Abstract: A delivery system for delivering and deploying stents with proximal and distal apices includes a guidewire catheter, a nose cone assembly, a proximal capture portion and a stent graft with proximal and distal stents. The nose cone assembly is at the distal end of the guidewire catheter and includes a nose cone and a distal capture portion. The proximal capture portion is proximal to the distal capture portion of the nose cone assembly. The proximal stent is releasably secured to the distal capture portion and the distal stent is releasably secured to the proximal capture portion. The stent graft can be deployed by releasing the proximal stent and the distal stent from proximal and distal capture portions of the delivery system.

Abstract: A stent graft includes a graft sleeve, a bare stent and at least one stent at the proximal end of the graft sleeve distal to the bare stent. The at least one stent includes proximal apices that are nested between adjacent distal apices of the bare stent, and an amplitude defined as a distance extending along the longitudinal length of the stent graft. The at least one stent has a relaxed diameter greater than that of a diameter of the graft sleeve and is secured along its entirety to the graft sleeve. The amplitude of the at least one stent is less than that of the bare stent amplitude. An outward radial force of the at least one stent against the graft sleeve at any given diameter of the stent graft is greater than that of the bare stent. Stent grafts may be used in methods to treat vascular disease.

Abstract: An apex capture device includes a proximal apex capture portion that includes a nose and a plurality of tines extending distally from the nose. The apex capture device further includes a distal apex capture portion, a plurality of bosses, an elongate member and a lumen to which the proximal apex capture portion is fixed. In an embodiment, the apex capture device can include a bare stent and at least one suprarenal barb.

Abstract: A delivery system for delivering and deploying stents with proximal and distal apices includes a guidewire catheter, a nose cone assembly, a proximal capture portion and a stent graft with proximal and distal stents. The nose cone assembly is at the distal end of the guidewire catheter and includes a nose cone and a distal capture portion. The proximal capture portion is proximal to the distal capture portion of the nose cone assembly. The proximal stent is releasably secured to the distal capture portion and the distal stent is releasably secured to the proximal capture portion. The stent graft can be deployed by releasing the proximal stent and the distal stent from proximal and distal capture portions of the delivery system.

Abstract: A delivery system for delivering and deploying stent grafts having a proximal stent includes a first lumen and a stent capture device including a capture portion fixedly connected adjacent a first lumen distal end. An outer catheter has a catheter distal end and a catheter inner diameter. A second lumen having a second distal end is slidably disposed about the first lumen and within the outer catheter. A stent graft sheath has a sheath proximal end connected to the second distal end and disposed about the first lumen. The sheath has a sheath distal end and a sheath inner diameter greater than the catheter inner diameter for holding a compressed stent graft. A distal nose cone has a cone proximal end connected to either the capture portion or the first distal end. The nose cone and the capture portion are movably adjustable to selectively capture the sheath distal end therebetween.

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 of implanting a prosthesis in a patient at a treatment site within a blood vessel includes advancing an outer catheter of a prosthesis delivery system in the patient distal to the treatment site, the outer catheter defining an inside diameter and advancing an inner sheath, having greater flexibility than the outer catheter and an outside diameter that is greater than the inside diameter of the outer catheter, and a guidewire lumen of the delivery system from the outer catheter to the treatment site along a guidewire while the outer catheter remains stationary relative to the patient, whereby advancing the inner sheath delivers the prosthesis to the treatment site. The inner sheath is retracted to deploy the prosthesis from within the inner sheath and at the treatment site after which the delivery system from the patient.

Abstract: A method of implanting a prosthesis in a patient at a treatment site includes advancing an outer catheter of a prosthesis delivery system in the patient distal to the treatment site. An inner sheath and a curved guidewire lumen of the delivery system are advanced from the outer catheter to the treatment site along a guidewire while the outer catheter remains stationary relative to the patient. Advancing the inner sheath causes rotation of the prosthesis to thereby rotationally align the prosthesis at the treatment site. The inner sheath is retracted to deploy a prosthesis from within the inner sheath and at the treatment site. The delivery system is then retracted from the patient.

Abstract: A system for implanting a prosthesis includes a prosthesis delivery device having a handle, an inner lumen, a nose cone, an intermediate lumen, 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. The system can include a lumen control assembly operable to move the intermediate lumen with the prosthesis sheath between a retracted position and an extended position.

Abstract: A delivery system for delivering and deploying stent grafts having a proximal stent includes a first lumen and a stent capture device including a capture portion fixedly connected adjacent a first lumen distal end. An outer catheter has a catheter distal end and a catheter inner diameter. A second lumen having a second distal end is slidably disposed about the first lumen and within the outer catheter. A stent graft sheath has a sheath proximal end connected to the second distal end and disposed about the first lumen. The sheath has a sheath distal end and a sheath inner diameter greater than the catheter inner diameter for holding a compressed stent graft. A distal nose cone has a cone proximal end connected to either the capture portion or the first distal end. The nose cone and the capture portion are movably adjustable to selectively capture the sheath distal end therebetween.

Abstract: A stent graft includes a graft sleeve, a bare stent and at least one stent at the proximal end of the graft sleeve distal to the bare stent. The at least one stent includes proximal apices that are nested between adjacent distal apices of the bare stent, and an amplitude defined as a distance extending along the longitudinal length of the stent graft. The at least one stent has a relaxed diameter greater than that of a diameter of the graft sleeve and is secured along its entirety to the graft sleeve. The amplitude of the at least one stent is less than that of the bare stent amplitude. An outward radial force of the at least one stent against the graft sleeve at any given diameter of the stent graft is greater than that of the bare stent. Stent grafts may be used in methods to treat vascular disease.

Abstract: A method of implanting a prosthesis in a patient at a treatment site includes advancing an outer catheter of a prosthesis delivery system in the patient distal to the treatment site. An inner sheath and a curved guidewire lumen of the delivery system are advanced from the outer catheter to the treatment site along a guidewire while the outer catheter remains stationary relative to the patient. Advancing the inner sheath causes rotation of the prosthesis to thereby rotationally align the prosthesis at the treatment site. The inner sheath is retracted to deploy a prosthesis from within the inner sheath and at the treatment site. The delivery system is then retracted from the patient.

Abstract: A method of implanting a prosthesis in a patient at a treatment site within a blood vessel includes advancing an outer catheter of a prosthesis delivery system in the patient distal to the treatment site, the outer catheter defining an inside diameter and advancing an inner sheath, having greater flexibility than the outer catheter and an outside diameter that is greater than the inside diameter of the outer catheter, and a guidewire lumen of the delivery system from the outer catheter to the treatment site along a guidewire while the outer catheter remains stationary relative to the patient, whereby advancing the inner sheath delivers the prosthesis to the treatment site. The inner sheath is retracted to deploy the prosthesis from within the inner sheath and at the treatment site after which the delivery system from the patient.

Abstract: A delivery system for delivering and deploying stent grafts having a proximal stent includes a first lumen and a stent capture device including a capture portion fixedly connected adjacent a first lumen distal end. An outer catheter has a catheter distal end and a catheter inner diameter. A second lumen having a second distal end is slidably disposed about the first lumen and within the outer catheter. A stent graft sheath has a sheath proximal end connected to the second distal end and disposed about the first lumen. The sheath has a sheath distal end and a sheath inner diameter greater than the catheter inner diameter for holding a compressed stent graft. A distal nose cone has a cone proximal end connected to either the capture portion or the first distal end. The nose cone and the capture portion are movably adjustable to selectively capture the sheath distal end therebetween.

Abstract: A vascular repair device includes a tubular graft body and a structural framework having at least two stents. A first stent of the stents is connected to the tubular graft body along an entirety of the first stent and a second of the stents includes a periodically changing shape that defines proximal apices having a first radii of curvature and distal apices having a second radii of curvature that is less than the first radii of curvature. The second stent is connected to the tubular graft body at the distal apices.

Abstract: A method for automatic endovascular alignment of a prosthesis includes loading the prosthesis in a distal delivery assembly, positioning a guidewire into a curved implantation site, and threading a guidewire lumen over the guidewire with the delivery assembly and into an implantation site to at least approximately align the curved distal portion to a curve of a curved implantation site and, thereby aligning the prosthesis.

Abstract: A method for automatic endovascular alignment of a prosthesis includes loading the prosthesis in a distal delivery assembly, positioning a guidewire into a curved implantation site, and threading a guidewire lumen over the guidewire with the delivery assembly and into an implantation site to at least approximately align the curved distal portion to a curve of a curved implantation site and, thereby aligning the prosthesis.

Abstract: A vascular repair device includes a tubular graft body and a structural framework having at least two stents. A first stent of the stents is connected to the tubular graft body along an entirety of the first stent and a second of the stents includes a periodically changing shape that defines proximal apices having a first radii of curvature and distal apices having a second radii of curvature that is less than the first radii of curvature. The second stent is connected to the tubular graft body at the distal apices.

Abstract: A stent graft system includes a tubular graft component, a bare stent component, an infrarenal stent component at least one suprarenal barb extending distally from at least one suprarenal portion of the bare stent component and at least one infrarenal barb extending distally from at least one infrarenal portion of the bare stent component. A stent graft system can also include at least one barb.

Abstract: An apex capture device includes a proximal apex capture portion that includes a nose and a plurality of tines extending distally from the nose. The apex capture device further includes a distal apex capture portion, a plurality of bosses, an elongate member and a lumen to which the proximal apex capture portion is fixed. In an embodiment, the apex capture device can include a bare stent and at least one suprarenal barb.