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Abstract

This is a medical device and a method of using it. The device is a foldable stent-graft which may be percutaneously delivered with (or on) an endovascular catheter or via surgical techniques or using other suitable techniques and then expanded. The stent-graft uses a kink-resistant stent structure and an interior graft which is attached to the stent in such a way that the graft does not kink and yet the stent is able to conform to curves in the blood vessel lumen. The expandable stent structure preferably has a helically deployed torsional member with an undulating shape which is wound to form the generally cylindrical shape deployed as the stent. The helical winding desirably is aligned to allow the undulations in adjacent turns of the helix to be in phase. The adjacent undulating shapes are held in that phased relationship using a flexible linkage, typically made of a polymeric material. The stent may also be of a ring configuration. The stent may be flared to promote smooth blood flow and to assure that the stent will remain in its chosen position. The graft component cooperating with the stent is tubular and mounted on the interior of the stent. Although it may be made of any of a variety of materials, it preferably is an expanded polyfluorocarbon. The graft component may be bound to the flexible linkage which holds the stent windings in phase (or to the stent structure itself) at a number of sliding attachment points. This manner of attachment allows the stent to slide locally with respect to the graft structure or, in the case of the helically wound stent structure, allows the adjacent undulating shapes in adjacent helical turns to slide longitudinally with respect to each other as the stent is bent and still support the shape of the graft.

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First Claim