Importance

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Abstract

An elongate delivery shaft assembly (30) includes an outer covering shaft (38) and an inner support shaft (40). When the delivery shaft assembly (30) is unconstrained and a stent-graft (20) is removably constrained in a radially-compressed delivery state along a distal end portion (34) of the delivery shaft assembly (30), radially between the outer covering shaft (38) and the inner support shaft (40): (a) the delivery shaft assembly (30) is shaped so as to define a self-orienting portion (50), which (i) is shaped so as to define at least proximal and distal curved portions (52A, 52B), the proximal curved portion (52A) disposed more proximal than the distal curved portion (52B), and (ii) at least one point of inflection (53) on a central longitudinal axis (36) of the delivery shaft assembly (30) longitudinally between the proximal and the distal curved portions (52A, 52B), and (b) respective smallest radii of curvature of the proximal and the distal curved portions (52A, 2B), measured at the central longitudinal axis (36), are each between 2.5 and 12 cm.

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First Claim