Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 14
Claim 1
Independent Claim
209 words
A method of implanting an intraluminal vascular graft within a diseased or damaged vessel, comprising: providing transportation structure sized to receive and retain therewithin an intraluminal vascular graft structure, said transportation structure further being sized to be receivable and transportable within the vascular system of a patient; compressing an intraluminal vascular graft structure to provide a reduced circumferential dimension sized to be receivable within said transportation structure; placing a guide wire through an incision in a patient's skin and inserting the guide wire into a vessel requiring repair; positioning said guide wire at the point of deployment of said intraluminal vascular graft structure; inserting said transportation structure into said vascular system facilitated by said guide wire; urging said transportation structure along said guide wire to the place of deployment; removing said transportation structure from about said intraluminal vascular graft leaving said intraluminal vascular graft in position within said vessel; expanding said compressed intraluminal vascular graft within said vessel by expansion of frame structure secured to said intraluminal vascular graft; attaching said intraluminal vascular graft to the inner wall of said vessel by initiating a non-perforating, inflammatory response between said intraluminal vascular graft and said inner wall of said vessel; and withdrawing said transportation structure from within said vascular system.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
209 words
A method of implanting an intraluminal vascular graft within a diseased or damaged vessel, comprising: providing transportation structure sized to receive and retain therewithin an intraluminal vascular graft structure, said transportation structure further being sized to be receivable and transportable within the vascular system of a patient; compressing an intraluminal vascular graft structure to provide a reduced circumferential dimension sized to be receivable within said transportation structure; placing a guide wire through an incision in a patient's skin and inserting the guide wire into a vessel requiring repair; positioning said guide wire at the point of deployment of said intraluminal vascular graft structure; inserting said transportation structure into said vascular system facilitated by said guide wire; urging said transportation structure along said guide wire to the place of deployment; removing said transportation structure from about said intraluminal vascular graft leaving said intraluminal vascular graft in position within said vessel; expanding said compressed intraluminal vascular graft within said vessel by expansion of frame structure secured to said intraluminal vascular graft; attaching said intraluminal vascular graft to the inner wall of said vessel by initiating a non-perforating, inflammatory response between said intraluminal vascular graft and said inner wall of said vessel; and withdrawing said transportation structure from within said vascular system.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
42 words
The method according to claim 1 wherein said transportation structure includes a capsule sized to receive and retain said intraluminal vascular graft and deployment means for maintaining said intraluminal vascular graft in said vessel while said capsule is removed from said vessel.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method according to claim 2 wherein said deployment means comprises a stabilizer rod positioned to maintain said intraluminal vascular graft in said vessel.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method according to claim 2 wherein said deployment means is a hydraulic force.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method according to claim 1 wherein said expansion means is a balloon catheter.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method according to claim 1 wherein said expansion means is a hydraulic force.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
124 words
The method according to claim 1 wherein said intraluminal vascular graft comprises a tubular body having a first leg portion and a second leg portion, said method further including the steps of; inserting retrieval means through a second incision formed in the patient to access another vessel interconnected to said vessel requiring repair, said reparable vessel being a bifurcated vessel; urging said retrieval means through said interconnected vessel to the point of said bifurcation; urging said retrieval means across said bifurcation and into the other vessel of the bifurcation wherein lies said first and second leg portions; securing said second leg portion to said retrieval means; withdrawing said retrieval means from said vessel to thereby deploy said second leg portion within said bifurcation vessel.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method according to claim 7 wherein said retrieval means is sutured to said second leg portion to facilitate deployment.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
28 words
The method according to claim 7 wherein said retrieval means is configured with a grasping member for grasping said second leg portion prior to retrieving said retrieval means.
Claim 11
Independent Claim
249 words
A method of implanting an intraluminal vascular graft within a diseased or damaged vessel which is bifurcated along its length, comprising: providing transportation structure sized to receive and retain therewithin an intraluminal vascular graft structure, said transportation structure further being sized to be receivable and transportable within the vascular system of a patient; compressing an intraluminal vascular graft structure to provide a reduced circumferential dimension sized to be receivable within said transportation structure, said intraluminal vascular graft structure comprising a tubular body having an expandable frame structure including a circumferential support structure positioned along said tubular body to contact and span the bifurcation of a bifurcated vessel; placing a guide wire through an incision in a patient's skin and inserting the guide wire into a vessel requiring repair; positioning said guide wire at the point of deployment of said intraluminal vascular graft structure; inserting said transportation structure into said vascular system facilitated by said guide wire; urging said transportation structure along said guide wire to the place of deployment within the bifurcated vessel; removing said transportation structure from about said intraluminal vascular graft leaving said intraluminal vascular graft in position within said vessel; expanding said compressed intraluminal vascular graft within said vessel by expansion of frame structure secured to said intraluminal vascular graft; supporting said intraluminal vascular graft within said bifurcated vessel by positioning said circumferential support structure at the bifurcation of the bifurcated vessel to be supported thereby; and withdrawing said transportation structure from within said vascular system.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
249 words
A method of implanting an intraluminal vascular graft within a diseased or damaged vessel which is bifurcated along its length, comprising: providing transportation structure sized to receive and retain therewithin an intraluminal vascular graft structure, said transportation structure further being sized to be receivable and transportable within the vascular system of a patient; compressing an intraluminal vascular graft structure to provide a reduced circumferential dimension sized to be receivable within said transportation structure, said intraluminal vascular graft structure comprising a tubular body having an expandable frame structure including a circumferential support structure positioned along said tubular body to contact and span the bifurcation of a bifurcated vessel; placing a guide wire through an incision in a patient's skin and inserting the guide wire into a vessel requiring repair; positioning said guide wire at the point of deployment of said intraluminal vascular graft structure; inserting said transportation structure into said vascular system facilitated by said guide wire; urging said transportation structure along said guide wire to the place of deployment within the bifurcated vessel; removing said transportation structure from about said intraluminal vascular graft leaving said intraluminal vascular graft in position within said vessel; expanding said compressed intraluminal vascular graft within said vessel by expansion of frame structure secured to said intraluminal vascular graft; supporting said intraluminal vascular graft within said bifurcated vessel by positioning said circumferential support structure at the bifurcation of the bifurcated vessel to be supported thereby; and withdrawing said transportation structure from within said vascular system.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
111 words
The method of claim 10 wherein said intraluminal vascular graft further comprises a first leg portion and a second leg portion, said method further comprising: inserting retrieval means through a second incision formed in the patient to access another vessel interconnected to said bifurcated vessel requiring repair; urging said retrieval means through said interconnected vessel to the point of said bifurcation; urging said retrieval means across said bifurcation and into the other vessel of the bifurcation wherein lies said first and second leg portions; securing said second leg portion to said retrieval means; withdrawing said retrieval means from said vessel to thereby deploy said second leg portion within said interconnected vessel.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
39 words
The method according to claim 10 further comprising attaching said intraluminal vascular graft to the inner wall of said vessel by initiating a non-perforating, inflammatory response between said intraluminal vascular graft and said inner wall of said bifurcated vessel.