Patent ID: 6908477

Claim:
A method of implanting first and second stents with associated grafts within first and second vessel regions extending at an angle with respect to each other, the method comprising: inserting a first guidewire to guide a first stent with an associated first graft to the first vessel region; inserting a second guidewire to guide a second stent with an associated second graft having a retaining flange to the second vessel region; inserting a first delivery sheath containing the first stent with the associated first graft over the first guidewire to the first target vessel region, the first sheath including a longitudinally extending slot opening at a distal end; removing the first delivery sheath as the slot slides past the second guidewire to enable the first stent with the associated first graft to expand against the wall of the first vessel region; inserting a second delivery sheath containing the second stent with the associated second graft over the second guidewire to the second vessel region; and removing the second delivery sheath to enable the second stent with the associated second graft to expand against the wall of the second vessel region and fluidly communicate with the first stent and associated first graft with the retaining flange retaining a portion of the second graft within the first graft.