Docking graft for placement of parallel distally extending grafts assembly and method

Abstract

The techniques of this disclosure generally relate to an assembly including a docking graft. The docking graft includes a main graft defining a main lumen, a first internal lumen within the main lumen, a second internal lumen within the main lumen, and a main docking lumen within the main lumen. The first and second internal lumens are configured to receive first and second bridging stent graft therein. The main docking lumen is configured to receive a tube graft therein. The first internal lumen, the second internal lumen, and the main docking lumen being parallel to one another and extending an entire length of the docking graft when the docking graft is in a relaxed configuration. The docking graft forms the foundation, or anchor device, for attachment of the first bridging stent graft, the second bridging stent graft, and the tube graft within the aorta.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method comprising:
 deploying a docking graft within an ascending aorta, the docking graft comprising:
 a main graft defining a main lumen; 
 a first internal lumen within the main lumen; 
 a second internal lumen within the main lumen; and 
 a main docking lumen within the main lumen; 
   deploying a first bridging stent graft within the first internal lumen;   deploying a second bridging stent graft within the second internal lumen;   deploying a tube graft within the main docking lumen,   wherein the first bridging stent graft, the second bridging stent graft, and the tube graft are parallel to one another within the docking graft and extend distally from the docking graft.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the deploying the first bridging stent graft further comprises deploying the first bridging stent graft in a brachiocephalic artery. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the deploying the second bridging stent graft further comprises deploying the second bridging stent graft in a vessel selected from the group consisting of a left subclavian artery and a left common carotid artery. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3  further comprising:
 providing a bypass graft between the left subclavian artery and a left common carotid artery. 
 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the first internal lumen is defined by a first internal sleeve and the second internal lumen is defined by a second internal sleeve. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5  wherein the main docking lumen has a proximal opening at a proximal end of the docking graft that is defined by an inner surface of the main graft and outer surfaces of the first internal sleeve and the second internal sleeve. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6  wherein the main docking lumen has a distal opening at a distal end of the docking graft that is defined by the internal surface of the main graft and the outer surfaces of the first internal sleeve and the second internal sleeve. 
     
     
         8 . A method comprising:
 deploying a docking graft within an ascending aorta, the docking graft comprising:
 a main graft defining a main lumen; 
 a first internal sleeve; 
 a second internal sleeve; and 
 a main docking lumen within the main lumen, the entire main docking lumen being defined by the main graft, the first internal sleeve, and the second internal sleeve, the first internal sleeve and the second internal sleeve extending between a proximal end and a distal end of the docking graft; 
   deploying a first bridging stent graft within the first internal sleeve;   deploying a second bridging stent graft within the second internal sleeve; and   deploying a tube graft within the main docking lumen.   
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8  wherein the first bridging stent graft comprises a main graft that is bifurcated into a first branch graft and a second branch graft. 
     
     
         9 . method of  claim 9  wherein the deploying the first bridging stent graft comprises deploying the main graft of the first bridging stent graft within the first internal sleeve. 
     
     
         11 . The method of claim  10  wherein the deploying the first bridging stent graft further comprises locating the first branch graft in a brachiocephalic artery. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11  wherein the deploying the first bridging stent graft further comprises introducing the first bridging stent graft via supra aortic access. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12  wherein the introducing the first bridging stent graft via supra aortic access comprises:
 introducing a guide wire through a right subclavian artery and advancing the guidewire into a distal opening of the first internal sleeve; and 
 advancing a delivery system comprising the first bridging stent graft into the brachiocephalic artery and the first internal sleeve over the guidewire. 
 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 11  wherein a distal opening of the second branch graft is proximal to a left common carotid artery. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14  further comprising:
 deploying a third bridging stent graft in the second branch graft and the left common carotid artery. 
 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15  wherein the deploying the second bridging stent graft further comprises locating the second bridging stent graft within a left subclavian artery. 
     
     
         17 . A method comprising:
 forming a docking graft comprising:
 providing a main graft defining a main lumen; 
 coupling a first internal sleeve inside of the main graft to define a first internal lumen; 
 coupling a second internal sleeve inside of the main graft to define a second internal lumen; and 
   defining a main docking lumen as a remaining volume of the main lumen that is not occupied by the first internal lumen and the second internal lumen,   wherein the main docking lumen has a proximal opening at a proximal end of the docking graft that is defined by an inner surface of the main graft and outer surfaces of the first internal sleeve and the second internal sleeve,   wherein the main docking lumen has a distal opening at a distal end of the docking graft that is defined by the internal surface of the main graft and the outer surfaces of the first internal sleeve and the second internal sleeve.   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17  wherein the first internal lumen is defined entirely by the first internal sleeve and the second internal lumen is defined entirely by the second internal sleeve. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 17  wherein the first internal sleeve and the second internal sleeve are coupled to the main graft by an attachment means. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 17  wherein the first internal lumen is defined by the first internal sleeve in combination with the main graft and the second internal lumen is defined by the second internal sleeve in combination with the main graft.