Abstract: A delivery system for delivering and deploying stents with proximal and distal apices includes a “guidewire lumen, a distal apex release lumen, a proximal apex release lumen, a distal apex capture device and a proximal apex capture device. The distal and proximal apex capture devices include a first distal capture portion and a second distal capture portion fixedly connected to the guidewire lumen and distal apex release lumen, respectively, and a first and second proximal capture portions, respectively. The first proximal capture portion is fixedly connected to the distal end of the apex release lumen and has fingers extending toward the first distal capture portion in a distal direction. The second proximal capture portion is fixedly connected to the distal end of the proximal apex release lumen and has fingers extending toward the second distal capture portion in a distal direction.

Abstract: A delivery system for delivering and deploying a stent graft includes a curved guidewire catheter, an apex release catheter, an apex capture device, a relatively rigid, hollow catheter, and a distal nose. The apex capture device includes a distal capture portion fixedly connected to the distal end of the guidewire catheter and having a distal portion and a proximal stopper having an exposed side facing distally in a plane approximately perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the curved guidewire catheter. The apex capture device also includes a proximal capture portion fixedly connected to the distal end of the apex release catheter and has fingers extending toward the distal capture portion in a distal direction that define an interior cavity to receive the proximal stopper. The proximal and distal capture portions of the apex capture device define a stent capture state.

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 and advancing an inner sheath 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. The method also includes locking an apex release lumen, a sheath lumen and a guidewire lumen within the apex release lumen, with respect to an outer catheter and rotationally locking the apex release lumen, the sheath lumen and the guidewire lumen. The apex release lumen, the sheath lumen and the guidewire lumen are threaded onto a guidewire and directed into a patient and the apex release lumen and the sheath lumen are unlocked with respect to the outer catheter.

Abstract: A delivery system for endovascularly delivering a prosthesis along a guidewire to a curved implantation site includes a delivery device having control handle and an inner lumen slidably disposed in the handle between a retracted position and an extended position. The inner lumen has a distal end and a tip at the distal end of the inner lumen. An intermediate lumen is slidably disposed about the inner lumen and has a distal end. A relatively flexible prosthesis sheath is connected to the distal end of the intermediate lumen and a relatively stiff outer lumen is axially fixedly connected to the handle about the intermediate lumen. The outer lumen has a length only long enough to be inserted in a patient's aorta no further than the patient's celiac axis.

Abstract: A vascular repair device includes a tubular graft body and a structural framework having at least two stents connected to the graft body. Stents of the structural framework can each be respectively connected to graft body adjacent the proximal and ends and the support member is shorter than the separation distance therebetween to form a gimbal at least at one end. A first stent is connected along an entirety thereof and a second stent is connected at distal apices thereof. Distal apices of the second stent have radii of curvature smaller than proximal apices. A curved longitudinal support member can be connected to the graft body, the support member being substantially symmetrical with respect to the centerline. The support member can be connected to the graft body independent of the structural framework. At least one of the ends of the support member can have a curved longitudinal extremity.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for aiding in support and repair of a thoracic aneurysm of the aortic arch. A stent graft provides a window therein, which enables blood to flow freely into branch vessels which would otherwise be occluded by the stent graft. Additionally, the stent portions of the stent graft are configured to minimize the risk of overexpansion, wherein stents are provided in the window portion.

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 delivery system for delivering and deploying a stent graft includes a curved guidewire catheter, an apex release catheter, an apex capture device, a relatively rigid, hollow catheter, and a distal nose. The apex capture device includes a distal capture portion fixedly connected to the distal end of the guidewire catheter and having a distal portion and a proximal stopper having an exposed side facing distally in a plane approximately perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the curved guidewire catheter. The apex capture device also includes a proximal capture portion fixedly connected to the distal end of the apex release catheter and has fingers extending toward the distal capture portion in a distal direction that define an interior cavity to receive the proximal stopper. The proximal and distal capture portions of the apex capture device define a stent capture state.

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: An apex capture device for holding proximal apices of a stent to be implanted includes a distal capture portion to be fixedly connected to a distal end of a first hollow lumen and a proximal capture portion fixedly connected to a distal end of a second hollow lumen. The distal capture portion has a longitudinal axis, a distal portion with a proximal end, and a proximal stopper having a distal side and a proximal side. At least a portion of the proximal side of the proximal stopper extends along a line that intersects a hollow first lumen. The proximal capture portion has fingers that define an interior cavity shaped to receive the proximal stopper.

Abstract: A delivery system for delivering and deploying a stent graft includes a guidewire catheter, an apex release catheter, an apex capture device, a relatively rigid, hollow catheter, a sheath catheter, a relatively flexible, hollow stent graft sheath and a distal nose. The apex capture device includes a distal capture portion fixedly connected to the distal end of the guidewire catheter and having a distal portion and a proximal stopper having an exposed side facing distally in a plane approximately perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the guidewire catheter. The apex capture device also includes a proximal capture portion fixedly connected to the distal end of the apex release catheter and has fingers extending toward the distal capture portion in a distal direction that define an interior cavity to receive the proximal stopper. The proximal and distal capture portions of the apex capture device define a stent capture state.

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 manufacturing a stent, includes the steps of winding stent wire around the outer surface of a longitudinal axis of a mandrel into a desired final shape that is polygonal in an elevation orthogonal to the longitudinal axis, and forming a stent by setting the wound stent wire in the desired polygonal final shape. The outside diameter of the stent formed will be in co-columnar apposition with a blood vessel in which it is implanted. The mandrel employed in the methods can have a multiple-sided outer surface and a longitudinal axis.

Abstract: Elastic compressible stents have a plurality of proximal and distal apices joined by struts that are essentially straight. The stent can have a polygonal cross-sectional shape, such as a dodecahedron shape. Elastic compressible stents can be made by a method that includes winding stent wire around an outer surface of a longitudinal axis of a polygonal cross-sectional shaped mandrel into a desired shape that is polygonal in an elevation orthogonal to the longitudinal axis. The stent can be formed by setting the wound stent wire in the desired polygonal final shape. The polygonal cross-sectional shape mandrel can be a mandrel having a multi-sided outer surface. Stents can include graft material attached to the stent.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing a stent, includes the steps of winding stent wire around the outer surface of a longitudinal axis of a mandrel into a desired final shape that is polygonal in an elevation orthogonal to the longitudinal axis, and forming a stent by setting the wound stent wire in the desired polygonal final shape. The outside diameter of the stent formed will be in co-columnar apposition with a blood vessel in which it is implanted. The mandrel employed in the methods can have a multiple-sided outer surface and a longitudinal axis.

Abstract: A stent graft includes a stent graft material of cylindrical shape and tapered stent springs coupled to the stent graft material. Each stent spring includes a first stent cell and a second stent cell contiguous with the first stent cell. The first stent cell and the second stent cell are coupled. The second stent cell of each tapered stent spring is smaller than the first stent cell thereby defining a tapered shape to the tapered stent springs. The stent graft is placed in a curved segment of a tortuous body lumen and rotationally positioned such that the smallest stent cell of each tapered stent spring is placed at an inside radius of the curved segment.

Abstract: A delivery system and kit for endovascularly delivering a prosthesis along a guidewire to an curved implantation site includes a control handle having a handle body with a prosthesis movement control assembly movably disposed thereto. A proximal end of a catheter is connected to the control handle. A prosthesis delivery assembly is movably disposed in the catheter. The delivery assembly has a guidewire lumen slidably receiving therein the guidewire and having a curved distal end orienting the delivery assembly when passing through a curved vessel portion. A method for automatic endovascular alignment of the prosthesis includes loading it in the distal delivery assembly, positioning the guidewire into the curved implantation site, and threading the guidewire lumen over the guidewire with the delivery assembly and into the implantation site to at least approximately align the curved distal portion to a curve of the curved implantation site and, thereby, orient the prosthesis.

Abstract: Delivery systems, components of delivery system, stent graft systems, stent graft delivery systems can be used to treat aortic aneurysms.

Abstract: A delivery system for delivering and deploying stents with proximal and distal apices includes first and second hollow lumens and a hollow apex release lumen, the first lumen having a distal end and an interior extending along a longitudinal axis, the second lumen having a distal end and being slidably disposed about the first lumen, and the apex release lumen having a distal end and being slidably disposed about the second lumen. A proximal apex capture device of the delivery system includes a first distal capture portion fixedly connected to the first lumen, the first distal capture portion having a first distal portion with a proximal end and a proximal stopper having a distal side disposed in a plane approximately perpendicular to the longitudinal axis, being disposed at a first proximal distance from the proximal end of the first distal portion, and defining first stopping surface portions.

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.