Thoracic stent graft

Abstract

A tubular side arm assembly configured for mounting onto a stent graft to provide an accessible side arm. The side arm includes a lightweight space frame comprising a resilient wire, and the space frame comprises a cylindrical portion and a funnel portion. The cylindrical portion includes first and second circular planar ring portions that are parallel to each other and spaced apart axially, and at least two longitudinal struts extending between the first and second circular ring portions. The frame also includes a funnel portion including a substantially circular ring portion to define a larger end of the funnel portion and a pair of spaced apart antis extending from the substantially circular ring portion towards the cylindrical portion. The lightweight space frame is configured to support a biocompatible graft material.

1 - 16 . (canceled) 
     
     
         17 . A tubular side arm assembly configured for mounting onto a stent graft to provide an accessible side arm, the tubular side arm assembly comprising:
 a lightweight space frame comprising a resilient wire, wherein the space frame comprises a cylindrical portion and a funnel portion, the cylindrical portion comprising first and second circular planar ring portions being parallel to each other and spaced apart axially, and at least two longitudinal struts extending between the first and second circular ring portions, and a funnel portion comprising a substantially circular ring portion to define a larger end of the funnel portion and a pair of spaced apart arms extending from the substantially circular ring portion towards the cylindrical portion, wherein the lightweight space frame is configured to support a biocompatible graft material.   
     
     
         18 . (canceled) 
     
     
         19 . The tubular side arm assembly of  claim 17  wherein the cylindrical portion comprises an assembly of a first ring and strut component and a second ring and strut component, each of the first and second ring and strut components comprising a circular planar ring portion and a strut extending at a right angle to the circular planar ring portion from a periphery of the circular ring portion. 
     
     
         20 . The tubular side arm assembly of  claim 19  wherein each of the two ring and strut components and the funnel portion comprise a single length of the resilient wire. 
     
     
         21 . The tubular side arm assembly of  claim 17  wherein the substantially circular ring portion defines the larger end of the funnel portion forms an oblique angle to a longitudinal axis of the tubular side arm assembly. 
     
     
         21 . The tubular side arm assembly of  claim 17  wherein the circular ring portion of the larger end of the funnel portion forms an oblique angle to a longitudinal axis of the tubular side arm assembly. 
     
     
         22 . The tubular side arm assembly of  claim 17  wherein each of the two ring and strut components and the funnel frame comprise a separate length of resilient wire. 
     
     
         23 . The tubular side arm assembly of  claim 17 , wherein the funnel portion comprises a frusto-conical body. 
     
     
         24 . The tubular side arm assembly of  claim 23  wherein the circular ring portion of the larger end of the funnel portion forms an oblique angle to a longitudinal axis of the tubular side arm assembly. 
     
     
         25 . The tubular side arm assembly of  claim 22 , wherein each of the separate lengths of resilient wire has a first end and a second end, wherein each end comprises a loop. 
     
     
         26 . The tubular side arm assembly of  claim 17 , wherein each of the cylindrical portion and funnel portion comprise graft material. 
     
     
         27 . The tubular side arm assembly of  claim 17 , wherein the first circular planar ring and one of the at least two longitudinal struts comprise a first length of wire and the second circular planar ring and the other of the at least two longitudinal struts comprise a second single length of wire, separate from the first length of wire. 
     
     
         28 . The tubular side arm assembly of  claim 27 , wherein the funnel portion comprises a third separate length of wire. 
     
     
         29 . The tubular side arm assembly of  claim 26 , wherein the graft material of the cylindrical portion is stitched to the graft material of the funnel portion. 
     
     
         30 . A tubular side arm assembly configured for mounting onto a stent graft to provide an accessible side arm, the tubular side arm assembly comprising
 a lightweight space frame comprising resilient wire forming the frame, wherein the space frame comprises a cylindrical portion and a funnel portion,   the cylindrical portion comprising first ring and strut component and a second ring and strut component, each of the first and second ring and strut components comprising a circular planar ring and at least one longitudinal strut, the circular planar rings being parallel to each other and spaced apart axially with the longitudinal struts extending between the first and second circular ring portions, and   a funnel portion extending from an end of the cylindrical portion, the funnel portion comprising a substantially circular ring portion defining a larger end of the funnel portion and a pair of spaced apart arms extending from the substantially circular ring portion towards the cylindrical portion, wherein the lightweight space frame is configured to support a biocompatible graft material.   
     
     
         31 . The tubular side arm assembly of  claim 30 , wherein the first and second ring and strut components each consist of a length of wire separate from each other. 
     
     
         32 . The tubular side arm assembly of  claim 31 , wherein the funnel portion comprises a separate length of wire separate from the wires of the second ring and strut components. 
     
     
         33 . The tubular side arm assembly of  claim 30 , wherein the funnel portion comprise a single length of wire.