Retention of exposed stent loops

摘要

A stent graft ( 10 ) is retained on an introducer ( 38 ) by retention of an exposed stent ( 16 ) of the stent graft to the introducer with trigger wires ( 44 ). The introducer has a trigger wire catheter ( 40 ) and four trigger wires and each trigger wire extending in a loop from the trigger wire catheter. The stent graft has a tubular body ( 12 ) of a graft material and an exposed stent joined to and extending from one end of the tubular body. The exposed stent is a self expanding Z stent with struts ( 20 ) and bends ( 22, 28, 30 ) between them. A pair of struts and a bend between define an apex a selected apex distance away from the tubular body. Adjacent apices of the exposed stent are different apex distances from the tubular body so that they stack under the trigger wires in an neat fashion. Distally extending barbs ( 26 ) on alternate struts of the exposed stent are spaced selected distances from their respective apices to prevent tangling during deployment.