Expandable graft assembly and method of use

A graft assembly for placement in a body passage having a generally tubular inner wall of predetermined diameter, the graft assembly comprising:

• an elongated outer tubular graft presenting inner and outer graft surfaces;
• a first outer stent retained on said outer graft surface, the first outer stent having expanded and contracted conditions and possessing a spring force that urges the first outer stent toward the expanded condition, the first outer stent when in the expanded condition presenting an outer diameter greater than the predetermined diameter of the inner wall of the body passage;
• a second outer stent secured to the graft at a position longitudinally spaced from the first outer stent, the second outer stent having expanded and contracted conditions and possessing a spring force that urges the second outer stent toward the expanded condition, the second outer stent when in the expanded condition presenting an outer diameter smaller than the outer diameter of the first outer stent so that the second stent supports the graft at the position spaced from the first outer stent;
• a plurality of inner stents provided along the inner graft surface of the outer graft and sleeved within the first and second outer stents, each of the inner stents being movable between expanded and contracted conditions and possessing a spring force that urges the inner stent toward the expanded condition, the inner stents when in the expanded condition pressing the outer graft against the first and second outer stents;
• and
• at least one elongated inner tubular graft presenting inner and outer graft surfaces, and an attachment means for attaching the at least one inner tubular graft to the outer tubular graft with the at least one inner tubular graft covering the inner stents to shield the inner stents from direct exposure to the body passage.