CPC A61F 2/966 (2013.01) [A61F 2002/047 (2013.01); A61F 2250/001 (2013.01)] | 29 Claims |
1. A method of deploying an expandable implant within a patient's urethra, the method comprising:
inserting an inner shaft into the urethra with the implant retained within an inner lumen of the inner shaft and covered by the inner shaft;
advancing a distal end of the inner shaft distally along the urethra to, or distally beyond, the patient's bladder neck;
pulling the distal end of the inner shaft back from the bladder neck in a proximal direction;
retracting the inner shaft proximally, relative to the implant, to a partially-retracted position in which the implant is at least partially uncovered while still being retained by the inner shaft;
positioning the implant at a target site within the urethra at a longitudinal position in the urethra proximal to the bladder neck; and
deploying the implant at the target site by further retracting the inner shaft to an extent sufficient to release the implant from the inner shaft.
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