Patent ID: 8579959

Claim:
A reinforcement member for a fenestration in a stent graft, the reinforcement member comprising a composite wire, having wire strands of at least two types, a first type of wire strand comprising a metal alloy with shape memory characteristics and a second type of wire strand comprising a metal with radiopaque characteristics, the first type of wire strand and the second type of wire strand being twisted or braided together to form the composite wire and then formed into the reinforcement member with at least a double strand of the composite wire throughout the extent of the reinforcement member, the reinforcement member comprising a substantially planar circular ring having at least two turns of the composite wire, where the ring comprises terminal ends at each end of the wire, the terminal ends each comprising a loop and a tail of the composite wire, the tail being folded back and extending around at least a portion of the circular ring, and wherein the terminal loops at each end of the wire overlap.