Device with a prosthesis implantable in the body of a patient
OwnerErnst P. Streckerinventor
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Abstract
The device comprises a prosthesis designed as a hollow body compressed against the action of restoring spring forces to a cross section reduced relative to an expanded use position, and held in this position by a strippable sheath. After the sheath is stripped, the prosthesis automatically expands to a cross section corresponding to the use position. The sheath, which can be a meshwork in the approximate form of crocheted material, extends over the entire length of the prosthesis and consists of at least one continuous thread and at least one drawstring. The prosthesis, held in the radially compressed position by the sheath, can be mounted displaceably on a feed wire or non-axially-displaceably on the insertion end of a probe or a catheter.
Claims51
In combination, a device with a prosthesis implantable in a body of a patient, said prosthesis designed as a hollow body and being compressible against restoring spring forces to a cross section which is reduced relative to an expanded use position, said prosthesis also, after removal of restraining forces that maintain said prosthesis in reduced cross section, expanding automatically to a cross section that corresponds to the use position, wherein said device is a strippable sheath formed of at least one continuous thread surrounding said prosthesis in said reduced cross section, and at least one drawstring being layable to extend from the sheath that holds the prosthesis in reduced cross section, said drawstring being retractable to effect automatic expansion of said prosthesis by removing said sheath.
A system for implanting a prosthesis at a desired location in a body lumen, comprising:
- a catheter constructed for percutaneous delivery, including a distal portion for receiving and carrying said prosthesis to said location, and a prosthesis release control mesh formed of a thread-like strand and surrounding said prosthesis for substantially its entire length, said release-control mesh being capable of maintaining said prosthesis on said catheter and said release control mesh further capable of being controllably unraveled from one end to the other by pulling an end of said thread-like strand to release said prosthesis from said catheter and allow it to be expanded into engagement with said body lumen at said desired site.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.