Patent ID: 6416536
Filing Date: 2002-07-09
Classification: A61F

Abstract:
A method for endoluminally deploying a stent and overlying biocompatible graft cover in a distal deployment location inside a lumen from a proximal access location, said lumen defining an interior space therein, the method comprising the steps of:a) compressing the stent and graft and loading the compressed stent and compressed graft into a delivery system, the delivery system comprising a stent sheath having a distal end located upstream relative to a flow direction of intraluminal fluid in the lumen, the compressed stent underlying the stent sheath and having a distal end, and the compressed graft overlying the stent sheath along the length of the stent and releasably retained in a compressed state surrounding said sheath, said graft having a distal end attached to the stent at or proximal the stent distal end and an outer surface exposed to the interior space of said lumen during deployment; b) inserting the delivery system into a lumen and navigating said delivery system through said lumen so that said stent is at a desired deployment location; c) proximally displacing the stent sheath relative to the distal end of the stent, allowing the stent distal end to expand, and allowing endoluminal fluid to flow between the stent sheath and the graft so that the graft becomes radially distanced from the stent sheath; and d) completing deployment of the stent so that it biases the graft against the body lumen.