Coiled-sheet stent-graft with slidable exo-skeleton

A stent-graft, comprising:

• a tubular graft having a wall generally defining a circumference and having a lumen therein, the lumen extending axially between first and second open ends of the tubular graft;
• an exo-skeleton for supporting the wall of the tubular graft, the exo-skeleton comprising a plurality of generally annular-shaped support elements distributed axially along the wall of the tubular graft, each support element including generally axial segments and generally circumferential segments;
• a plurality of first fasteners for attaching the plurality of support elements to the wall of the tubular graft, at least one generally axial segment being slidably engaged by each first fastener;
• and
• a plurality of second fasteners for attaching the plurality of support elements to the wall of the tubular graft, each second fastener substantially anchoring a segment of the respective support element to the wall of the tubular graft;
• wherein the plurality of second fasteners engage respective generally circumferential segments for preventing substantial axial movement thereof.

A stent-graft, comprising:

• a tubular graft having a wall generally defining a circumference and having a lumen therein, the lumen extending axially between first and second open ends of the tubular graft;
• an exo-skeleton for supporting the wall of the tubular graft, the exo-skeleton comprising a plurality of generally annular-shaped support elements distributed axially along the wall of the tubular graft, each support element including generally axial segments and generally circumferential segments;
• a plurality of first fasteners for attaching the plurality of support elements to the wall of the tubular graft, at least one generally axial segment being slidably engaged by each first fastener;
• a plurality of second fasteners for attaching the plurality of support elements to the wall of the tubular graft, each second fastener substantially anchoring a segment of the respective support element to the wall of the tubular graft;
• wherein the second end of the tubular graft is bifurcated, and wherein the stent-graft further comprises:
• a tubular graft extension segment extending from the second end, the tubular graft extension segment having a wall;
• and
• a plurality of support elements attached to and distributed along the wall of the tubular graft extension segment, a portion of each support element being slidable along the wall of the tubular graft extension segment.