Artificial graft and implantation method

A method for implanting a graft in corporeal lumen wall afflicted by an aneurysm having a first end, said graft having a first contracted shape and a second expanded shape, said graft further comprising a first attachment device and a second attachment device, said method comprising the steps of:

• covering said graft to prevent the first and second attachment devices from contacting the lumen;
• introducing an inflatable member and said graft into the lumen and then along the lumen until said graft reaches the aneurysm;
• uncovering the first attachment device when said graft is positioned in the lumen such that the attachment device is adjacent to the first end of the aneurysm;
• inflating the inflatable member to expand said graft and first attachment device;
• deflating the inflatable member;
• uncovering the second attachment device;
• positioning the inflatable member adjacent the second attachment device;
• inflating the inflatable member to expand the graft and second attachment device;
• deflating the inflatable member;
• and
• removing the inflatable member from the corporeal lumen.

A method for engrafting a graft into a corporeal lumen, said graft having first and second ends, said graft further having a first attachment device at the first end and a second attachment device at the second end, said method comprising the steps of:

• (a) providing a delivery apparatus having a tapered leading end, wherein both the first and second ends of said graft are removably covered by said delivery apparatus;
• (b) creating an opening in the lumen for passing said delivery apparatus and said graft therethrough;
• (c) inserting said delivery apparatus and said graft into said opening;
• (d) advancing said delivery apparatus and said graft to a desired location within the lumen;
• (e) positioning said first end of said graft at a desired location within the lumen;
• (f) activating said first and second attachment devices to fix the first and second ends of said graft within the lumen;
• (g) removing said delivery apparatus from the lumen;
• (h) closing said opening in the lumen;
• wherein said delivery apparatus further comprises an inflation device for fixing said first and second attachment devices to said corporeal lumen, step (f) further comprises the steps of:
• (i) positioning said inflation device within the first end of said prosthesis;
• (j) inflating said inflation device to fix said first end to the lumen;
• (k) deflating said inflation device;
• (l) positioning said inflation device within the second end of said graft;
• (m) inflating said inflation device to fix said second end to the lumen;
• and
• (n) deflating said inflation device.

A method for implanting a graft in a corporeal lumen having a wall, said graft having first and second ends, said graft further having a first attachment device at the first end and second attachment device at the second end, said method comprising the steps of:

• providing a placement apparatus having a cover device that receives the first and second ends of said graft and having an operation device that engages said attachment devices with the lumen;
• inserting said placement apparatus into the lumen;
• manipulating said placement apparatus to advance said graft to a desired position within the lumen;
• removing the first end of said graft and said first attachment device from said placement apparatus;
• activating said operation device to engage said first attachment device with the lumen, thereby securing the first end of said graft to the wall of the lumen;
• removing the second end of said graft from said placement apparatus;
• after engaging said first attachment device, positioning and activating said operation device to engage said second attachment device with the lumen, thereby securing the second end of said graft to the wall of the lumen;
• and
• removing said placement apparatus from the lumen.

A method for emplacement of a graft into a corporeal lumen having a wall, said graft having first and second ends, said graft further having a first attachment device at the first end and second attachment device at the second end, said method comprising the steps of:

• providing placement apparatus comprising a manipulation device, an inflation device, an inflatable membrane and a cover configured to receive said graft;
• placing said graft in said cover, wherein said graft and said first and second attachment devices are removably covered by said placement apparatus;
• inserting said placement apparatus into the lumen;
• manipulating said placement apparatus to transport said cover through the lumen;
• positioning said graft at a desired position within the lumen;
• manipulating said placement apparatus to remove the first end of said graft and said first attachment device from said cover;
• moving said inflatable membrane adjacent said first attachment device;
• inflating said inflatable membrane to engage said first attachment device with the lumen, thereby securing the first end of said graft to the wall of the lumen;
• manipulating said placement apparatus to remove the second end of said graft from said cover;
• deflating said inflatable membrane;
• after engaging said first attachment device, moving said inflatable membrane adjacent said second attachment device;
• inflating said inflatable membrane to engage said second attachment device with the lumen, thereby securing the second end of said graft to the wall of the lumen;
• deflating said inflatable membrane;
• and
• removing said placement apparatus from the lumen.