Slimgraft: a percutaneous endovascular graft system.
OBJECTIVE
To describe an in vitro feasibility trial of a new percutaneous endograft delivery technique.


RESULTS
A water flow model of 9-mm (inner diameter) transparent plastic tubing was used to test the feasibility of sequentially delivering the components 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-microm-thick Dacron graft. The graft material was formed into a tube, attached with a suture to a guidewire, and delivered into the plastic tubing. The Wallstent 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 successful.


CONCLUSIONS
These concepts and techniques may have implications in the development of percutaneously deliverable endovascular grafts.
Kerr
A
A
Department of Radiology, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Jacobi Medical Center, Bronx, New York, USA.
Marsan
B
B
Lyon
R
R
D001807:Blood Vessel Prosthesis; D019917:Blood Vessel Prosthesis Implantation / Q000379:methods; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D006801:Humans; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D008955:Models, Cardiovascular; D011474:Prosthesis Design; D015607:Stents