Michael E Fine

US Patent:

52902951, Mar 1, 1994

Filed:

Jul 15, 1992

Appl. No.:

7/913208

Inventors:

Luis A. Querals - Baltimore MD
Michael J. Fine - Coral Springs FL

Assignee:

Querals & Fine, Inc. - Coral Springs FL

International Classification:

A61M 2900

US Classification:

606108

Abstract:

A tool for the intraluminal insertion and deployment of a tubular graft within a blood vessel includes a flexible insertion shaft with a tapered distal end, a tubular sheath, a deployment slider and a safety locking tube. The deployment slider and the graft are slideably mounted, end to end, on a cylindrical portion of the shaft. A tubular sheath, which is slideably mounted to cover the graft and a distal portion of the deployment slider, includes a tapered distal end portion with tabs extending into a circumferential groove in the shaft. The graft is deployed, or released, by first removing the safety lock tube and then the tubular sheath is withdrawn over the proximal end of the shaft, exposing the graft from the outside and from the distal end of the tool. Then the shaft is then withdrawn as the deployment slider is held in place to prevent the withdrawal of the graft. Prior to deployment, the safety locking tube is locked on the proximal end of the shaft in an end to end relationship with the tubular sheath, thereby preventing premature deployment by preventing the withdrawal of the tubular sheath.