Abstract: Methods and apparatus for placing a bifurcated aortic graft, with extensions, into a body lumen. An aortic graft is provided with a unique combination of self-expanding a balloon expandable wires. The aortic graft is bifurcated and includes ipsilateral and contralateral legs. Two extension grafts are provided for frictional engagement with the legs of the aortic graft. For placement of the bifurcated aortic graft with extensions, an introducer assembly including a dilator and a sheath assembly provides access for the introduction of a main catheter and a directional catheter. The main catheter is provided for deployment of the bifurcated aortic graft within the lumen of a vessel. A balloon is provided on the main catheter for expanding the balloon-expandable wires of the aortic graft. The directional catheter, which includes a deflecting spring portion, permits placement of a guidewire through the ipsilateral leg and into the contralateral leg of the aortic graft.

Abstract: An intraluminal catheter for directing a guidewire and/or catheter in a desired direction within a bodily vessel or cavity. The intraluminal catheter has a first elongate tubular member and a support means which can comprise a second elongate tubular member that can pass over a main support guidewire. The catheter acts as a platform as the guidewire is passed through the first elongate tubular member and is deflected transversely outwardly by an angled surface through an aperture. A second intraluminal catheter has a first elongate tubular member and a support means comprising a second elongate tubular member. The first elongate tubular member has a main portion and an end portion, with the end portion being deflectable relative to the locus of the main portion so as to direct the guidewire passing through the end portion in a desired direction in the bodily vessel.

Abstract: A system for delivering and implanting a radially expandable endoluminal prosthesis within a body lumen (e.g., blood vessel). The system comprises a) an introducer/dilator assembly, and b) a delivery catheter/loader assembly. The introducer/dilator assembly comprises an elongate tubular introducer sheath which may be provided with a valving assembly mounted on the proximal end thereof. Such valving assembly may incorporate i) a hemostatic valve, ii) a first sealing valve and iii) a second sealing valve, positioned in series, to prevent leakage of body fluid out of the proximal end of the introducer and to permit two or more elongate members (e.g., catheters, guidewires) having differing outer diameters to be inserted through the introducer without leakage of body fluid therefrom. A dilator, which has regionalized differences in stiffness, is initially deployable within the lumen of the introducer to facilitate advancement of the introducer to its desired location within the body.

Abstract: A system for delivering and implanting a radially expandable endoluminal prosthesis within a body lumen (e.g., blood vessel). The system comprises a) an introducer/dilator assembly, and b) a delivery catheter/loader assembly. The introducer/dilator assembly comprises an elongate tubular introducer sheath which may be provided with a valving assembly mounted on the proximal end thereof. Such valving assembly may incorporate i) a hemostatic valve, ii) a first sealing valve and iii) a second sealing valve, positioned in series, to prevent leakage of body fluid out of the proximal end of the introducer and to permit two or more elongate members (e.g., catheters, guidewires) having differing outer diameters to be inserted through the introducer without leakage of body fluid therefrom. A dilator, which has regionalized differences in stiffness, is initially deployable within the lumen of the introducer to facilitate advancement of the introducer to its desired location within the body.

Abstract: A resiliently flexible body vessel or body cavity dilator that tapers toward one end and a transition zone that decreases in flexibility along the dilator away from the one end. The dilator can comprise a dilator arranged to be slid over a guidewire for use in the placement of an intraluminal graft bridging an aortic aneurysm. The dilator can also comprise an inner core of relatively stiff material surrounded by an outer layer of resiliently flexible material.

Abstract: A method for positioning an intraluminal graft within a branching vessel in a patient's body is described. The method is particularly applicable to the appropriate positioning of a trouser graft so that it bridges an aneurism which extends from a single vessel, such as the aorta, into one or more divergent vessels, for example, an iliac artery. The method can comprise the steps a of placing a first graft (10), that bifurcates in a pair of tubular sections (19a, 19b) into the pre-branching portion of a vessel (11) through one of the post-branching portions of the vessel (12, 13), positioning a second tubular graft (10b) into one of the post-branching portions (12) and connecting it to one of the tubular sections of the first graft (19a), and positioning a third tubular graft (10a) into the other of the post-branching portions (11) and connecting it to the other of the tubular sections of the first graft (19b).

Abstract: A delivery catheter and method for positioning an intraluminal graft within a branching vessel in a patient's body and a delivery catheter for use in that method is described. The delivery catheter comprises an elongate catheter having preferably an inflatable balloon adjacent one end, an intraluminal graft disposed about the balloon that bifurcates into two short tubular extensions, and a thin supplementary catheter containing a guidewire that extends upstream through one of the first tubular extensions and downstream through the other of the short tubular extensions of the graft. The method for positioning the intraluminal graft using the delivery catheter is particularly applicable to the appropriate positioning of a trouser graft so that it bridges an aneurysm which extends from a single vessel, such as the aorta, into one or more divergent vessels, for example, an iliac artery.

Abstract: A system for delivering and implanting a radially expandable endoluminal prosthesis within a body lumen (e.g., blood vessel). The system comprises a) an introducer/dilator assembly, and b) a delivery catheter/loader assembly. The introducer/dilator assembly comprises an elongate tubular introducer sheath which may be provided with a valving assembly mounted on the proximal end thereof. Such valving assembly may incorporate i) a hemostatic valve, ii) a first sealing valve and iii) a second sealing valve, positioned in series, to prevent leakage of body fluid out of the proximal end of the introducer and to permit two or more elongate members (e.g., catheters, guidewires) having differing outer diameters to be inserted through the introducer without leakage of body fluid therefrom. A dilator, which has regionalized differences in stiffness, is initially deployable within the lumen of the introducer to facilitate advancement of the introducer to its desired location within the body.

Abstract: An intraluminal graft (10) includes a tubular graft body (11) formed of a film or fabric which is reinforced along its length by a plurality of separate spaced apart maleable wires (17). Each of the wires (17) has a generally closed sinusoidal or zig-zag shape. A wire (17) located adjacent to one end of the graft body (11) has alternate crests or apices that project beyond that end of the graft body (11). The graft (10) may be inserted intraluminally into the body of a patient in a collapsed condition within a catheter. Once positioned to bridge across an aneurysm within the patient's arterial system the graft (10) may be expanded radially by a balloon to bridge the aneurysm and occlude the aneurysmal sack.