Stent grafts for the thoracic aorta

A system for temporarily reducing the diameter of a stent graft, the system comprising:

• a stent graft of biocompatible graft material having a first end, a second end, self expanding stent framework fastened to the graft material and supporting the graft material along its length;
• a stent graft diameter reduction arrangement comprising at least two release wires and a plurality of diameter reducing tie segments on the stent graft from the first end to the second end, wherein the release wires each extend longitudinally and in a single half circumferential turn along the stent graft from substantially one side of the stent graft at the first end of the stent graft to substantially an opposite side of the stent graft at the second end of the stent graft;
• wherein the plurality of diameter reducing tie segments are longitudinally spaced from one another and at least partially circumferentially offset from one another such that the segments substantially follow the single half circumferential turn along the stent graft;
• and
• wherein each diameter reducing tie segment is engaged with a portion of the stent framework and reduces the diameter of that portion of the stent framework, and each diameter reducing tie segment is engaged with a portion of at least one of the release wires such that the stent graft is held in at least a partially constrained configuration along the length of the stent graft.

A system for temporarily reducing the diameter of a stent graft, the system comprising:

• a stent graft of biocompatible graft material having a proximal end, a distal end, self expanding stent framework fastened to the graft material and supporting the graft material along its length;
• a scallop in at least the proximal end of the graft material;
• a first stent graft diameter reduction arrangement comprising at least one release wire and a plurality of diameter reducing tie segments on the stent graft from the first end to the second end, the release wire extending longitudinally and in a single half circumferential turn along the stent graft from substantially one side of the stent graft at the proximal end of the stent graft to substantially an opposite side of the stent graft at the distal end of the stent graft;
• wherein the plurality of diameter reducing tie segments are longitudinally spaced from one another and at least partially circumferentially offset from one another such that the segments substantially follow the single half circumferential turn along the stent graft;
• and
• wherein each diameter reducing tie segment is engaged with a portion of the stent framework and reduces the diameter of that portion of the stent framework, and each diameter reducing tie segment is engaged with a portion of the release wire such that the stent graft is held in at least a partially constrained configuration along the length of the stent graft;
• a second stent graft diameter reduction arrangement, opposite the first stent graft diameter reduction arrangement, comprising at least one release wire and a plurality of diameter reducing tie segments on the stent graft from the first end to the second end, the release wire extending longitudinally and in a single half circumferential turn along the stent graft from substantially one side of the stent graft at the proximal end of the stent graft to substantially an opposite side of the stent graft at the distal end of the stent graft;
• wherein the plurality of diameter reducing tie segments are longitudinally spaced from one another and at least partially circumferentially offset from one another such that the segments substantially follow the single half circumferential turn along the stent graft;
• and
• wherein each diameter reducing tie segment is engaged with a portion of the stent framework and reduces the diameter of that portion of the stent framework, and each diameter reducing tie segment is engaged with a portion of the release wire such that the stent graft is held in at least a partially constrained configuration along the length of the stent graft.