Abstract: A method of releasing a bare stent of a stent graft includes moving a lumen, to which a proximal apex capture portion of an apex capture device is fixed, the proximal apex capture portion defining a radial restraint, along a major axis between a first position, in which tines of the proximal apex capture portion are mated with slots of a distal apex capture portion and overlie bosses extending radially from a major axis of the apex capture device, and a second position, in which the tines are not mated with the slots and do not overlie the bosses, to thereby release apices of a bare stent from a space defined by the tines, the bosses and the distal apex capture portion.

Abstract: A method for implanting a prosthesis centrally within a curved lumen includes loading a prosthesis into a delivery sheath, advancing the sheath in a patient towards the curved lumen to place at least the proximal end of the prosthesis within the curved lumen, and centering the proximal end of the prosthesis and/or the distal end of the sheath within the curved lumen. In a first advancing step, the outer catheter containing the inner sheath is advanced together towards the curved lumen to a location proximal of the curved lumen and, in a second advancing step, the inner sheath containing the prosthesis is advanced into the curved lumen to place at least the proximal end within the curved lumen while the outer catheter substantially remains at the location. After centering, the proximal end of the prosthesis is deployed centered within the curved lumen.

Abstract: A stent graft system includes a tubular graft component, a bare stent component, an infrarenal stent component at least one suprarenal barb extending distally from at least one suprarenal portion of the bare stent component and at least one infrarenal barb extending distally from at least one infrarenal portion of the bare stent component. A stent graft system can also include at least one barb.

Abstract: At least one of axial stiffness (i.e. bending stiffness) and radial stiffness of a luminal stent of a luminal stent assembly, or of the luminal stent assembly, linking a fenestrated aortic prosthesis to a branch of a branched artery, decreases with increasing distance from a proximal end of the luminal stent or the luminal stent assembly, and a method of their use implants the luminal stent, the luminal stent, or a luminal stent system that includes at least one of the luminal stent or stent assembly in a branched artery to therapeutically treat a diseased tissue at the branched artery.

Abstract: A method for implanting a prosthesis centrally within a curved lumen includes loading a prosthesis into a delivery sheath, advancing the sheath in a patient towards the curved lumen to place at least the proximal end of the prosthesis within the curved lumen, and centering the proximal end of the prosthesis and/or the distal end of the sheath within the curved lumen. In a first advancing step, the outer catheter containing the inner sheath is advanced together towards the curved lumen to a location proximal of the curved lumen and, in a second advancing step, the inner sheath containing the prosthesis is advanced into the curved lumen to place at least the proximal end within the curved lumen while the outer catheter substantially remains at the location. After centering, the proximal end of the prosthesis is deployed centered within the curved lumen.

Abstract: A stent graft delivery system for delivering an aortic prosthetic device includes a handle, an internal lead screw assembly within a track of a handle body of the handle, a lead screw nut that extends about the handle body and threadable engaged with the threaded portion of the internal lead screw assembly, a support member fixed to the handle body, a sheath extending about a portion of the support member and fixed to the internal lead screw assembly, and a hemostasis valve about the supporting member and between the sheath and the lead screw assembly.

Abstract: A hemostasis valve includes a longitudinal valve housing, a gasket, a grip assembly and an interference element. A x-valve includes a valve housing, at least one sealing component and a support layer. Stent graft delivery systems include a handle, an internal lead screw assembly, a lead screw nut, a support member fixed to the handle body, a sheath and a hemostasis valve.

Abstract: A thoraco-abdominal branch graft prosthesis includes a lumen main graft component that defines a lumen and at least one main graft wall fenestration. An open distal end of the main graft component is tapered and has a smaller diameter than the proximal end of the main graft component. At least one tunnel graft component of the branch graft prosthesis defines at least one tunnel graft fenestration. The tunnel graft component is within the main graft lumen defined by the luminal main graft component. A luminal wall of the tunnel graft component is fixed to the luminal wall of the main graft component. The fenestration of the tunnel graft wall is aligned with the fenestration of the main graft wall. The thoraco-abdominal branch graft prosthesis can be implanted in a patient at a site of a thoraco-abdominal aneurysm.

Abstract: A stent graft includes a tubular aortic component that defines a lumen and a fenestration with a pocket at the fenestration. At least one proximal tunnel graft extends proximally within the lumen from the proximal opening of the pocket and is secured at a proximal end to the tubular component, and at least one distal tunnel graft extends distally within the lumen from the distal opening of the pocket and is secured at a distal end to the tubular aortic component. The stent graft can further include at least one branch stent graft, each of which extends through the fenestration and within at least one of the proximal tunnel graft or the distal tunnel graft. The stent graft can be implanted in a patient to thereby treat an aneurysm, such as a suprarenal or thoracoabdominal aortic aneurysm.

Abstract: The vascular prosthesis includes a luminal graft component having at least one fenestration. At least one fenestration ring borders the at least one fenestration and is fixed to the luminal graft component. The fenestration ring includes a main component with two opposing ends and a connecting component. The diameter of the fenestration ring can expand upon insertion of a branch prosthesis through the fenestration ring during implantation at a surgical site. The vascular prosthesis can be implanted in a patient to thereby treat, for example, an arterial aneurysm, spanning a region of an aneurysm that includes at least one arterial branch.

Abstract: A thoraco-abdominal branch graft prosthesis includes a lumen main graft component that defines a lumen and at least one main graft wall fenestration. At least one tunnel graft component of the branch graft prosthesis defines at least one tunnel graft fenestration. The tunnel graft component is within the main graft lumen defined by the luminal main graft component. A luminal wall of the tunnel graft component is fixed to the luminal wall of the main graft component. The fenestration of the tunnel graft wall is aligned with the fenestration of the main graft wall. The thoraco-abdominal branch graft prosthesis can be implanted in a patient at a site of a thoraco-abdominal aneurysm.

Abstract: A stent graft system includes a tubular graft component, a bare stent component, an infrarenal stent component at least one suprarenal barb extending distally from at least one suprarenal portion of the bare stent component and at least one infrarenal barb extending distally from at least one infrarenal portion of the bare stent component. A stent graft system can also include at least one barb.

Abstract: A stent graft includes a luminal graft component defining at least one fenestration. At least one ligature traverses the fenestration and at least partially defines an opening within the fenestration that secures a branch prosthesis. The stent graft is implanted in a patient to thereby treat an arterial aneurysm, such as an aortic aneurysm in a region of the aorta that includes at least one arterial branch, including juxtarenal and short-neck aortic aneurysms.

Abstract: A delivery system and method for implanting a stent graft includes a flexible sheath that defines openings distributed longitudinally and wherein substantial alignment of the openings along a longitudinal axis of a guidewire catheter radially constrict the flexible sheath. The flexible sheath includes at least one fenestration. A ligature extends through the openings of the flexible sheath and causes the openings to be substantially aligned, thereby constraining the flexible sheath. The ligature is proximally retractable from the openings to thereby release the flexible sheath from a radially constricted configuration.

Abstract: A delivery system includes a handle, a guidewire catheter, a nose cone at the distal end of the guidewire catheter that with the guidewire catheter defines an opening concentric with the guidewire catheter, a plurality of wires that extend distally from the handle and essentially parallel with and distributed radially about the guidewire catheter and a stent graft. The wires each extend between a portion of the stents and wall of the stent graft, whereby the stent graft is radially constrained until the wires are retracted. The delivery system can be employed in methods of treating arterial disease, such as aortic aneurysms.

Abstract: A stent graft system includes a tubular graft component, a bare stent component, an infrarenal stent component at least one suprarenal barb extending distally from at least one suprarenal portion of the bare stent component and at least one infrarenal barb extending distally from at least one infrarenal portion of the bare stent component. A stent graft system can also include at least one barb.

Abstract: A method of releasing a bare stent of a stent graft includes moving a lumen, to which a proximal apex capture portion of an apex capture device is fixed, the proximal apex capture portion defining a radial restraint, along a major axis between a first position, in which tines of the proximal apex capture portion are mated with slots of a distal apex capture portion and overlie bosses extending radially from a major axis of the apex capture device, and a second position, in which the tines are not mated with the slots and do not overlie the bosses, to thereby release apices of a bare stent from a space defined by the tines, the bosses and the distal apex capture portion.

Abstract: An apex capture device includes a proximal apex capture portion that includes a nose and a plurality of tines extending distally from the nose. The apex capture device further includes a distal apex capture portion, a plurality of bosses, an elongate member and a lumen to which the proximal apex capture portion is fixed. In an embodiment, the apex capture device can include a bare stent and at least one suprarenal barb.

Abstract: A graft prosthesis coupler includes a plurality of luminal grafts, each of which defines a first end, and a second end and a major longitudinal axis, the major longitudinal axes being substantially parallel to each other. The graft prosthesis coupler also includes a circumferential graft that has first and second ends and extends about the plurality of luminal grafts, and a first end wall that lies in a surface defined by the first ends of the luminal grafts and the first end of the circumferential graft. In another embodiment, a graft prosthesis coupler includes a plurality of luminal grafts attached to each other. A modular graft system includes the graft prosthesis coupler and branch graft prostheses. The graft prosthesis coupler can be implanted in a patient at a site of an aneurysm to facilitate implanting the branch graft prostheses into branch vessels at the site of the aneurysm.

Abstract: A method for implanting a prosthesis centrally within a curved lumen includes loading a prosthesis into a delivery sheath, advancing the sheath in a patient towards the curved lumen to place at least the proximal end of the prosthesis within the curved lumen, and centering the proximal end of the prosthesis and/or the distal end of the sheath within the curved lumen. In a first advancing step, the outer catheter containing the inner sheath is advanced together towards the curved lumen to a location proximal of the curved lumen and, in a second advancing step, the inner sheath containing the prosthesis is advanced into the curved lumen to place at least the proximal end within the curved lumen while the outer catheter substantially remains at the location. After centering, the proximal end of the prosthesis is deployed centered within the curved lumen.