Endovascular prosthesis

Abstract

An expandable endovascular prosthesis comprising: body having a proximal end and a distal end; a first expandable portion disposed between the proximal end and the distal end, the tubular first expandable portion being expandable from a first, unexpanded state to a second, expanded state with a radially outward force thereon to urge the first expandable portion against a vascular lumen; and a second expandable portion attached to the first tubular expandable portion; the second expandable portion being expandable upon expansion of the tubular first expandable portion. The endovascular prosthesis is particularly useful in the treatment of aneurysms, particularly saccular aneurysms. Thus, the first expandable portion serves the general purpose of fixing the endovascular prosthesis in place at a target vascular lumen or body passageway in the vicinity at which the aneurysm is located and, upon expansion of the first expandable portion, the second expandable portion expands to block the aneurysmal opening thereby leading to obliteration of the aneurysm. A method of delivering and implanting the endovascular prosthesis is also described.

1 . A method of compressing a partially pre-expanded endovascular prosthesis to a pre-determined diameter, the method comprising the steps of:
 (i) inserting a mandrel element in the partially pre-expanded endovascular prosthesis,   (ii) disposing the partially pre-expanded endovascular prosthesis between a first plate element and a second plate element;   (iii) moving the first plate element with respect to the second plate; and   (iv) causing the partially pre-expanding endovascular prosthesis to compress toward the mandrel element until the pre-determined diameter is reached.