A proximal release delivery system for expandable prostheses includes an elongate catheter, an actuating wire, and a splittable sheath. The actuating wire travels through the lumen of the elongate catheter to the catheter's distal end where it everts about the end of the catheter and travels between the expandable prosthesis and the splittable sheath. A splitter with a blade element is attached to the end of the actuating wire. As an operator pulls the proximal end of the actuating wire in the proximal direction, the splitter travels in the distal direction, splitting the sheath from the proximal to distal end and allowing the prosthesis to expand and deploy. The splittable sheath may also include a longitudinal hinge attached to the expandable prosthesis.
