a probe with a through lumen by which the catheter can be advanced in known fashion over a guide wire inserted in a vessel in the vicinity of its distal end 12 catheter 11 carries a prosthesis 15 held in a compressed position under radial pretensioning by means of a crocheted material 14 said prosthesis following elimination of the restraining force provided by the crocheted material changing to its intended expanded position by expanding automatically for example the prosthesis can be a tubular knitted fabric radially compressible against the effect of a restoring spring force into a position in which it fits closely around the catheter in the vicinity of its distal end prosthesis 15 is surrounded by a crocheted material 14 formed by a continuous thread with successive meshes wrapped around the prosthesis alternately on one side or the other in other words alternately on the right or left side the initial section 17 of the thread material located in front of the first mesh 16 associated with the distal end 12 of catheter 11 is pulled through a slot 18 in the catheter wall pinched in said slot and then extends through the catheter lumen and out through the distal end of the catheter a strippable loop 22 is pulled through a knot 21 that closes end mesh 20 which is remote from the distal end said loop being pulled through two cuts 23 23 u2032 in the catheter wall and is therefore likewise held axially by pinching the free thread end guided through knots 21 of said end mesh 20 forms a drawstring 24 extending along catheter 11 by means of which drawstring first loop 22 held on the catheter by.