PROSTHESIS FIXATION SYSTEM AND METHOD
A prosthesis fixation system includes a delivery device having a distal end and a proximal end. The delivery device includes an inner cannula extending between the distal end and the proximal end of the delivery device, a positioner disposed coaxially over a first portion of the inner cannula, and a tip assembly attached to a proximal end of the inner cannula. A prosthesis is releasably coupled to the delivery device at the proximal end of the delivery device. At least one trigger wire extends longitudinally within a lumen of the positioner and at least one suture loop is attached to the proximal end of the positioner. A proximal end of the trigger wire extends proximally beyond the proximal end of the positioner such that trigger wire passes through the at least one suture loop and is removably attached to an end of the prosthesis.
1 . A prosthesis fixation system comprising:
a delivery device having a distal end and a proximal end, the delivery device comprising an inner cannula extending between the distal end and the proximal end of the delivery device, a positioner disposed coaxially over a first portion of the inner cannula, and a tip assembly attached to a proximal end of the inner cannula;
a prosthesis releasably coupled to the delivery device at the proximal end of the delivery device;
at least one trigger wire extending longitudinally within a lumen of the positioner; and
at least one suture loop attached to the proximal end of the positioner,
wherein a proximal end of the at least one trigger wire extends proximally beyond the proximal end of the positioner such that the at least one trigger wire passes through the at least one suture loop and is removably attached to an end of the prosthesis for releasably coupling the end of the prosthesis to the delivery device.
2 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the at least one trigger wire comprises three trigger wires and the at least one suture loop comprises three suture loops, the trigger wires being removably attached to the end of the prosthesis at radial positions approximately 120 degrees apart.
3 . The system of claim 1 , wherein
the delivery device further comprises a concentric cannula disposed coaxially over a second portion of the inner cannula, a distal end of the concentric cannula being attached to a proximal end of the positioner,
the prosthesis is carried on the concentric cannula,
the tip assembly is disposed over a third portion of the inner cannula, the tip assembly comprising a distal tip segment and a separate proximal tip segment disposed proximally of the distal tip segment, the distal tip segment being attached to a proximal end of the concentric cannula, the proximal tip segment being attached to a proximal end of the inner cannula.
4 . The system of claim 3 , wherein the delivery device further comprises a sheath mounted coaxially over the prosthesis, the sheath comprising a split defining a proximal sheath segment disposed proximally of the split and a distal sheath segment disposed distally of the split, a proximal end of the proximal sheath segment being attached to the proximal tip segment.
5 . The system of claim 3 , wherein the proximal tip segment has a forward proximal taper and the distal tip segment has a reverse distal taper.
6 . The system of claim 4 , wherein the inner cannula is moveably received within an inner lumen of the distal tip segment and is fixedly attached within an inner lumen of the proximal tip segment such that pushing the inner cannula in a proximal direction causes proximal movement of the proximal tip segment and the proximal sheath segment.
7 . The system of claim 4 , wherein a distal end the proximal sheath segment and a proximal end of the distal sheath segment are disposed over a portion of the prosthesis such that pushing the inner cannula in a proximal direction causes proximal movement of the proximal tip segment and the proximal sheath segment to expose the proximal end of the prosthesis and retracting the distal sheath segment distally to expose the distal end of the prosthesis.
8 . The system of claim 4 , wherein
the proximal sheath segment is configured to be moveable proximally between between a pre-deployment configuration in which a proximal end of the prosthesis is covered by the proximal sheath segment and a post-deployment configuration in which the proximal end of the prosthesis is uncovered by the proximal sheath segment and a distal end of the proximal sheath segment is disposed proximally the proximal end of the prosthesis and
the distal sheath segment is configured to be moveable distally between a pre-deployment configuration in which a distal end of the prosthesis is covered by the distal sheath segment and a post-deployment configuration in which the distal end of the prosthesis is uncovered by the distal sheath segment and a proximal end of the distal sheath segment is disposed distally the distal end of the prosthesis.