ALEXANDRIA, Va., June 9 -- United States Patent no. 12,285,348, issued on April 29, was assigned to W. L. Gore & Associates Inc. (Newark, Del.).

"Endoprosthesis delivery system with improved retraction" was invented by Bret J. Kilgrow (Flagstaff, Ariz.), Larry J. Kovach (Flagstaff, Ariz.), Brandon C. Short (Bellemont, Ariz.) and Anna F. Timbie (Sunnyvale, Calif.).

According to the abstract* released by the U.S. Patent & Trademark Office: "The present disclosure includes an endoprosthesis delivery system comprising an elongate member, such as a catheter, an endoprosthesis, and an end cap having one or more protrusions extending therefrom. The protrusions may assist in retraction of end cap into an outer sheath, such as an introducer sheath...