Patent attributes
A detachment mechanism for an introducer assembly is designed to hold a coupling element of an implantable medical device until its desired release within a patient's vessel. The detachment mechanism includes a body portion having first and second gripper arm elements which grip onto the coupling element of the medical device. The gripper arms are naturally biased into a closed position by means of resiliency of the body element. For this purpose, an actuating device or opening element is provided which includes an enlarged head which can be pulled against tapering internal surface of the body portion of the detachment mechanism in order to force the gripper arms open, thereby to release the medical device from the introducer assembly. The detachment mechanism, being naturally in the closed configuration, reliably holds a medical device to the introducer assembly until it is desired to release the latter into the patient's vessel.