Patent ID: 6273909
Filing Date: 2001-08-14
Classification: A61F

Abstract:
An attachment member for anchoring a graft system at a desired location in a vessel of a patient's vascular system, the attachment member comprising:a cranial zone comprising a plurality of interconnected cranial struts, the cranial zone having a first radial strength the cranial struts having a first cross-sectional area;a caudal zone comprising a plurality of interconnected caudal struts, the caudal zone having a second radial strength, the caudal struts having a second cross-sectional area; andan intermediate zone having multiple joining longitudinal intermediate struts located between and connecting the cranial and caudal zones, the intermediate zone having a third radial strength which is less than the first and second radial strengths, the intermediate struts having a third cross-sectional area which is less than the first and second cross-sectional areas, the cranial and caudal zones being formed from a self-expanding material capable of expanding from a first delivery configuration to a second deployed configuration.