Prosthesis delivery systems and methods

Abstract

Apparatus and method deliver a prosthesis into a hollow body organ or blood vessel. The systems and methods make use of a catheter. A carrier on the distal end of the catheter is sized and configured to carry the prosthesis. A release mechanism and an enclosure mechanism on the distal end are operable to retain and enclose the prosthesis on the carrier. The release mechanism and the enclosure mechanism are also operable to selectively expose and release the prosthesis from the carrier for deployment in the hollow body organ or blood vessel.

We claim: 
     
         1 . An apparatus for delivering a prosthesis comprising
 a catheter sized and configured for introduction into a hollow body organ or blood vessel, the catheter having a distal end,   a carrier on the distal end sized and configured to carry the prosthesis during introduction of the catheter,   a release mechanism on the distal end being operable to retain the prosthesis on the carrier, the release mechanism also being operable to selectively release the prosthesis from the carrier for deployment in the hollow body organ or blood vessel,   an enclosure mechanism on the distal end being operable to enclose the prosthesis on the carrier, the enclosure mechanism also being operable to selectively expose the prosthesis on the carrier, to thereby enable the release of the prosthesis from the carrier in response to selective operation of the release mechanism, and   at least one actuator coupled to the release mechanism and the enclosure mechanism to selectively operate the release mechanism and the enclosure mechanism.