Endovascular graft having a cannulation pocket

1. A stent graft for placement in a lumen of a patient, the stent graft comprising:

a main tubular body of a biocompatible graft material having a main lumen, the main tubular body having a proximal end and a distal end;

a side arm extending from the main tubular body, the side arm having a side arm lumen, the side arm lumen being in fluid communication with the main lumen through a side arm opening in the main tubular body; and

a cannulation pocket, the pocket comprising:

an exit aperture positioned opposite the side arm opening;

an entry aperture longitudinally spaced from the exit aperture in a direction toward the distal end of the main tubular body;

a wall, the wall laterally spaced from the main lumen so as to provide a guide surface for a cannula fed through the entry aperture;

the wall enclosing a pocket lumen, the pocket lumen outside of the main tubular body; and

the exit aperture disposed in the main tubular body and opening into the pocket lumen.

2. The stent graft of claim 1 comprising a distal sealing portion, the distal sealing portion sealable against the lumen of the patient.

3. The stent graft of claim 2 wherein the distal sealing portion comprises a distal sealing stent, the distal sealing stent expandable to seal the distal sealing portion of the stent graft against the lumen of the patient.

4. The stent graft of claim 1 wherein the side arm is angled with respect to the main tubular body such that the side arm lumen extends laterally and distally from the main lumen.

5. The stent graft of claim 4 comprising a central external zig-zag self-expanding stent which extends around both the main tubular body and a portion of the side arm, the central stent expandable so that the main lumen and the side arm lumen are each biased open allowing fluid to flow freely there-through.

6. The stent graft as claimed in claim 1 , comprising a temporary diameter reduction constraint arrangement, the arrangement comprising:

a release wire; and

a plurality of loops of thread, each loop engaged with the release wire and engaged around a proximal portion of the main body circumferentially spaced a selected distance away from the release wire, and drawn tight and tied to itself to reduce the distal portion of the main body.

7. The stent graft of claim 1 wherein the entry aperture opens into the main lumen.

8. The stent graft of claim 7 wherein the entry aperture opens into the main lumen in a position proximal of the sealing portion.

9. The stent graft of claim 1 wherein the entry aperture opens into the main lumen in a position within the sealing portion.

10. The stent graft of claim 1 wherein the entry aperture opens distally in a position adjacent to the sealing stent.

11. The stent graft of claim 10 wherein the wall comprises a closeable portion, the closeable portion adjacent to the distal sealing portion such that, in use, the closeable portion is closed by expansion of the distal sealing stent towards the lumen of the patient.

12. A stent graft assembly for placement in a lumen of a patient, the stent graft assembly comprising a stent graft and a pre-loaded guide wire, the stent graft comprising:

a main tubular body of a biocompatible graft material having a main lumen, the main tubular body having a proximal end and a distal end;

a side arm extending from the main tubular body, the side arm having a side arm lumen, the side arm lumen being in fluid communication with the main lumen through a side arm opening in the main tubular body; and

a cannulation pocket, the pocket comprising:

an exit aperture positioned opposite the side arm opening;

an entry aperture longitudinally spaced from the entry aperture in a direction toward the distal end of the main tubular body; and

a wall, the wall laterally spaced from the main lumen so as to provide a guide surface for a cannula fed through the entry aperture,

the wall enclosing a pocket lumen, the pocket lumen outside of the main tubular body, the exit aperture disposed in the main tubular body and opening into the pocket lumen;

wherein the pre-loaded guide wire comprises:

a first wire end projecting from the distal end of the main tubular body;

an intermediate wire portion extending through the entry aperture, the exit aperture and the side arm opening; and

a second wire end projecting outwardly from the side arm.

13. The stent graft assembly of claim 12 wherein the side arm is angled with respect to the main tubular body such that the side arm lumen extends laterally and distally from the main lumen.

14. The stent graft assembly of claim 13 comprising a central external zig-zag self-expanding stent which extends around both the main tubular body and a portion of the side arm, the central stent expandable so that the main lumen and the side arm lumen are each biased open allowing fluid to flow freely there-through.

15. The stent graft assembly as claimed in claim 12 , comprising a temporary diameter reduction constraint arrangement, the arrangement comprising:

a release wire; and

a plurality of loops of thread, each loop engaged with the release wire and engaged around a proximal portion of the main body circumferentially spaced a selected distance away from the release wire, and drawn tight and tied to itself to reduce the distal portion of the main body.

16. A stent graft for placement in a lumen of a patient, the stent graft comprising:

a main tubular body of a biocompatible graft material having a main lumen, the main tubular body having a proximal end and a distal end;

a side arm extending from the main tubular body, the side arm having a side arm lumen, the side arm lumen being in fluid communication with the main lumen through a side arm opening in the main tubular body; and

a cannulation pocket, the pocket comprising:

an exit aperture disposed in the main tubular body and longitudinally even and laterally opposite the side arm opening;

an entry aperture longitudinally spaced from the exit aperture in a direction toward the distal end of the main tubular body;

a wall, the wall laterally spaced from the main lumen so as to provide a guide surface for a cannula fed through the entry aperture;

the wall enclosing a pocket lumen, the pocket lumen outside of the main tubular body; and

the exit aperture opening into the pocket lumen.

17. The stent graft of claim 1 wherein the entry aperture is disposed in the main tubular body and opens into the pocket lumen.

18. The stent graft of claim 11 wherein the entry aperture is disposed in the closeable portion and opens into the pocket lumen, and in use the entry aperture is closed by expansion of the distal sealing stent towards the lumen of the patient.

19. The stent graft of claim 12 wherein the entry aperture is disposed in the main tubular body and opens into the pocket lumen.

20. The stent graft of claim 16 wherein the entry aperture is disposed in the main tubular body and opens into the pocket lumen.