Patent ID: 8597346
Filing Date: 2013-12-03
Classification: A61F

Abstract:
1. A method of temporarily reducing the diameter of a stent graft at a plurality of positions along the stent graft, the stent graft comprising a tubular body of a biocompatible graft material and having a proximal end and a distal end and a self expanding stent framework extending from the proximal end to the distal end and supporting the graft material, the method comprising the steps of; a) extending at least one release wire longitudinally and in only a single half circumferential turn along the stent graft from substantially one side of the stent graft at the proximal end of the stent graft to substantially the opposite side of the stent graft at the distal end of the stent graft along the length of the stent graft; b) stitching the at least one release wire into the graft material; c) providing a plurality of diameter reducing segments at each of a plurality of positions along the length of the at least one release wire; d) engaging each of the plurality of diameter reducing segments around the at least one release wire and extending each of the plurality of diameter reducing segments at least partially about the circumference of the stent graft to a position a selected distance from the at least one release wire; and e) tightening each of the plurality of diameter reducing segments such that the selected distance is reduced and the overall diameter of the stent graft is reduced.