CPC A61F 2/2436 (2013.01) [A61F 2/2439 (2013.01); A61F 2/2418 (2013.01)] | 18 Claims |
1. A system comprising:
stent frame including a cell structure that is defined, at least in part, by opposing, first and second strut segments, the stent frame having a radially expanded condition and a radially compressed condition;
the stent frame further including a first barb extending from the first strut segment and a second barb extending from the second strut segment; and
a tether positioned around the stent frame;
wherein, the first and second barbs cross over one another to form a capture zone when the stent frame is in the radially compressed condition;
wherein the tether is secured to the stent frame within the capture zone in the radially compressed condition, and
wherein the first and second barbs are configured to separate from each other as the stent frame expands from the radially compressed condition to the radially expanded condition such that the tether can be released from the capture zone and released from the stent frame when the stent frame is in the radially expanded condition
wherein a juncture of the first and second strut segments forms an angle and the angle is greater in the radially expanded condition than in the radially compressed condition.
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