Endovascular device delivery system

An endovascular delivery system for delivering a bifurcated prosthesis to a body vessel having a bifurcation comprising:

• a delivery device having a sheath;
• a bifurcated prosthesis disposed within the sheath of the delivery device and having a main body, a first limb and a second limb, the body and each limb having a lumen in fluid communication with each other, where the bifurcated prosthesis is configured to be positioned in the body vessel and where, when the prosthesis is so positioned, at least one limb is above the bifurcation of the body vessel;
• a snare catheter preloaded with the bifurcated prosthesis in the sheath, and having a proximal end, a distal end, a lumen therebetween, and a snare opening system between the proximal end and the distal end;
• a snare mechanism disposed within the snare catheter that is capable of forming a loop external to the snare catheter and having at least one free end exiting the snare catheter distal end;
• where at least a portion of the snare catheter is positioned external to and adjacent to one limb of the prosthesis and at least a portion of the snare catheter proximal to the snare opening system is positioned within the lumen of the other limb, and wherein both portions are enclosed within the sheath.

A method of cannulating a limb of a bifurcated device having a first limb and a second limb shorter than the first limb comprising:

• providing a delivery device for delivering the prosthesis to a body vessel, the delivery device including a sheath, and the method comprising:
• a bifurcated prosthesis disposed within the sheath of the delivery device;
• a snare catheter preloaded with the bifurcated prosthesis within the sheath and having a portion that is partially adjacent the bifurcated prosthesis and portion residing within the second limb in a predeployment state and having a snare opening system and a snare mechanism, all of which are enclosed with the prosthesis within the sheath;
• introducing the delivery device into a first artery of a patient and delivering the delivery device to a site for implantation of the bifurcated prosthesis;
• at least partially expanding the prosthesis at the delivery;
• introducing a guidewire into a second artery and directing the guidewire to an area below the second limb;
• thereafter maneuvering the snare mechanism out of the snare opening system to form a loop external to the snare opening system;
• maneuvering the loop to ensnare the guidewire within the loop;
• retracting the loop toward the snare catheter to secure the guidewire to the snare catheter;
• advancing the snare catheter further into the bifurcated prosthesis such that the snare opening system resides at least within a lumen of the bifurcated prosthesis;
• releasing the guidewire from the snare loop;
• and retracting the snare catheter from the bifurcated prosthesis.

A prosthesis cannulation system comprising:

• a delivery catheter having a sheath;
• a bifurcated prosthesis disposed in the sheath of the delivery catheter;
• a snare catheter preloaded with the bifurcated prosthesis within the sheath and disposed at least adjacent the delivery catheter and having a snare opening system and a snare mechanism disposed within the snare catheter;
• wherein the snare catheter has a portion that resides outside the bifurcated prosthesis and a portion that resides within the bifurcated prosthesis in a predeployment state, wherein both portions are enclosed within the sheath in the predeployment state.