Corvita Corporation

I John Khan

Leonard Pinchuk

John B Martin

An apparatus for loading a self-expanding prosthesis into a delivery sheath includes a substantially cylindrical cartridge for receiving the prosthesis and a cartridge un-loading device for removing the prosthesis from the cartridge and loading it into a delivery sheath. The cartridge is provided with an exterior radial key at one end. The unloading device includes a substantially cylindrical member having an interior stationary coaxial piston extending substantially its entire length and an exterior sliding ring. The cylindrical member is provided with a radial slot which restricts movement of the sliding ring, and a stepped internal stop at one end. The stepped internal stop has a radial keyway which is dimensioned to receive the key on the cartridge. The sliding ring is provided with a radial pin which resides in the radial slot in the cylindrical member and which couples the sliding ring to an interior key engaging member with a locking keyway dimensioned to engage the key on the cartridge. The method of the invention includes loading the prosthesis into the cartridge, attaching the cartridge to the unloading device, placing the delivery sheath over the cartridge, and pulling the cartridge into the unloading device leaving the prosthesis inside the delivery sheath.

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Miami, FL, United States of America

I John Khan