Delivery system for a prosthesis

摘要

The invention provides a delivery system for a prosthesis, said delivery system comprising a catheter shaft with a distal end, a proximal end and a longitudinal axis, a space for a prosthesis with a distal end and a proximal end, the space being at the distal end of the catheter shaft, a sheath with a proximal end and a distal end, the sheath being disposed at the distal end of catheter shaft so as to surround the space, a pusher element attached to the distal end of the catheter shaft and arranged at the proximal end of the space for abutting prosthesis, a pull element with a longitudinal axis, the pull element running the length of the catheter shaft and having a distal end attached to the proximal end of the sheath and a proximal end for pulling the pull element proximally, thereby retracting the sheath proximally relative to the prosthesis space, and at least one fixation element having a proximal end and a distal end and being disposed within a flexible portion of the length of the shaft that lies between the proximal end of the sheath and the proximal end of the catheter shaft. The fixation element serves to limit a radial distance between the axis of the pull element outside the shaft and the axis of the catheter shaft along the length of the fixation element whenever a tensile stress in the pull element results in an endwise compressive stress on the shaft and a tendency of the shaft to bow, relative to the pull element.

主权项

1. A delivery system comprising:
a catheter shaft with a distal end, a proximal end, and a longitudinal axis; a space for a prosthesis with a distal end and a proximal end, the space being at the distal end of the catheter shaft; a sheath with a proximal end and a distal end, the sheath being disposed at the distal end of the catheter shaft so as to surround the space; a pusher element attached to the distal end of the catheter shaft and arranged at the proximal end of the space for the abutting prosthesis; a pull element with a longitudinal axis, the pull element running the length of the catheter shaft and having a distal end attached to the proximal end of the sheath and a proximal end for pulling the pull element proximally, thereby retracting the sheath proximally relative to the prosthesis space; and at least one fixation element having a proximal end and a distal end and being disposed along a flexible portion of the length of the catheter shaft that fully lies between the proximal end of the sheath and the proximal end of the catheter shaft the fixation element serving to limit a maximum radial distance between the axis of the pull element outside the shaft and the axis of the catheter shaft along the length of the fixation element whenever a tensile stress in the pull element results in an endwise compressive stress on the shaft and a tendency of the shaft to bow, relative to the pull element, wherein the fixation element is slidably attached to the catheter shaft so as to be able to axially slide along the length of the catheter shaft when the pull element is pulled proximally in use of the delivery system.