Endovascular delivery system with an improved radiopaque marker scheme

1. An endovascular delivery system, comprising:

an elongate outer tubular device having an open lumen and opposed proximal and distal ends with a medial portion therein between;

an inner tubular member disposed within said outer tubular device, said inner tubular member comprising prosthesis holder comprising:

an axial guidewire extending through said proximal portion of said inner tubular member;

a body surrounding said axial guidewire; and

an outer surface, upon which a prosthesis may be secured prior to delivery;

wherein said body comprises:

at least three generally cylindrical markers aligned in a direction parallel to said axial guidewire and each spaced an equal distance from said axial guidewire with one of the cylindrical markers being a middle cylindrical marker and another two of the cylindrical markers being side cylindrical markers; and

at least two perpendicular markers, wherein said perpendicular markers are disposed at a perpendicular angle to the axial guidewire;

wherein each of said generally cylindrical markers are spaced at about 90° intervals as measured around the axis formed by the axial guidewire;

wherein, upon rotation of the proximal portion to a first position, only the middle cylindrical marker and the two perpendicular markers are visible and, upon rotation of the proximal portion to a second position, only the two side cylindrical markers are visible.

2. The delivery system of claim 1 , wherein said body is made of a material that is not fluorescent or radiopaque.

3. The delivery system of claim 1 , wherein said axial guidewire is made of a material that is fluorescent or radiopaque.

4. The delivery system of claim 1 , wherein each of said generally cylindrical markers are made of a material that is fluorescent or radiopaque.

5. The delivery system of claim 4 , wherein each of said generally cylindrical markers are made of a combination of platinum and iridium.

6. The delivery system of claim 1 , wherein said perpendicular markers are made of a material that is fluorescent or radiopaque.

7. The delivery system of claim 6 , wherein said perpendicular markers are made of a combination of platinum and iridium.

8. The delivery system of claim 1 , wherein said prosthesis is a stent-graft.

9. The delivery system of claim 8 , wherein said body comprises a plurality of anchors to secure said stent-graft to said outer surface of said body.

10. The delivery system of claim 1 , wherein said generally cylindrical markers are press-fitted into said body.

11. The delivery system of claim 1 , wherein said generally cylindrical markers are molded into said body.

12. The delivery system of claim 1 , wherein said generally cylindrical markers have a diameter of about 0.030 inches.

13. The delivery system of claim 1 , wherein said axial guidewire has a diameter of about 0.035 inches.

14. The delivery system of claim 1 , wherein said generally cylindrical markers have a diameter of about 0.010 to about 0.040 inches.

15. The delivery system of claim 1 , wherein said axial guidewire has a diameter of about 0.010 to about 0.050 inches.

16. The delivery system of claim 1 , wherein each of said generally cylindrical markers are disposed in said body at a distance of about 0.010 inches to about 0.015 inches from said axial guidewire.

17. A method of delivering a prosthesis within a body lumen, comprising the steps of:

(a) providing the delivery system of claim 1 ;

(b) inserting said delivery system within a body lumen and directing said prosthesis holder to a desired location within the lumen;

(c) using a device to view the location of the generally cylindrical markers;

(d) aligning said prosthesis holder at a rotational angle based upon the generally cylindrical markers; and

(e) releasing said prosthesis within said body lumen.