Vascular Prosthesis Delivery System and Method

A method for storing a vascular prosthesis and delivering the vascular prosthesis to a target site within a patient comprising:

• obtaining a vascular prosthesis comprising a delivery sheath and a vascular prosthesis, delivery sheath comprising a main portion defining a larger diameter delivery region and a removable cartridge portion defining a smaller diameter storage region, the vascular prosthesis stored within the smaller diameter storage region;
• moving the vascular prosthesis from the smaller diameter storage region into the larger diameter delivery region in preparation for placing the vascular prosthesis at a target site within a patient;
• and
• moving the vascular prosthesis from the larger diameter delivery region to the target site within the patient.

A vascular prosthesis delivery system comprising:

• a self expandable vascular prosthesis;
• a delivery sheath comprising a lumen, the lumen having a smaller diameter storage region and a larger diameter delivery region;
• and
• the vascular prosthesis housed within the storage region and movable into the delivery region for delivery of the vascular prosthesis at a target site within a patient;
• whereby the delivery force required to move the vascular prosthesis from the delivery region into the patient can be reduced.

A vascular prosthesis delivery system comprising:

• a self expandable vascular prosthesis;
• a delivery sheath comprising a lumen, the lumen having a smaller diameter storage region and a larger diameter delivery region;
• the entire larger diameter delivery region being distal of the smaller diameter storage region;
• the storage region defining a tapered lumen, the tapered lumen expanding in diameter in a distal direction;
• and
• the vascular prosthesis housed within the storage region and movable into the delivery region for delivery of the vascular prosthesis at a target site within a patient;
• whereby the delivery force required to move the vascular prosthesis from the delivery region into the patient can be reduced.

A vascular prosthesis delivery system comprising:

• a self expandable vascular prosthesis;
• a delivery sheath comprising proximal and distal ends and a lumen, the lumen having a smaller diameter storage region and a larger diameter delivery region;
• the storage and delivery regions being generally coextensive and defining a tapered lumen extending to the distal end, the tapered lumen expanding in diameter in a distal direction;
• and
• the vascular prosthesis housed within the storage region and movable into the delivery region for delivery of the vascular prosthesis at a target site within a patient;
• whereby the delivery force required to move the vascular prosthesis from the delivery region into the patient can be reduced.

A method for storing a vascular prosthesis and delivering the vascular prosthesis to a target site within a patient comprising:

• obtaining a vascular prosthesis delivery system comprising self expandable vascular prosthesis stored within a smaller diameter storage region of a lumen of a delivery sheath;
• moving the vascular prosthesis from the smaller diameter storage region into a larger diameter delivery region of the lumen of the delivery sheath;
• and
• moving the vascular prosthesis from the larger diameter delivery region to a target site within a patient;
• whereby the delivery force required to move the vascular prosthesis from the delivery region into the patient can be reduced.