Abstract: Disclosed is a stent graft, including a graft body, a sealing stent at the proximal end of the graft body and completely overlapped by the graft body, and a diameter reducing loop arrangement. The sealing stent includes proximal apices at a proximal end thereof and distal apices at a distal end thereof. The diameter reducing loop arrangement includes a loop element. The loop element includes a first end, a second end, and a strand section from the first end to the second end. The first end is attached to the distal end of the sealing stent. The loop element is configured to pass circumferentially around the distal end of the sealing stent and have a release wire pass through a loop at the second end. The diameter reducing loop arrangement is configured to constrict the distal apices of the sealing stent and cause the sealing stent to adopt a substantially conical or frustoconical shape.

Abstract: An endoluminal graft includes a tubular graft material having a closed sleeve integral with the tubular graft material. The closed sleeve extends a distance along the tubular graft material. A length of wire extends at least partially along the distance and is enclosed by the sleeve. The tubular graft material and the sleeve may comprise a single piece of graft material. The sleeve may be a closed circumferential sleeve and/or a closed longitudinal sleeve.

Abstract: A stent graft for deployment in the aortic arch including at least a proximal stent ring at the proximal end of the tubular graft material, at least one fenestration provided in a side wall of the tubular graft material, an internal branch disposed within the lumen of the stent graft and extending from the fenestration. A fenestration-supporting stent ring supports the fenestration between two struts and an apex of the fenestration supporting ring. The proximal stent ring has plurality of stent units including at least one scallop unit, at least one supporting unit, and at least one body unit. The proximal apex of each scallop unit is located at a laterally extending edge of the scallop in a first circumferential region and the proximal apex of each supporting unit is located a second circumferential region. The first and second struts of each of the at least one scallop unit are shorter than the first and second struts of each of the at least one supporting unit.

Abstract: Disclosed is a stent graft, including a graft body, a sealing stent at the proximal end of the graft body and completely overlapped by the graft body, and a diameter reducing loop arrangement. The sealing stent includes proximal apices at a proximal end thereof and distal apices at a distal end thereof. The diameter reducing loop arrangement includes a loop element. The loop element includes a first end, a second end, and a strand section from the first end to the second end. The first end is attached to the distal end of the sealing stent. The loop element is configured to pass circumferentially around the distal end of the sealing stent and have a release wire pass through a loop at the second end. The diameter reducing loop arrangement is configured to constrict the distal apices of the sealing stent and cause the sealing stent to adopt a substantially conical or frustoconical shape.

Abstract: Disclosed is a stent graft, including a graft body, a sealing stent at the proximal end of the graft body and completely overlapped by the graft body, and a diameter reducing loop arrangement. The sealing stent includes proximal apices at a proximal end thereof and distal apices at a distal end thereof. The diameter reducing loop arrangement includes a loop element. The loop element includes a first end, a second end, and a strand section from the first end to the second end. The first end is attached to the distal end of the sealing stent. The loop element is configured to pass circumferentially around the distal end of the sealing stent and have a release wire pass through a loop at the second end. The diameter reducing loop arrangement is configured to constrict the distal apices of the sealing stent and cause the sealing stent to adopt a substantially conical or frustoconical shape.

Abstract: A stent graft for deployment in a curved lumen such as the aortic or thoracic arch comprises a constraining mechanism at its proximal end. A stent provided at the proximal end of the stent graft includes loops of material that co-operate with restraining wires that extend between a central guide wire carrier and a restraining wire cannula. The constraining mechanism acts to maintain the proximal stent constrained at both the proximal and distal ends of the proximal stent. The proximal stent is thus allowed to expand after expansion of the remainder of the stent graft during deployment. In an embodiment, the constraining mechanism acts to constrain two adjacent struts of the proximal stent at three points radially therearound, at the proximal end of the stent and at the distal end of the stent. The proximal stent may then overlap with the interior of an adjacent stent at an inner part of a curved vessel.

Abstract: Methods of reducing air within a stent graft delivery device are disclosed, utilizing various flushing techniques. A port in a manifold that includes a pusher catheter coaxially disposed about a guide wire catheter is flushed. A portion in a sheath hub that excludes a longitudinally extended outer sheath coaxially disposed about the pusher catheter is flushed with a flushing fluid and/or a blood soluble gas, such as carbon dioxide. The guide wire catheter is also flushed.

Abstract: An endoluminal graft includes a tubular graft material having a closed sleeve integral with the tubular graft material. The closed sleeve extends a distance along the tubular graft material. A length of wire extends at least partially along the distance and is enclosed by the sleeve. The tubular graft material and the sleeve may comprise a single piece of graft material. The sleeve may be a closed circumferential sleeve and/or a closed longitudinal sleeve.

Abstract: Various stents and stent-graft systems for treatment of medical conditions are disclosed. In one embodiment, an exemplary stent-graft system may be used for endovascular treatment of a thoracic aortic aneurysm. The stent-graft system may comprise proximal and distal components, each comprising a graft having proximal and distal ends, where upon deployment the proximal and distal components at least partially overlap with one another to provide a fluid passageway therebetween. The proximal component may comprise a proximal stent having a plurality of proximal and distal apices connected by a plurality of generally straight portions, where a radius of curvature of at least one of the proximal apices may be greater than the radius of curvature of at least one of the distal apices. The distal component may comprise a proximal z-stent coupled to the graft, where the proximal end of the graft comprises at least scallop formed therein that generally follows the shape of the proximal z-stent.

Abstract: An endoluminal graft includes a tubular graft material having a closed sleeve integral with the tubular graft material. The closed sleeve extends a distance along the tubular graft material. A length of wire extends at least partially along the distance and is enclosed by the sleeve. The tubular graft material and the sleeve may comprise a single piece of graft material. The sleeve may be a closed circumferential sleeve and/or a closed longitudinal sleeve.

Abstract: Various stents and stent-graft systems for treatment of medical conditions are disclosed. In one embodiment, an exemplary stent-graft system may be used for endovascular treatment of a thoracic aortic aneurysm. The stent-graft system may comprise proximal and distal components, each comprising a graft having proximal and distal ends, where upon deployment the proximal and distal components at least partially overlap with one another to provide a fluid passageway therebetween. The proximal component may comprise a proximal stent having a plurality of proximal and distal apices connected by a plurality of generally straight portions, where a radius of curvature of at least one of the proximal apices may be greater than the radius of curvature of at least one of the distal apices. The distal component may comprise a proximal z-stent coupled to the graft, where the proximal end of the graft comprises at least scallop formed therein that generally follows the shape of the proximal z-stent.

Abstract: A stent graft for deployment in a curved lumen such as the aortic or thoracic arch comprises a constraining mechanism at its proximal end. A stent provided at the proximal end of the stent graft includes loops of material that co-operate with restraining wires that extend between a central guide wire carrier and a restraining wire cannula. The constraining mechanism acts to maintain the proximal stent constrained at both the proximal and distal ends of the proximal stent. The proximal stent is thus allowed to expand after expansion of the remainder of the stent graft during deployment. In an embodiment, the constraining mechanism acts to constrain two adjacent struts of the proximal stent at three points radially therearound, at the proximal end of the stent and at the distal end of the stent. The proximal stent may then overlap with the interior of an adjacent stent at an inner part of a curved vessel.

Abstract: An aortic arch device that is a unitary tube of graft material having a crimped unstented portion and a stented portion, a collar at the junction of the crimped unstented portion and the stented portion, at least one fenestration or lateral opening in the graft material to accommodate arteries in the aortic arch. Branches may extend from the fenestrations.

Abstract: A stent graft for deployment in a curved lumen such as the aortic or thoracic arch comprises a constraining mechanism at its proximal end. A stent provided at the proximal end of the stent graft includes loops of material that co-operate with restraining wires that extend between a central guide wire carrier and a restraining wire cannula. The constraining mechanism maintains the proximal stent constrained at both of its proximal and distal ends. The proximal stent can then expand after expansion of the remainder of the stent graft during deployment. In an embodiment, the constraining mechanism acts to constrain two adjacent struts of the proximal stent at three points radially therearound, at the proximal end of the stent and at the distal end of the stent. The proximal stent may then overlap with the interior of an adjacent stent at an inner part of a curved vessel.

Abstract: A stent graft delivery device that is pre-loaded with a single guide wire for both tracking the device within a main vessel as well as for cannulating one or more branch vessels is described. The delivery device comprises a delivery catheter having a prosthesis releasably secured thereto and a nose cone extending from the proximal end of the catheter. In a delivery configuration, a secondary catheter is coaxial with the guide wire and extends through at least a portion of the prosthesis lumen and is held within a channel formed in the nose cone. In a released configuration, secondary catheter and guide wire are retracted distally out of the channel formed in the sidewall of the nose cone dilator and can be manipulated for cannulating a branch vessel.

Abstract: A handle assembly for a delivery device the sequential release of trigger wires from a prosthesis to release the prosthesis from the delivery device. The handle assembly has two handles, one of which is a rotating handle. The rotating handle has a first and second trigger wire release mechanisms which operate to sequentially release a first and second trigger wire, respectively, and a locking mechanism. The other handle has a locking mechanism that prevents that operation of the second trigger wire release mechanism until the first trigger wire has been released.

Abstract: A pre-loaded stent graft delivery device and stent graft, the stent graft delivery device. The stent graft has at least one fenestration or side arm and the fenestration is preloaded with an indwelling guide wire. The indwelling guide wire are configured to receive the access sheaths. A handle assembly at a distal end of the guide wire catheter. The handle includes a multiport manifold with access ports to the auxiliary lumens in the pusher catheter. Upon deployment of the stent graft into the vasculature of a patient, the indwelling guide wire can be used to facilitate catheterization of a side branch or target vessel through the fenestration or be used to stabilize the access sheath during catheterization, advancement of the access sheath into the target vessel and deployment of a covered or uncovered stent therein through the access sheath.

Abstract: An aortic arch device that is a unitary tube of graft material having a crimped unstented portion and a stented portion, a collar at the junction of the crimped unstented portion and the stented portion, at least one fenestration or lateral opening in the graft material to accommodate arteries in the aortic arch. Branches may extend from the fenestrations.

Abstract: An implantable medical device includes a support structure which is twistable in a longitudinal direction of the device. A sleeve of filter or occluding material is attached to the ends of the structure. The structure in practice twists on itself in the longitudinal direction, causing the sleeve to twist on itself and as a result to close the lumen through the sleeve. The device provides reliable closure and as a result occlusion of a vessel. It is also able to be delivered over a guide wire. In another embodiment, the support structure includes a wire which coils around the sleeve to constrict the sleeve and as a result to close a lumen of the sleeve.

Abstract: An introducer assembly includes a distal sheath and a proximal sheath. A splitting element is located at a proximal end of the distal sheath and is arranged to split the distal sheath in a distal direction, so as to deploy first a branch element of a medical device and thereafter the distal end of the medical device. The proximal sheath can then be retracted to release the proximal end of the medical device. Deployment of the medical device from the branch element first enables accurate positioning of the branch element prior to deployment of the main body portion of the medical device.