Patent ID: 6966903

Claim:
A method of securing a graft to a side wall of an aorta comprising: providing an aperture-forming device having a passageway therethrough; providing an occlusion device comprising an elongated body and an occlusion member at a distal end thereof, the occlusion device sized to permit the elongated body of the occlusion device to be slideably received within passageway of the aperture-forming device; engaging a portion of the side wall of the aorta with the aperture-forming device so as to form an aperture in the side wall of the aorta while blood continues to flow through the aorta; advancing the elongated body of the occlusion device through the passageway of the aperture-forming device while maintaining the aperture-forming device in sealing engagement with the portion of the aorta, the elongated body of the occlusion device advanced until the distal end of the occlusion device extends into the aperture; occluding the aperture with the occlusion member; withdrawing the aperture forming device while the occlusion device occludes the aperture; mounting a graft on the occlusion device body; securing the first end of the graft to the side wall of the aorta about the aperture; removing the occluding member; and withdrawing the occlusion device from the graft.