Patent ID: 6030413
Filing Date: 2000-02-29
Classification: A61B,A61F,A61M,Y10S

Abstract:
A system for intraluminally engrafting in a lumen formed by a wall disposed within a body, the system comprising:a graft of preselected cross-section and length and having an interior surface, the graft being capable of assuming expanded and contracted positions;anchoring elements carried by the graft and extending externally of the graft to engage a lumen;catheter means for inflating the graft into the lumen and advancing the graft through the lumen to a desired location;an inflatable member disposed within the graft;inflation means in fluid communication with the inflatable member for radially expanding the inflatable member;the catheter means having positioning means for causing axial movement of the inflatable member in relation to the graft;protective means for covering the anchoring elements to prevent the anchoring elements from engaging the wall forming the lumen;actuation means coupled to the protective means and to the graft for providing relative movement between the graft and protective means, wherein the protective means can be withdrawn from the graft so that the anchoring elements are uncovered to permit them to be moved in to engagement with the wall forming the lumen;wherein the inflatable member when radially expanded engages the interior surface of the graft and urges the anchoring elements into engagement with a wall forming the lumen; andwherein the graft has proximal and distal extremities and wherein the anchoring elements are disposed adjacent the proximal and distal extremities and wherein the protective means extends over the anchoring elements at the proximal and distal extremities.