Introducer for self-expandable medical device

1. An introducer apparatus for deploying a self-expandable medical device, comprising:

a shaft having a proximal end and a distal end; and

a distal end portion positioned distal of said shaft distal end, said distal end portion comprising an introducer body and a plurality of deployment members removably engageable with said introducer body, said introducer body comprising a plurality of spaced support rings joined by at least one elongated strut, said introducer body sized and shaped relative to a size and shape of said self-expandable medical device such that said medical device is receivable on a surface of said introducer body when said medical device is in a compressed condition, said deployment members being radially disposed substantially intermediate said introducer body support rings and said compressed medical device for selectively restraining said self-expandable medical device in said compressed condition on said surface.

2. The introducer apparatus of claim 1 , wherein each said support rings comprises a plurality of lobes and an adjacent depressed portion between a pair of lobes.

3. The introducer apparatus of claim 2 , wherein each said support ring is rotationally oriented in an offset manner relative to an adjacent support ring, and said struts join said support rings by attachment to respective depressed portions of said rings.

4. The introducer apparatus of claim 1 , wherein said introducer body and said deployment members are engaged such that said introducer body, deployment members and compressed medical device comprise a generally smooth longitudinal profile.

5. The introducer apparatus of claim 1 , comprising a control mechanism for selectively retracting said deployment members relative to said introducer body to cause expansion of said medical device.

6. An introducer apparatus for deploying a self-expandable medical device, comprising:

a shaft having a proximal end and a distal end; and

a distal end portion positioned distal of said shaft distal end, said distal end portion comprising an introducer body and a plurality of deployment members removably engageable with said introducer body, said introducer body comprising a plurality of spaced support rings joined by at least two elongated struts, said introducer body sized and shaped relative to a size and shape of said self-expandable medical device such that said medical device is receivable on a surface of said introducer body when said medical device is in a compressed condition, said deployment members configured and arranged relative to said introducer body for selectively restraining said self-expandable medical device in said compressed condition on said surface, said introducer apparatus further comprising a distal tip member, said distal tip member configured for fixedly receiving a distal end of said struts.

7. The introducer apparatus of claim 6 , wherein said distal tip portion comprises respective channels for releasably receiving a distal end of at least two of said deployment members.

8. A method for deploying a self-expandable medical device in a target area of a body vessel of a patient, comprising:

positioning an introducer apparatus for insertion into said body vessel, said introducer apparatus comprising a shaft and a distal end portion disposed distal of said shaft, said distal end portion comprising an introducer body and at least one deployment member removably engageable with said introducer body, said introducer body sized and shaped relative to a size and shape of said self-expandable medical device such that said medical device is receivable on a surface of said introducer body when said medical device is in a compressed condition, said at least one deployment member configured and arranged for selectively restraining said compressed self-expandable medical device during engagement with said introducer body, said introducer body comprising a plurality of spaced support rings, said support rings being joined by at least one elongated strut, said introducer apparatus further comprising a distal tip member configured for fixedly receiving a distal end of said at least one strut, said distal tip member further comprising a channel for releasably receiving a distal end of said at least one deployment member;

loading said self-expandable medical device in a compressed condition onto said surface of said introducer body such that said medical device is restrained in said compressed condition by said at least one deployment member;

inserting said distal end portion of said introducer apparatus having said medical device loaded thereon into said vessel, and directing said introducer apparatus through said vessel such that said distal end portion is positioned at said target area;

releasing said at least one deployment member from said tip member to release said medical device from said compressed condition and cause said medical device to self-expand to an expanded condition at said target area; and

withdrawing said introducer apparatus from said vessel.

9. The method of claim 8 , further comprising:

inserting a wire guide into said vessel target area;

inserting said distal end portion of said introducer apparatus to said target area over said wire guide.

10. The method of claim 9 , wherein said at least one deployment member extends substantially along the length of the introducer body such that said medical device is positioned between said introducer body and said deployment member when in said compressed condition; and wherein said introducer apparatus further comprises a control mechanism, said control mechanism being operable for controlling said withdrawal of said at least one deployment member.

11. The method of claim 9 , wherein said at least one deployment member is withdrawn in a proximal direction.

12. The method of claim 9 , wherein said medical device is loaded onto an outer surface of said introducer body.

13. The method of claim 8 , wherein said support rings are joined by at least two struts.