DELIVERY SYSTEMS WITH INTRODUCER AND DISTAL SHEATHS AND METHODS OF USE

摘要

A delivery system and method of its use delivers a stent graft prosthesis to a surgical site, such as an abdominal, thoracic or thoraco-abdominal aortic aneurysm. The delivery system includes a handle defining a conduit, an introducer sheath extending distally through the handle, a substantially straight inner control tube extending through the conduit of the handle and from the distal end of the introducer sheath, and a distal sheath that extends through and beyond a distal end of the introducer sheath. The distal sheath can have, in one embodiment, a diameter equal to or less than that of the introducer sheath. Retraction of the distal sheath through the introducer sheath and the handle exposes a stent graft prosthesis extending about the inner control tube. Removal of the inner control tube from the introducer sheath allows for implantation of additional components through the introducer sheath.