Abstract: An introduction arrangement for a fenestrated or branched stent graft (13) intended for deployment into the lumen of a vessel having a blind vessel extending from it. The introducer (1) has a distal end intended to remain outside a patient in use and a proximal end with a nose cone dilator (11) and an arrangement to retain the branched stent graft distally of the nose cone dilator. A sheath (15) on the introducer extends over the branched stent graft to the nose cone dilator. An indwelling catheter (21) extends from the distal end of the introducer and enters the fenestration or side arm and through to the nose cone dilator, the indwelling catheter has a guide wire (29) extending through it. The guide wire can be extended beyond the nose cone dilator in use before the sheath is withdrawn from the branched stent graft so that it can be snared from the contra-lateral artery.

Abstract: A method of temporarily reducing the diameter of a stent graft (10) and a stent graft with its diameter reduced. The stent graft has a tubular body and self expanding stents.

Abstract: A method of temporarily reducing the diameter of a stent graft (10) and a stent graft with its diameter reduced. The stent graft has a tubular body and self expanding stents.

Abstract: A stent graft (1) including a tubular wall (3) with at least one fenestration (40) including a peripheral (37) reinforcement around at least part of the fenestration. There can also be a tubular extension (15). The side arm includes a stent (19) and a cover (17) and extends from and is in fluid communication with the fenestration and the stent graft. The stent may be a self expanding stent. The ring and/or tubular extension provides better support and sealing for an extension arm. The fenestration (40) can be circular or if towards the ends of the stent graft may be in the form of a U-shape (50) with an open end.

Abstract: A deployment device for deploying a self-expanding fenestrated stent graft. The device includes a fenestrated stent graft retained on an introducer. The introducer includes a main catheter and an auxiliary catheter preloaded within the introducer and extending from distal the distal end of the stent graft, into the lumen of the stent graft and through the fenestration.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to an endoluminal prosthesis, such as a stent graft that includes one or more fenestrations to accommodate endovascular disease, such as an aneurysm in cases where one or more side branches is involved. In one aspect, the prosthesis includes fenestrations that are pivotable to accommodate the dynamic geometry of the aortic branches. In another aspect, the pivotable fenestrations include a first perimeter, a band of flexible material attached and surrounding the first perimeter, and a second perimeter attached to and surrounding the band of flexible material. The first perimeter, band of flexible material, and second perimeter have a geometric shape. In one aspect, the prosthesis includes at least three pivotable fenestrations.

Abstract: A stent graft (1) with an internal tube (15) extending from the fenestration (11) within and towards an end of the tubular body (3) of the stent graft. An end of the tube remote from the fenestration is flared into a funnel or elliptical shape (17) to facilitate access into the internal tube from a main lumen of the stent graft. The flared portion is fastened (19) to the wall of the stent graft. The flared portion is held open with a resilient wire ring (21).

Abstract: A deployment system for introducing stent grafts which have a side arm or into which a side arm can be deployed. For instance the stent graft can be deployed into the thoracic arch of a patient. The deployment system including an introducer (1), an auxiliary catheter (13) disposed within the introducer and an auxiliary guide wire (14) disposed within the auxiliary catheter. The auxiliary guide wire extends to adjacent the proximal end (6) of the introducer an can be extended from the proximal end of the introducer so that it can be snared from a side branch artery (56) to assist with deployment of a side arm (23) of the stent graft into the side artery or for the deployment of a side arm stent graft into the stent graft.

Abstract: A laparoscopic vascular conduit arrangement has an elongate graft tube (1, 10) which is placed through a body cavity into a body vessel using a laparoscopic port sheath (70) with a distal valve (73) and a second sheath (80) with distal valve (86, 87). The graft tube (1, 10) extends through the laparoscopic port sheath so that the distal end (108) of the graft tube extends out of its valve and the proximal end of the graft tube extends out of the proximal end of the laparoscopic port sheath. The second sheath (80) is deployed into the distal end (108) of the graft tube (1, 10) such that the first valve (73) seals around the graft tube and the second sheath (84). The proximal end of the graft tube can be deployed into the vessel of the body to allow access into the vessel through the graft tube via the second valve. The conduit can be removed after use or used to provide vascular bypass.

Abstract: A stent graft for placement in the thoracic arch of a patient has a tubular body defining a main lumen therethrough, a plurality of zig zag stents along the tubular body, each of the stents comprising a plurality of struts and bends, the bends being between adjacent struts. At least a first stent and an adjacent second stent having at least a pair of adjacent bends on the first stent aligned with an adjacent pair of bends on the second stent, whereby a first pair of adjacent struts of the first stent and a second pair of adjacent struts of the second adjacent stent together define a diamond shape region. A recess is within the diamond shaped region with the recess extending into the lumen of the tubular body. A fenestration extending into the tubular body within the recess in the diamond shaped region and a graft tube leading from the fenestration into the main lumen.

Abstract: A fenestrated stent graft (1) with a tubular side arm (11) extending therefrom in which the side arm can be turned inside out to extend into the stent graft during deployment of the stent graft and extended out during deployment. Also disclosed is a deployment device (19) for such a side arm stent graft which has a deployment catheter (26) and a side arm guide (32), the side arm guide is releasably fastened at a proximal end to the branch tube (11) and is able to be moved independently of the deployment catheter such that the branch tube can be extended from the tubular body of the stent graft while it is fastened onto the side arm guide. The side arm guide can be formed from a side arm catheter (32) and a side arm guide wire (34) carried in the side arm catheter.

Abstract: A stent graft delivery system (50) has a stent graft (74) retained on it. The stent graft has an exposed proximally extending self expanding stent (76) which is retained in a distally opening capsule (78) at the distal end of a nose cone dilator (58) on the delivery system. A trigger wire (80) extends from a release mechanism (82) the distal end of the delivery system into a first aperture (84) in the capsule, around a proximal bend (86) of the exposed stent and out of the first aperture in the capsule and extending proximally into a second aperture (88). The trigger wire prevents premature release of the exposed stent.

Abstract: A stent graft introducer (1) which includes a handle arrangement which by telescopic movement of a slide or slide portions (104, 106) into a handle portion (100) causes controlled sequential deployment of a stent graft (14). Stops (218, 217, 218, 219) ensure actions are carried out in a selected order. A sheath (116) of the introducer is fixed to a slide portion such that with retraction of the slide portion the sheath is withdrawn from a stent graft retained on the introducer and at a selected position trigger wires retaining the stent graft onto the introducer are also released. Interconnections between the slides and the handle are provided to prevent relative rotation and re-extension after full retraction.

Abstract: A stent graft deployment device assembly (10) has a cylindrical fixed handle (6) to be gripped and held by a user and an tubular release handle (30) extending through the fixed handle. The release handle can be moved through the fixed handle. The deployment device assembly has a pusher assembly and a sheath (18) to cover a stent graft on the pusher assembly. The pusher assembly is connected to the fixed handle and the sheath is connected to the release handle so that retraction of the release handle through the fixed handle causes the sheath to be retracted from the stent graft on the pusher assembly. The fixed handle has a rotator component (36) with internal first and second screw threads. The tubular release handle has an external screw thread (31) which engages with the first screw thread. The external screw thread (31) can extend along part, all or in segments along the release handle. A release clamp (48) on the pusher has pins which engage with the second screw thread.

Abstract: An endoluminal prosthesis comprises a graft having a tubular body comprising proximal and distal ends, and a valve replacement disposed between the proximal and distal ends of the graft. At least one stent is coupled to the graft and has a contracted delivery state and an expanded state for maintaining patency within a portion of the graft. At least one fenestration is disposed in a sidewall of the graft at a location distal to the valve replacement. In one embodiment, the at least one fenestration is pivotable in any direction away from an axis perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the prosthesis.

Abstract: A fenestration (32) for a stent graft (30). The fenestration is an aperture in the biocompatible graft material and has at least one flap (38, 40) of a biocompatible graft material covering the aperture on the inside whereby the flap closes off the aperture but can be displaced to allow access through the fenestration. An array of such fenestrations may be placed on a stent graft to facilitate alignment of a branch vessel with a fenestration. A slip knot (46, 46) which can be released by forcing a dilator between the flaps can be used to hold the flaps together.

Abstract: A fenestrated stent graft with a tubular side arm extending there from in which the side arm can be turned inside out to extend into the stent graft during deployment of the stent graft and extended out during deployment. Also disclosed is a deployment device for such a side arm stent graft which has a deployment catheter and a side arm guide, the side arm guide is releasably fastened at a proximal end to the branch tube and is able to be moved independently of the deployment catheter such that the branch tube can be extended from the tubular body of the stent graft while it is fastened onto the side arm guide. The side arm guide can be formed from a side arm catheter and a side arm guide wire carried in the side arm catheter.

Abstract: A vascular band (1) comprises a biocompatible flexible material (2) and a plurality of radiopaque bars (4) extending transversely across the width of the material and spaced apart along the length of the biocompatible material. The bars provide some rigidity to the flexible material in the width direction thereby preventing buckling of the band in use and the radiopaque nature of the bars enable visualisation of a landing zone for a stent graft during deployment thereof. The bars can be crimped or woven, into the material. The band can be stitched, stapled, or hooked around a vessel.

Abstract: A hybrid stent graft device for treatment of a Type A dissection having a first tubular portion for placement into the ascending aorta and a second tubular portion for extending around the thoracic arch and down the descending aorta is disclosed. The first tubular portion is connectable to the aorta between the sinotubular junction and the brachiocephalic artery so that it essentially replaces the ascending aorta. A temporary bypass tube allows perfusion during an operation. The second tubular portion has an elongate recess outside of the second tubular portion and an aperture defining a fluid flow path into the recess. The recess is intended to engage an outer curve of the thoracic arch to enable blood flow into the arteries of the thoracic arch. An introduction device in combination with the hybrid stent graft described above is also disclosed.

Abstract: A method of sizing of a stent graft (20) including placement of fenestrations (30, 32) to ensure access to side branch vessels (13, 15) through the fenestrations when the stent graft is introduced into a body vessel and an assembly method for a stent graft including temporary diameter reduction arrangements to enable partial release of a stent graft to assist with positioning of fenestrations with respect to side branch vessels. The method includes spacing the fenestrations to be the same circumferential distance as the side branch vessels irrespective of the diameter of the stent graft.