METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR DEPLOYMENT OF AN ENDOLUMINAL DEVICE

摘要

An introducer (100) deploys an endoluminal device (130) in a distal location from a proximal location. The introducer comprises a retrograde portion (102), an anterograde portion (104) axially moveable relative to the retrograde portion (102), a shaft (106) having a distal tip (124) and an anterograde sheath (126) attached to the distal tip (124), and anchoring means in at least one of the retrograde portion (102) or the anterograde portion (104) for anchoring the device (130) during deployment from its proximal end to its distal end. An inner sheath (108) may be mounted concentrically over the shaft (106) with the endoluminal device (130) mounted concentrically over the inner sheath (108). The anchoring device may comprise an inflatable balloon (120) mounted radially inside the retrograde portion (102), a tether (152), or an extended portion of the endoluminal device confined by a notch (150) in the interface of two sheaths in the retrograde portion (102) of the introducer (100), or may comprise a holder (602) in the anterograde portion (104).