Abstract: A star-shaped stent and replacement valve or replacement graft for use in repairing damaged vascular organs: Two to eight star-shaped members are interconnected into a “chain”. Once this “chain” has been created through interconnection of the star-shaped members, a central opening through all of the interconnected star-shaped members receives a graft made of any suitable flexible and bio-compatible material. A catheter delivery system is used to deliver the stent with the graft to the desired site. The star-shaped stents are made by using a laser to cut out a plurality of flat star-shaped members with a plurality of outwardly and inwardly directed points. The outwardly directed points are bent so that they face away from a plane defined by the inwardly directed points and then a series of such stents are fastened together in a chain.

Abstract: A system and method for percutaneous access to a blood vessel is disclosed. The system according to the present invention includes a flexible guide wire for guiding the system to a desired position in a blood vessel; a tubular member having a lumen sized to slidingly receive the guide wire; an introducer having a lumen sized to slidingly receive the tubular member and a distal section including a S-shaped curve for assisting in positioning the system in the blood vessel; and a sheath having a lumen sized to slidingly receive the introducer, wherein the sheath provides access to the blood vessel after the system has been advanced to the desired position in the blood vessel.