Intraluminal graft device, system and method

A method for artificially and intraluminally engrafting in a fluid conducting corporeal lumen comprising:

• making an access to and an opening in a corporeal lumen;
• providing apparatus for intraluminal engrafting which apparatus includes:
• a hollow graft of preselected cross-section and length and having a proximal end for placement upstream within said lumen, said graft being deformable to substantially conform to the interior surface of said lumen,
• a plurality of staples adapted proximate the proximal end of said graft and extending therethrough for stapling said graft to and within said lumen,
• guide means having a back with a cavity formed therein and a front, and sized for positioning in said lumen, said guide means having rod means centrally positioned in and secured within said cavity and sized in length to extend exterior said lumen for manipulation, said guide means having means to retain said proximal end of said graft for positioning of said graft in said lumen,
• a hollow tube for slideable positioning over said rod and sized in length to extend from said cavity to exterior said lumen, said tube having an inflatable membrane proximate the cavity end of said tube, and a channel in communication with said tube and inflation means connectable to said channel exterior said lumen for inflating and deflating said inflatable membrane;
• inserting said guide means and hollow graft into said opening and urging said guide means and hollow graft upstream in said lumen to a desired location therewithin;
• operating said inflation means and said guide means to disassociate said graft from said guide means and to cause at least one staple to engage the lumen;
• operating said inflation means and said guide means to remove them from said lumen;
• and
• closing said opening and said access.