Endovascular graft and process for bridging a defect in a main vessel near one of more branch vessels

A process of bridging a defect disposed in a main vessel near one or more branch vessels, comprising:

• using three dimensional imaging, positioning, within the main vessel, a contracted graft having a sidewall defining one or more apertures;
• using three dimensional imaging, aligning the graft within the main vessel such that each aperture aligns with at least a respective one of the branch vessels;
• and
• expanding the graft to an expanded state wherein the one or more apertures are aligned with the one or more branch vessels and the graft presses against a wall of the main vessel.

A process of bridging a defect disposed in a main vessel near one or more branch vessels, comprising:

• inserting, within the main vessel, a graft in a contracted state, the graft defining one or more apertures;
• aligning the graft within the main vessel such that each aperture aligns with at least a respective one of the branch vessels;
• and
• expanding the graft to an expanded state wherein the one or more apertures are aligned with the one or more branch vessels and the graft presses against a wall of the main vessel;
• wherein aligning the graft includes partially expanding the graft and aligning the graft while partially expanded;
• wherein partially expanding the graft includes maintaining the graft in at least a partial martensite phase while forcibly expanding the graft.

A process of bridging a defect disposed in a main vessel near one or more branch vessels, comprising:

• inserting, within the main vessel, a graft in a contracted state, the graft defining one or more apertures;
• aligning the graft within the main vessel such that each aperture aligns with at least a respective one of the branch vessels;
• and
• expanding the graft to an expanded state wherein the one or more apertures are aligned with the one or more branch vessels and the graft presses against a wall of the main vessel;
• wherein aligning the graft includes partially expanding the graft and aligning the graft while partially expanded;
• wherein partially expanding the graft includes heating the stent to a temperature between an austenite start temperature and an austenite finish temperature of the graft.

A stent-graft for bridging an aneurysm in an aorta, the aneurysm being at least partially disposed between two renal arteries and two iliac arteries, comprising:

• a graft material defining at least one renal aperture oriented to align with one of the two renal arteries when the stent-graft is in an expanded state;
• and
• a stent system for supporting the graft material in a contracted state wherein each renal aperture is contracted and the expanded state wherein each renal aperture is expanded;
• further including a radiopaque marker surrounding the perimeter of a respective renal aperture.

A stent-graft for bridging an aneurysm in an aorta, the aneurysm being at least partially disposed between two renal arteries and two iliac arteries, comprising:

• a graft material defining at least one renal aperture oriented to align with one of the two renal arteries when the stent-graft is in an expanded state;
• and
• a stent system for supporting the graft material in a contracted state wherein each renal aperture is contracted and the expanded state wherein each renal aperture is expanded;
• wherein each renal aperture is larger than the orifice of the respective renal artery.

A graft for bridging an aneurysm at least partially disposed in an aorta between two renal arteries and two iliac arteries, comprising:

• graft material adapted to extend from above at least one of the two renal arteries to a region below the aneurysm without substantially extending into the either of the two renal arteries;
• and
• at least one renal aperture defined by the graft material for aligning with a respective one of the two renal arteries;
• and
• a stent system attached to the graft material;
• wherein the graft material is adapted to expand from a contracted state wherein the at least one renal aperture is contracted and an expanded state wherein the at least one renal aperture is expanded and the graft material presses against a wall of the aorta;
• wherein the at least one renal aperture, defines an opening larger than an orifice of the respective renal artery so as not to obstruct the respective renal artery when the graft material is in the expanded state.

A stent-graft for bridging an aortic aneurysm at least partially disposed between two renal arteries and two iliac arteries, comprising:

• a stent system;
• and
• a unitary piece of graft material attached to the stent system and adapted to extend from above at least one of the two renal arteries to a location near the distal end of the aneurysm, the graft material defining at least one renal aperture for aligning with a respective one of the two renal arteries;
• wherein the at least one renal aperture is contracted when the graft material is in a contracted state and wherein the at least one renal aperture is expanded when the graft material is an expanded state;
• wherein the at least one renal aperture in the expanded state defines an opening larger than an orifice of the respective one of the two renal arteries.