Short wire stent delivery system with splittable outer sheath

Abstract

A delivery system and method for introducing a self-expanding prosthesis into a work site of a patient. The delivery system is introduced to the work site over an elongate guiding member. The delivery system is subsequently uncoupled from the guiding member upon deployment of the prosthesis while remaining within the work site. In an exemplary embodiment of the invention, the delivery system comprises an elongate outer member slidably disposed about an elongate inner member. A self-expanding prosthesis is disposed within the outer member and is laterally constrained thereby in a compressed delivery configuration, and is constrained against longitudinal movement relative to the inner member. The inner member further comprises a passageway extending through the distal portion thereof the passageway extending between a distal opening near the distal end of the inner member and a proximal opening spaced proximally from the distal end of the inner member. The outer member comprises an opening in communication with the proximal opening of the inner member. The inner and outer members are configured to allow a guiding member disposed through the passageway and openings to pass laterally out of the passageway and openings upon proximal movement of the outer member relative to the inner member and deployment of the prosthesis.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.