Abstract: An endoluminal prosthesis includes a coiled body and a graft material covering at least part of the coiled body to create a coiled stent graft. The average stent graft diameter to turns width ratio may be about 0.8 to 1 to about 2.4 to 1 when expanded.

Abstract: A coiled stent (196) has a coiled stent body with a main body portion (106) and end portions (108). The end portions may be substantially less stiff than the body portion to help prevent tissue trauma. A graft material (124) may be used to cover at least the main body portion to create a coiled stent graft (122) in which adjacent turns (128) have gaps defined therebetween to create a generally helical gap (130). The coiled stent may have side elements (10) separated by connector elements (112) and be placeable in a contracted, reduced diameter state and in a relaxed, expanded diameter state. The connector elements are preferably generally parallel to the stent axis when placed in the contracted, reduced-diameter state, typically tightly wrapped around a placement catheter (136).

Abstract: A coiled stent (196) has a coiled stent body with a main body portion (106) and end portions (108). The end portions may be substantially less stiff than the body portion to help prevent tissue trauma. A graft material (124) may be used to cover at least the main body portion to create a coiled stent graft (122) in which adjacent turns (128) have gaps defined therebetween to create a generally helical gap (130). The coiled stent may have side elements (10) separated by connector elements (112) and be placeable in a contracted, reduced diameter state and in a relaxed, expanded diameter state. The connector elements are preferably generally parallel to the stent axis when placed in the contracted, reduced-diameter state, typically tightly wrapped around a placement catheter (136).

Abstract: An endoluminal prosthesis includes a coiled body and a graft material covering at least part of the coiled body to create a coiled stent graft. The average stent graft diameter to turns width ratio may be about 0.8 to 1 to about 2.4 to 1 when expanded.

Abstract: A coiled stent (196) has a coiled stent body with a main body portion (106) and end portions (108). The end portions may be substantially less stiff than the body portion to help prevent tissue trauma. A graft material (124) may be used to cover at least the main body portion to create a coiled stent graft (122) in which adjacent turns (128) have gaps defined therebetween to create a generally helical gap (130). The coiled stent may have side elements (10) separated by connector elements (112) and be placeable in a contracted, reduced diameter state and in a relaxed, expanded diameter state. The connector elements are preferably generally parallel to the stent axis when placed in the contracted, reduced-diameter state, typically tightly wrapped around a placement catheter (136).

Abstract: An endoluminal prosthesis includes a coiled body and a graft material covering at least part of the coiled body to create a coiled stent graft. The average stent graft diameter to turns width ratio may be about 0.8 to 1 to about 2.4 to 1 when expanded.

Abstract: A catheter assembly includes a coiled endoluminal prosthesis (122, 190, 198) and a catheter (136) having at least first and second telescoping shafts (138, 140, 142). The prosthesis is releasably engaged to the distal ends (144, 146, 148) of the telescoping shafts. The prosthesis is capable of assuming a second, expanded diameter state from a first, reduced diameter state. The length and number of turns (128) of the coiled prosthesis can be changed by the relative translation and rotation of the shafts. The catheter assembly is especially useful for placing a coiled stent graft (122), in which one turn (132, 134) of the prosthesis has a greater pitch than the adjacent turns, at the intersection (184) of a bifurcation within a blood vessel (182). Remotely viewable marker elements (188, 190, 191, 192, 193, 195, 197) may be used and include a marker element (193, 190A, 197) configured to indicate orientation as well as axial position of the prosthesis.

Abstract: A prosthesis, for use within a hollow body structure of a patient, comprises a coiled body having a radially-extending openings, the coiled body being movable from a radially-contracted state to a radially-expanded state. A material extends along a coiled path along the entire coiled body. A dispensable, biologically active agent is associated with at least one of the coiled body and material. The material may comprise a coiled sleeve of material having inner and outer surfaces, the inner surface defining a sleeve interior containing the coiled body. The dispensable agent may be, for example, on the outer surface of the material, incorporated into the material to create an agent/material matrix, or on the inner surface of the material or within the sleeve interior.

Abstract: A coiled stent (196) has a coiled stent body with a main body portion (106) and end portions (108). The end portions may be substantially less stiff than the body portion to help prevent tissue trauma. A graft material (124) may be used to cover at least the main body portion to create a coiled stent graft (122) in which adjacent turns (128) have gaps defined therebetween to create a generally helical gap (130). The coiled stent may have side elements (10) separated by connector elements (112) and be placeable in a contracted, reduced diameter state and in a relaxed, expanded diameter state. The connector elements are preferably generally parallel to the stent axis when placed in the contracted, reduced-diameter state, typically tightly wrapped around a placement catheter (136).

Abstract: A catheter assembly includes a coiled endoluminal prosthesis (122, 190, 198) and a catheter (136) having at least first and second telescoping shafts (138, 140, 142). The prosthesis is releasably engaged to the distal ends (144, 146, 148) of the telescoping shafts. The prosthesis is capable of assuming a second, expanded diameter state from a first, reduced diameter state. The length and number of turns (128) of the coiled prosthesis can be changed by the relative translation and rotation of the shafts. The catheter assembly is especially useful for placing a coiled stent graft (122), in which one turn (132, 134) of the prosthesis has a greater pitch than the adjacent turns, at the intersection (184) of a bifurcation within a blood vessel (182). Remotely viewable marker elements (188, 190, 191, 192, 193, 195, 197) may be used and include a marker element (193, 190A, 197) configured to indicate orientation as well as axial position of the prosthesis.

Abstract: A coiled stent (196) has a coiled stent body with a main body portion (106) and end portions (108). The end portions may be substantially less stiff than the body portion to help prevent tissue trauma. A graft material (124) may be used to cover at least the main body portion to create a coiled stent graft (122) in which adjacent turns (128) have gaps defined therebetween to create a generally helical gap (130). The coiled stent may have side elements (10) separated by connector elements (112) and be placeable in a contracted, reduced diameter state and in a relaxed, expanded diameter state. The connector elements are preferably generally parallel to the stent axis when placed in the contracted, reduced-diameter state, typically tightly wrapped around a placement catheter (136).

Abstract: A catheter (4) includes a hollow catheter shaft (18), an inflatable balloon (36) surrounding the catheter shaft distal portion, and an expandable endoluminal prosthesis, such as a stent graft (38, 40), surrounding the balloon. The stent is typically a coiled stent having distal ends (58, 48) slidably housed within stent end holders (56, 50) on the catheter shaft. The first stent end is released from its holder by inflating the balloon. The second stent end is selectively released from its holder by other than inflating the balloon, typically by a push wire (30) pushing the second stent end out of its holder. A sheath (8) is moveable between a first position surrounding the stent and a second position spaced-apart from the stent. The stent is prevented from assuming its expanded-diameter state by (1) the engagement of the stent ends with the catheter shaft through the stent end holders, and (2) the sheath being in its first position during the introducing step.

Abstract: A catheter assembly includes a coiled endoluminal prosthesis (122, 190, 198) and a catheter (136) having at least first and second telescoping shafts (138, 140, 142). The prosthesis is releasably engaged to the distal ends (144, 146, 148) of the telescoping shafts. The prosthesis is capable of assuming a second, expanded diameter state from a first, reduced diameter state. The length and number of turns (128) of the coiled prosthesis can be changed by the relative translation and rotation of the shafts. The catheter assembly is especially useful for placing a coiled stent graft (122), in which one turn (132, 134) of the prosthesis has a greater pitch than the adjacent turns, at the intersection (184) of a bifurcation within a blood vessel (182). Remotely viewable marker elements (188, 190, 191, 192, 193, 195, 197) may be used and include a marker element (193, 190A, 197) configured to indicate orientation as well as axial position of the prosthesis.