GRAFT FOR TREATING THE DISTAL AORTIC ARCH AND DESCENDING AORTA IN TYPE A PATIENTS

摘要

A prosthetic graft assembly (40, 120) is disclosed for placement of a patient's aortic arch and repair of the descending aorta in a procedure which requires only a sternotomy. The assembly includes a descending graft element (40) which includes an eversible cuff (52) which can be wrapped over a cut end (26) of the descending aorta (18). Distal perfusion can be re-established prior to aortic arch replacement. A second prosthetic element (120), optimised to the patient, is fitted with a replacement for the aortic arch and attached to the descending aorta graft (40). An introducer assembly (30) having a transparent or translucent sheath (70) enables the descending aortic graft element (40) to be deployed without the use of x-rays.