Abstract: A method for delivering a stent graft includes the steps of moving lumens retaining a stent graft within a multi-lumen stent-graft-delivery catheter towards an implantation site to place the stent graft at a first position prior to reaching the implantation site. The delivery catheter has at least one interior lumen holding the stent graft. A handle assembly of the delivery catheter is activated to extend distally the at least one interior lumen towards the implantation site to thereby place the stent graft at a second position substantially within the implantation site while a lumen surrounding the at least one interior lumen of the delivery catheter remains substantially at the first position. The handle assembly is activated to proximally retract a sheath holding the stent graft to at least partially deploy the stent graft at the implantation site.

Abstract: A system for implanting a prosthesis includes a prosthesis delivery device having a handle with a longitudinal axis and a lumen control assembly an intermediate lumen connected to the lumen control assembly and having a distal end, a prosthesis sheath at the distal end of the intermediate lumen for holding therein a prosthesis to be implanted, and an outer lumen fixedly connected to the handle with respect to the longitudinal axis about the intermediate lumen. The lumen control assembly is operable to selectively move the intermediate lumen with the prosthesis sheath between a retracted position in which, when a prosthesis is disposed within the prosthesis sheath, both the prosthesis sheath and the prosthesis are disposed within the outer lumen and an extended position in which, when the prosthesis is disposed within the prosthesis sheath, a portion of the prosthesis sheath containing the prosthesis is disposed outside the outer lumen.

Abstract: A vascular repair device includes a tubular graft body having a central longitudinal axis and a structural framework having at least one stent connected to the graft body in a partially compressed state, the stent having substantially linear struts and apices between adjacent pairs of the struts, each of the apices being in the same plane as the adjacent pairs of the struts. Also provided is a vascular repair device where the stent defines a cross plane orthogonal to the longitudinal axis and has a cross profile having a polygonal shape parallel to the cross-sectional plane and viewed along said longitudinal axis.

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 method for manufacturing a stent, includes the steps of providing a mandrel with an outer surface having a polygonal cross-sectional shape and a longitudinal axis, winding stent wire around the outer surface of the mandrel about the longitudinal axis into a desired final shape, the desired final shape being polygonal in an elevation orthogonal to the longitudinal axis, and forming a stent by setting the wound stent wire in the desired polygonal final shape. Also provided is a method for manufacturing a stent, including the steps of providing a mandrel with a multiple-sided outer surface and a longitudinal axis, winding a stent wire around the outer surface of the mandrel into a desired final shape substantially corresponding to a shape of the outer surface, and forming a stent by setting the wound stent wire into the desired final shape.

Abstract: A bifurcated vascular prosthesis implanted using a combined laparoscopic/open and endovascular technique for curing aneurysms of the abdominal aorta includes two stents on distal arms of the prosthesis. A delivery system and surgical kit for the release of the vascular prosthesis includes a pair of balloon release catheters, to be inserted within each corresponding stent and to remain adhering thereto throughout the time prior to release until reinflated with an inflating syringe, and a pair of balloon guide catheters, each including a dilator and a sheath. A method for implanting the prosthesis is also provided.

Abstract: A method of implanting a prosthesis in a patient at a treatment site includes the steps of providing a prosthesis delivery sheath with an alignment device, loading a prosthesis into the sheath, advancing the sheath in a patient up to the treatment site, and viewing at least one of a rotational and an axial position of the alignment device at the treatment site and, if the sheath is not in a desired position, moving the sheath to the desired position based upon the position of the alignment device. The alignment device can be a pair of markers on opposing sides of a longitudinal axis of the sheath such that, when viewed from a side of the sheath, the pair forms a given shape that communicates to a user a direction in which the sheath needs to rotate minimally to align the markers and form the given shape.

Abstract: A prosthesis implanting system includes a delivery sheath for receiving the prosthesis and delivering it to the treatment site and an alignment device on the sheath visible to a user for indicating a rotational and an axial position of the sheath with respect to the treatment site. The alignment device is part of a delivery assembly slidably disposed in a handle. The delivery assembly has a hollow first lumen for slidably receiving therein a guidewire, a hollow second lumen slidably disposed about the first lumen, a hollow third lumen slidably disposed about the second lumen and having a distal end at which the sheath is connected and is disposed about the first and second lumen. The sheath holds the prosthesis therein prior to implantation and the alignment device is connected to the sheath. A relatively stiff outer lumen is slidably disposed about the third lumen and sheath.

Abstract: A vascular repair device includes a tubular graft body having upstream and downstream ends, and an interior surface and a clasping stent partially attached to the interior surface. The clasping stent circumference defines upstream and downstream apices, and struts connecting respective adjacent apices. The struts each have upstream and downstream portions. The upstream portion of some of the struts is unattached from the interior surface and some of the upstream apices adjacent the unattached struts are also unattached. A crown stent can be attached circumferentially to the graft body adjacent the upstream end as a part of the support framework. The downstream apices and the downstream portion of the struts can be attached to the interior surface of the graft body with only some of the upstream halves and the upstream apices attached to the interior surface of the graft body.

Abstract: A guide wire installation device for a catheter includes a pair of elongated main sections arranged to face each other. Each main section includes a gripping portion at one side, and a holding portion at the other side thereof. The holding portion has first and second grooves communicating with each other. The first groove has a size greater than that of the second groove. When the holding portions abut against each other, a hollow portion is formed by the first grooves, and a receiving hole communicating with the hollow portion is formed by the second grooves. The catheter can be held at the receiving hole, so that the guide wire or syringe for saline can be inserted through the hollow portion.