Modular endluminal stent-grafts and methods for their use

A method of bridging a lesion in a blood vessel having a first large diameter on one side of the lesion and a second small diameter on the other side of the lesion, said method comprising:

• a) obtaining a first stent-graft having a first end, a second end, and a midsection, said first end of said first stent-graft having an expanded diameter equal to or slightly larger than the first large diameter of the blood vessel, said midsection of said first stent-graft having an expanded diameter which is smaller than said expanded diameter of said first end of said first stent-graft;
• b) obtaining a second stent-graft having a first end, a second end, and a midsection, said first end of said second stent-graft having an expanded diameter equal to or slightly larger than said expanded diameter of said midsection of said first stent-graft and said second end of said second stent-graft having an expanded diameter which is equal to or slightly larger than the second small diameter of the blood vessel;
• c) deploying said first stent-graft by expanding said first stent-graft such that said first end of said first stent-graft engages the first large diameter of the blood vessel;
• and
• d) deploying said second stent-graft by expanding said second stent-graft such that said first end of said second stent-graft engages said midsection of said first stent-graft such that said second stent-graft is substantially fixed relative to said first stent-graft and said second end of said second stent-graft engages the second small diameter of the blood vessel.

A modular endoluminal stent-graft system for bridging a lesion in a blood vessel having a first large diameter on one side of the lesion and a second small diameter on the other side of the lesion, said system comprising:

• a) a first stent-graft having a first end, a second end, and a midsection, said first end of said first stent-graft having an expanded diameter equal to or slightly larger than the first large diameter of the blood vessel, said midsection of said first stent-graft having an expanded diameter which is smaller than said expanded diameter of said first end of said first stent-graft;
• b) a second stent-graft having a first end, a second end, and a midsection, said first end of said second stent-graft having an expanded diameter equal to or slightly larger than said expanded diameter of said midsection of said first stent-graft and said second end of said second stent-graft having an expanded diameter which is equal to or slightly larger than the second small diameter of the blood vessel, such that
• in a deployed orientation, said first end of said first stent-graft is adapted to engage the first large diameter of the blood vessel, said first end of said second stent-graft engages said midsection of said first stent-graft, and said second end of said second stent-graft is adapted to engage the second small diameter of the blood vessel wherein at least said midsection of said first stent-graft is reinforced with a flexible material.

A method of bridging a lesion in a blood vessel having a first large diameter on one side of the lesion and a second small diameter on the other side of the lesion, said method comprising:

• a) obtaining a first stent-graft having a first end, a second end, and a midsection, said first end of said first stent-graft having an expanded diameter equal to or slightly larger than the first large diameter of the blood vessel, said midsection of said first stent-graft having an expanded diameter which is smaller than said expanded diameter of said first end of said first stent-graft wherein at least said midsection of said first stent-graft is reinforced with a flexible material;
• b) obtaining a second stent-graft having a first end, a second end, and a midsection, said first end of said second stent-graft having an expanded diameter equal to or slightly larger than said expanded diameter of said midsection of said first stent-graft and said second end of said second stent-graft having an expanded diameter which is equal to or slightly larger than the second small diameter of the blood vessel;
• c) deploying said first stent-graft by expanding said first stent-graft such that said first end of said first stent-graft engages the first large diameter of the blood vessel;
• and
• d) deploying said second stent-graft by expanding said second stent-graft such that said first end of said second stent-graft engages said midsection of said first stent-graft and said second end of said second stent-graft engages the second small diameter of the blood vessel.