Patent ID: 7520890

Claim:
A method of deploying a stent graft between proximal and distal landing sites axially spaced along the lumen of a patient, the method comprising the following steps: a. selecting a flexible stent graft having spaced proximal and distal ends, the proximal and distal ends being spaced further apart than the proximal and distal landing sites, b. situating the stent graft within a deployment sheath, c introducing the proximal end of the stent graft into the lumen of the patient, with the distal end trailing, while the stent graft is within the deployment sheath, d. situating: (1) the proximal end of the stent graft at the proximal landing site, the proximal end being ejected from the deployment sheath, and (2) the distal end of the stent graft away from the distal landing site within the deployment sheath, such that the distal landing site is between the proximal landing site and the distal end of the stent graft; and e. subsequently moving the distal end of the stent graft by moving the deployment sheath toward the proximal end until the distal end is situated at the distal landing site, thereby compressing the stent graft along at least a portion of its length, while maintaining the diameter of the stent graft at least substantially unchanged at the compressed portion of the stent graft length, and f. ejecting the distal end of the stent graft at the distal landing site.