Device for treating a blood vessel and a method of preparing the device

Claim 1

1 . A device for treating a blood vessel, the device being of the type comprising: at least one tubular endoprosthesis ( 11 ) that is deployable between a retracted state and an expanded state; a hollow prop ( 13 ) which extends longitudinally between a proximal end ( 21 ) and a distal end ( 19 ), which prop ( 13 ) is provided in the vicinity of its distal end ( 19 ) with at least one transverse retaining opening ( 23 A; 23 B; 85 ); at least one releasable filamentary line ( 33 ; 33 A; 33 B; 33 C; 33 D) forming at least one tightening loop ( 43 ; 43 A; 43 B; 43 C; 43 D) which surrounds at least part of the endoprosthesis ( 11 ), the tightening loop ( 43 ; 43 A; 43 B; 43 C; 43 D) extending through the retaining opening ( 23 A; 23 B; 85 ) to an eyelet ( 41 ; 41 A; 41 B; 41 C; 41 D) and being engaged through a tightening opening ( 23 A; 23 B; 87 ) formed transversely in the prop ( 13 ); the filamentary line ( 33 ; 33 A; 33 B; 33 C; 33 D) further comprising traction means ( 45 ) which extend the tightening loop ( 43 ; 43 A; 43 B; 43 C; 43 D) from the tightening opening ( 23 A; 23 B; 87 ), the traction means ( 45 ) extending inside the prop ( 13 ) at least to a control end ( 57 ) actuatable from the proximal end ( 21 ) of the prop ( 13 ); and at least one releasable retaining member ( 31 ; 31 C; 31 D), the eyelet ( 41 ; 41 A; 41 B; 41 C; 41 D) being engaged releasably on the retaining member ( 31 ; 31 C; 31 D); the device being characterized in that the traction means ( 45 ) can be moved relative to the prop ( 13 ) towards the distal end ( 19 ) of the prop ( 13 ) from a position under tension in which the endoprosthesis ( 11 ) is in its retracted state, to a relaxed position in which the endoprosthesis ( 11 ) is in its expanded state, at least in the vicinity of the tightening loop ( 43 ; 43 A; 43 B; 43 C; 43 D).