Abstract: The present invention provides a sectional crimped graft that allows graft flexibility where required and limits the overall longitudinal extension. The present invention overcomes the disadvantage of fully crimped grafts by controlling the number of crimps per unit length, crimp height, crimp geometry and their location along the graft wall, dependent on the particular end-use application. In so doing, flexibility and elongation can be controllably tailored only in areas where significant anatomical angulation is present. It may also be useful in applications other than stent grafts such as surgical grafts for aortic and peripheral areas. Limiting the overall graft longitudinal extension also facilitates the deployment of the stent-graft into the blood vessel.

Abstract: An endoluminal self-expanding prosthesis for placement in a blood vessel, duct or lumen, to hold it open. The prosthesis includes a stent with a graft extending within the stent. The stent is an elongated self-expanding stent with an open tubular wall structure. The graft is an elongated compressible generally tubular graft. One end of the graft is secured to the inside of the stent and the graft extends therethrough. The stent is deployed allowing the free flow of blood through the open-celled structure, and the graft is freely deployed secondarily within the stent by the blood flowing therethrough. The present invention is not subject to significant distal migration during delivery and placement of the prosthesis.