intermediate member with respect to the coupled inner and outer tubular members by a distance sufficient to retract the intermediate tubular member distal end from any position covering the prosthesis.