Slimgraft: A percutaneous endovascular graft system

Purpose: To describe an in vitro feasibility trial of a new percutaneous en dograft delivery technique. Methods and Results: A water Row model of 9-mm (inner diameter) transparent plastic tub ing was used to test the feasibility of sequentially delivering the compone nts of an endograft through a 7-F sheath for assembly in situ. The tubular endovascular graft was fabricated from a 10-mm x 68-mm Wallstent and 50-mu m-thick Dacron graft. The graft material was formed into a tube, attached w ith a suture to a guidewire, and delivered into the plastic tubing. The Wal lstent was then delivered through the tubular graft and deployed, affixing the graft to the plastic tube wall. In 4 trials, only 1 attempt was not suc cessful. Conclusions: These concepts and techniques may have implications in the dev elopment of percutaneously deliverable endovascular grafts.