Multi-sheath delivery catheter

A delivery catheter for introducing a prosthesis to a body lumen comprising a plurality of concentric tubes, at least a portion of one of which is adapted to contain at least a portion of the prosthesis during introduction to the body lumen, wherein said plurality of concentric tubes includes a first tube having an inner surface, a second tube disposed at least partly within said first tube and having a distal end and a periphery, and a third tube disposed at least partly within said second tube and having a periphery, and means for preventing relative axial movement between said second tube and said third tube, said means comprising:

• (a) at least one notch on said third tube;
• (b) a prong assembly disposed on the periphery of said third tube and abutting said distal end of said second tube, said prong assembly having at least one prong adapted to engage said at least one notch in said third tube;
• (c) a lock ring having a first portion adapted to be disposed over said distal end of said second tube and a second portion adapted to be disposed over said prong assembly abutting said distal end;
• and
• (d) a protrusion on said inner surface of said first tube;
• wherein said second portion of said lock ring is adapted to exert a force on said prong assembly sufficient to maintain the engagement of said prong with said notch and thereby prevent relative axial movement between said second tube and said third tube.

A delivery catheter for introducing a prosthesis to a body lumen comprising a plurality of concentric tubes, at least a portion of one of which is adapted to contain at least a portion of the prosthesis during introduction to the body lumen, and means for preventing relative axial movement of said tubes, wherein said plurality of concentric tubes includes a first tube having a distal end and a second tube disposed at least partly within said first tube and having a periphery, and said means for preventing relative axial movement of said tubes comprises:

• (a) at least one notch on said second tube;
• (b) a cam-lock assembly having:
• (i) a hub fixedly attached to said distal end of said first tube;
• and
• (ii) a cam-lock knob rotationally attached to said hub around the periphery of said second tube;
• (iii) said cam-lock knob having a detailed inner cam surface adapted to engage said notch in a first position, thereby preventing relative axial motion between said first and second tubes, and disengage said notch in a second position, thereby permitting relative axial motion between said first and second tubes.

A delivery catheter for introducing a prosthesis to a body lumen comprising a plurality of concentric tubes, at least a portion of one of which is adapted to contain at least a portion of the prosthesis during introduction to the body lumen, wherein said plurality of concentric tubes includes a first tube having an inner surface and a protrusion on said inner surface, a second tube disposed at least partly within said first tube and having a distal end and a periphery, and a third tube disposed at least partly within said second tube and having a periphery and defining at least one notch, wherein said catheter further comprises:

• (a) a prong assembly disposed on the periphery of said third tube and abutting said distal end of said second tube, said prong assembly having at least one prong adapted to engage said at least one notch in said third tube;
• and
• (b) a lock ring having a first portion adapted to be disposed over said distal end of said second tube and a second portion adapted to be disposed over said prong assembly abutting said distal end;
• wherein said second portion of said lock ring is adapted to exert a force on said prong assembly sufficient to maintain the engagement of said prong with said notch to prevent relative axial movement between said second tube and said third tube.

A delivery catheter for introducing a prosthesis to a body lumen comprising a first tube having a distal end;

• a second tube concentric with and disposed at least partly within said first tube and having:
• (i) a periphery, (ii) at least a portion adapted to contain at least a portion of the prosthesis during introduction to the body lumen, and (iii) at least one notch;
• and a cam-lock assembly for preventing relative axial movement of said first tube and said second tube, said cam-lock assembly comprising:
• (i) a hub fixedly attached to said distal end of said first tube, and (ii) a cam-lock knob rotationally attached to said hub around the periphery of said second tube, wherein said cam-lock knob has a detailed inner cam surface adapted to engage said notch in a first position, thereby preventing relative axial motion between said first tube and said second tube, and disengage said notch in a second position, thereby permitting relative axial motion between said first tube and said second tube.