# US 2019/0167459 A1 · Endoprosthesis delivery system with improved retraction > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2019/0167459 A1 - Document ID: US20190167459A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 16/266,349 - Filed: 2019-02-04 - Published: 2019-06-06 - Earliest claimed: 2014-08-15 - Assignees: W. L. Gore & Associates, Inc. - Applicants: W. L. Gore & Associates, Inc. - Inventors: Bret J. Kilgrow; Larry J. Kovach; Brandon C. Short; Anna F. Timbie - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20190167459A1 ## CPC - A61F 2/966: with relative longitudinal movement between outer sleeve and prosthesis, e.g. using a push rod - A61F 2002/9665: {with additional retaining means} - A61F: FILTERS IMPLANTABLE INTO BLOOD VESSELS; PROSTHESES; DEVICES PROVIDING PATENCY TO, OR PREVENTING COLLAPSING OF, TUBULAR STRUCTURES OF THE BODY, e.g. STENTS; ORTHOPAEDIC, NURSING OR CONTRACEPTIVE DEVICES; FOMENTATION; TREATMENT OR PROTECTION OF EYES OR EARS; BANDAGES, DRESSINGS OR ABSORBENT PADS; FIRST-AID KITS (dental prosthetics A61C) ## Abstract The present disclosure includes an endoprosthesis delivery system comprising an elongate member, such as a catheter, an endoprosthesis, and an end cap having one or more protrusions extending therefrom. The protrusions may assist in retraction of end cap into an outer sheath, such as an introducer sheath. In some examples, the protrusion includes fins. In some embodiments, the endoprosthesis delivery system further includes a covering member disposed about the endoprosthesis. The protrusions may support the covering member, which may extend beyond the distal end of the endoprosthesis and onto the end cap. In some embodiments, the end cap comprises a tapered profile, which may assist in retraction of the catheter tip and end cap into an outer sheath. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An endoprosthesis delivery system comprising: an elongate member having a proximal end and a distal end, the elongate member being configured to support an endoprosthesis proximal to its distal end; and an end cap having a proximal end and a distal end, the proximal end of the end cap including a section having a reduced profile, wherein the reduced profile includes a protrusion that is configured to support a covering member surrounding the endoprosthesis; wherein the end cap is coupled to the elongate member such that the proximal end of the end cap is adjacent and distal to the distal end of the elongate member. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The endoprosthesis delivery system of claim 1, wherein the reduced profile includes a taper that decreases in diameter proximally. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The endoprosthesis delivery system of claim 1, wherein the protrusion is a fin. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The endoprosthesis delivery system of claim 3, wherein the fin has a length, a width, and a height. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The endoprosthesis delivery system of claim 4, wherein the length of the fin corresponds to a length of the section having the reduced profile. ### Claim 6 (depends on 4) The endoprosthesis delivery system of claim 4, wherein a length of the section having the reduced profile exceeds the length of the fin. ### Claim 7 (depends on 4) The endoprosthesis delivery system of claim 4, wherein the height of the fin corresponds to a diameter of the end cap in a region distal to the section having the reduced profile. ### Claim 8 (depends on 4) The endoprosthesis delivery system of claim 4, wherein the fin is curved, bent, or otherwise non-straight along its length. ### Claim 9 (depends on 3) The endoprosthesis delivery system of claim 3, wherein the fin is straight relative to a longitudinal axis of the end cap. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The endoprosthesis delivery system of claim 9, wherein the fin extends along the section having the reduced profile such that that a plane parallel to the fin is parallel to and intersects with the longitudinal axis of the end cap. ### Claim 11 (depends on 3) The endoprosthesis delivery system of claim 3, wherein the fin is angled relative to a longitudinal axis of the end cap. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The endoprosthesis delivery system of claim 11, wherein the fin extends along the section having the reduced profile such that that a plane parallel to the fin is non-parallel with and intersects with the longitudinal axis of the end cap. ### Claim 13 (depends on 3) The endoprosthesis delivery system of claim 3, wherein the end cap includes a plurality of fins. ### Claim 14 (depends on 3) The endoprosthesis delivery system of claim 3, further comprising an outer shaft, and wherein the fin is configured to deflect upon retraction of the end cap into the outer shaft. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The endoprosthesis delivery system of claim 14, wherein the fin is configured to fold upon retraction of the end cap into the outer shaft. ### Claim 16 (depends on 1) The endoprosthesis delivery system of claim 1, wherein the section having the reduced profile includes a plurality of ridges that define the protrusion. ### Claim 17 An endoprosthesis delivery system comprising: an elongate member; an endoprosthesis disposed about the elongate member; and an end cap positioned such that a proximal end of the end cap is distal to a distal end of the endoprosthesis; wherein the proximal end of the end cap comprises a section having a reduced profile, and wherein the reduced profile includes a protrusion that is configured to deflect to allow for retraction of the end cap into an outer shaft. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The endoprosthesis delivery system of claim 17, wherein the reduced profile includes a taper that decreases in diameter proximally. ### Claim 19 (depends on 17) The endoprosthesis delivery system of claim 17, wherein the protrusion is a fin. ### Claim 20 (depends on 19) The endoprosthesis delivery system of claim 19, wherein the fin has a length, a width, and a height. ### Claim 21 (depends on 20) The endoprosthesis delivery system of claim 20, wherein the length of the fin corresponds to a length of the section having the reduced profile. ### Claim 22 (depends on 20) The endoprosthesis delivery system of claim 20, wherein a length of the section having the reduced profile exceeds the length of the fin. ### Claim 23 (depends on 20) The endoprosthesis delivery system of claim 20, wherein the height of the fin corresponds to a diameter of the endoprosthesis when constrained in a delivery configuration. ### Claim 24 (depends on 20) The endoprosthesis delivery system of claim 20, wherein the fin is curved, bent, or otherwise non-straight along its length. ### Claim 25 (depends on 19) The endoprosthesis delivery system of claim 19, wherein the fin is straight relative to a longitudinal axis of the end cap. ### Claim 26 (depends on 25) The endoprosthesis delivery system of claim 25, wherein the fin extends along the section having the reduced profile such that that a plane parallel to the fin is parallel to and intersects with the longitudinal axis of the end cap. ### Claim 27 (depends on 19) The endoprosthesis delivery system of claim 19, wherein the fin is angled relative to a longitudinal axis of the end cap. ### Claim 28 (depends on 27) The endoprosthesis delivery system of claim 27, wherein the fin extends along the section having the reduced profile such that that a plane parallel to the fin is non-parallel with and intersects with the longitudinal axis of the end cap. ### Claim 29 (depends on 19) The endoprosthesis delivery system of claim 19, wherein the end cap includes a plurality of fins. ### Claim 30 (depends on 19) The endoprosthesis delivery system of claim 19, wherein the fin is configured to fold upon retraction of the end cap into the outer shaft. ### Claim 31 (depends on 17) The endoprosthesis delivery system of claim 17, wherein the section having the reduced profile includes a plurality of ridges that define the protrusion. ### Claim 32 (depends on 17) The endoprosthesis delivery system of claim 17, wherein the endoprosthesis is a stent. ### Claim 33 (depends on 17) The endoprosthesis delivery system of claim 17, wherein the endoprosthesis is a stent-graft.