Patent ID: 8556961
Filing Date: 2013-10-15
Classification: A61F

Abstract:
1. A method for deploying an intravascular stent graft comprising the steps of: providing an intravascular stent graft comprising first and second primary stent segments; a primary graft sleeve operatively coupled near an open first end thereof to the first primary stent segment, operatively coupled near an open second end thereof to the second primary stent segment, having a side opening therethrough, and forming a main fluid flow channel between the open first and second ends of the primary graft sleeve; and a strip of graft material having opposite side edges that are fixedly secured to an outer surface of the primary graft sleeve to form an external graft channel between the strip graft material and the primary graft sleeve, the external graft channel having a first open end secured to and communicating with the side opening of the primary graft sleeve and a second open end extending toward the second end of the primary graft sleeve and secured to the exterior surface of the primary graft sleeve, thereby forming at least a portion of a branch fluid flow channel between the main fluid flow channel and the second open end of the external graft channel, wherein the external graft channel further includes at least one stent segment at or near the side opening of the intravascular stent graft; delivering transluminally the intravascular stent graft to a repair site of the main vessel; locating the intravascular stent graft to substantially align the second open end of the external graft channel with a lumen of a branch vessel of the main vessel at the repair site; engaging the first primary stent segment and the first end of the primary graft sleeve with the endoluminal surface of the first segment of the main vessel; and engaging the second primary stent segment and the second end of the primary graft sleeve with the endoluminal surface of the second segment of the main vessel.