Patent ID: 8216298

Claim:
A system for endoluminal grafting of an anatomical conduit having at least one branch anatomical conduit emanating therefrom, said system comprising: a tubular primary graft configured for deployment in the anatomical conduit, said primary graft having proximal and distal ends and a lumen extending longitudinally therethrough, and a branch graft opening formed at a first location in the primary graft, the branch graft opening including a port member disposed around the branch graft opening, a distal end of the port member being substantially flush with an outer surface of the primary graft, the primary graft configured to be disposed in a substantially fixed position within the lumen of the anatomical conduit such that the branch graft opening is substantially aligned with the branch anatomical conduit; and, a tubular branch graft configured for deployment into the branch anatomical conduit, said branch graft having a proximal end, a distal end, and a lumen extending longitudinally therethrough, and said branch graft being advanceable through the branch graft opening and into the branch anatomical conduit, the branch graft including a snap connector member configured to frictionally engage the port member as the proximal end of the branch graft is brought into approximation with the branch graft opening of the primary graft using a balloon through the primary graft, the snap connector member including a channel sized such that a proximal surface defining the channel contacts a proximal end of the port member and a distal surface defining the channel contacts the distal end of the port member, said engagement of the snap connector member to the port member being operative to form a connection between the branch graft and the primary graft, wherein the snap connector member further includes a tapered leading edge distal of the channel, wherein the tapered leading edge aids in a transition of the port member into the channel.