Patent ID: 8377113

Claim:
A temporary diameter reduction and curve forming stent graft constraint arrangement for a stent graft, the stent graft comprising a biocompatible graft material tube of a selected diameter and comprising a first end and a second end and a plurality of self expanding stents fastened thereto, a constraint arrangement comprising at least one release wire and a plurality of circumferential threads on the stent graft, the at least one release wire extending longitudinally and in only a single half circumferential turn along the graft material tube from substantially one side of the graft material tube at the first end of the graft material tube to substantially an opposite side of the graft material tube at the second end of the graft material tube, the plurality of circumferential threads being spaced apart at positions along the graft material tube, each circumferential thread being engaged around the release wire and a portion of the stent graft circumferentially spaced a selected distance away from the release wire and drawn tight and tied to reduce the circumference and hence the overall diameter of the stent graft.