JPH07106213B2 - Aortic splint. And implant device for treating aortic aneurysm - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to devices and methods used in the treatment of aortic grafts, aortic aneurysms. An aneurysm is a bulge in the wall of a blood vessel in a weakened part of a blood vessel due to disease or other factors. If the aneurysm is not treated, it will rupture and blood will flow out.

Aortic aneurysms are the most common vascular aneurysms and are life-threatening. The aorta is the main artery that supplies blood to the circulatory system. The aorta extends upward from the cavity of the heart, bends posterior to the heart, and descends the rib cage and abdomen. The abdominal aorta feeds two lateral vessels into the renal vessels. Below the renal vessels, the abdominal aorta continues to the level of the 4th lumbar spine. The aorta is divided into the iliac arteries. The iliac arteries supply blood to the lower end and the perineum.

Aortic aneurysms tend to occur in the abdominal artery between the renal arteries and the iliac arteries. This part of the abdominal artery is particularly weak and prone to aneurysms. An aortic aneurysm with a diameter of more than 4 cm in this area is bad. If left untreated, the aneurysm ruptures, causing sudden and major bleeding.

Abdominal artery aneurysms have a particularly high mortality rate. Therefore, according to modern medical standards, surgery for abdominal aneurysms is performed urgently. The abdominal surgery itself is a surgery that gives great stress to the body. Although mortality of aortic aneurysms is quite high, mortality and morbidity associated with surgical procedures to treat aortic aneurysms is also high. The present invention is to bypass or replace a portion of an aneurysm through an abdominal abdominal vessel wall. In particular an inlet device such as a synthetic tube is used for this purpose. This splint removes the aneurysm from the circulatory system and removes the pressure and stress in the weak areas of the aneurysm.

Treatment of aneurysms is the main surgical method. Further substantial morbidity requires surgery and a long recovery period. Finally, surgery is associated with high mortality. However, despite the high risk of surgery, patients may not be able to tolerate the stress of abdominal surgery, although it is required for aneurysms. It is desirable to reduce mortality and morbidity associated with abdominal surgery.

Recently, a method for operating an aortic aneurysm has been developed, which eliminates the risk of abdominal surgery. As examples of these, U.S. Pat. No. 4,562,596 (issued on January 7, 1986) "Aortic joint and abdominal aortic aneurysm treatment device and method" and U.S. Pat.
No. 4,787,899 (issued November 29, 1988) "Internal splice device, system and method" is known.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,562,596 discloses an aortic splice having a flexible tubing having a plurality of struts that contribute to the stability and resilience of the splice. These struts include a bent hook with a barb at its upper end that is secured to the interior of the artery above the aneurysm. The above U.S. Patent No. 4,
The 562,596 splint is inserted using the tubular device disclosed in that patent.

However, the above U.S. patent only secures the proximal end of the arterial splice. The above patent does not require downward flow of blood vessels to hold the ends of the splice and mechanically stop the ends. See column 6, lines 24-27 of the above-referenced US patent in this regard. However, the blood pressure in the abdominal artery is 130m
It is mHg. Back pressure at the end of the aneurysm occurs regardless of the direction of blood flow in the splice unless the ends are mechanically attached. Without attachment of the ends, the device of the above patent is unable to effectively eliminate the weakened vessel wall with aneurysm from blood pressure related forces and stresses.

The above U.S. Pat. No. 4,787,899 discloses a splice system using multiple needles attached to the proximal end of the splice.
The needle of this patent is clamped against the aortic wall by a balloon catheter. However, U.S. Pat. No. 4,787,899, like U.S. Pat. No. 4,562,596, discloses needles attached to the ends of a splice. U.S. Pat. No. 4,787,899 does not show mechanical attachment of a splint to the distal aorta below the level of the aneurysm.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,787,899 also discloses various means for repairing the aorta. These are various graft devices using balloon catheter systems, the use of Nitinol coils and surgical techniques.

Therefore, in recent years, some techniques have been developed to reduce stress, mortality and its risk through surgical operation to repair aortic aneurysm, but the techniques developed to date have influence of aorta from circulatory pressure and stress. It is not possible to eliminate the affected area or effectively treat the aorta. Conventional devices cannot provide reliable and rapid aneurysm bypass.

Therefore, it is an object of the present invention to provide a method for treating an aortic aneurysm, which further reduces the morbidity and mortality compared to the abdominal surgery of the aneurysm.

Another object of the invention is to provide a means for treating aortic aneurysms in patients who cannot tolerate abdominal surgery.

Another object of the present invention is to reduce mortality and morbidity from extensive surgery.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a means for rapidly protecting a patient from an aortic aneurysm as an emergency operation.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a means for treating abdominal aneurysms without the need for major surgery.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a device for treating an abdominal aneurysm which reduces mortality and morbidity when surgically operating the abdominal aneurysm.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an abdominal aneurysm surgical method and system that reduces the cost of aneurysm surgical treatment.

It is an additional object of the present invention to provide a method and system for abdominal aneurysm surgery that reduces the cost to the patient considering medical costs, rehabilitation, morbidity and recovery time.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION According to the present invention, an aortic joint for performing an anastomosis of an aorta in a part of the aorta, the aortic joint device having a head end and a tail end and having one axis, and the aortic joint. A plurality of attachment devices attached to the head end and tail end of a tree device to secure the aortic graft device to the aorta, the attachment devices being attached to the aortic tree graft device and A base device oriented substantially parallel to the axis of the aortic graft device; a strut device attached to the base device and extending generally radially outward from the aortic graft device; A hook device oriented in parallel and attached to the distal end of the strut device for passing through the aorta and securing the splice device to the aorta. Aortic splicing wood is provided, characterized in that.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The features of the present invention will be better understood with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is an enlarged view of a coronal suture of the present invention using a double balloon catheter system incorporated into a splice.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged view of the mounting device of the preferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a coronal view of a balloon catheter inserted into the head of a blood vessel above an aneurysm to measure the diameter of the blood vessel.

FIG. 4 is a coronal view of a projection-filled balloon catheter inserted into the tail of the abdominal aorta of an aneurysm to measure vessel diameter.

FIG. 5 is a coronal view of a splicing and double balloon catheter system of the present invention inserted into the abdominal aorta with the head and tail of the aortic graft aligned with the upper and lower head and tail of the aneurysm, respectively.

FIG. 6 is a coronal view of the head abdominal aorta above an aneurysm with an inserted graft and double balloon catheter system showing insertion of the attachment device into the vessel wall when the head balloon is inflated.

FIG. 7 is a coronal view of the splint and head balloon of FIG. 6 showing the head balloon during inflation when the attachment device has penetrated the arterial wall.

FIG. 8 is a coronal view of a splint, double balloon catheter system, and caudal abdominal artery below the aneurysm showing the attachment device penetrating the arterial wall when the tail balloon is inflated.

9 is a coronal view of the splint and head balloon of FIG. 8 showing the tail balloon during inflation when the attachment device has passed through the arterial wall.

FIG. 10 is a coronal view of the aortic graft of the present invention after the head and tail attachments have been attached to the arterial wall and the double balloon catheter system removed to remove the aneurysm.

FIG. 11 is a top view of the retainer ring of the present invention.

FIG. 12 is a perspective view showing a modified example of the retainer ring of the present invention.

FIG. 13 is a coronal view of the head of the aortic splicing of the present invention showing the attachment of the balloon catheter and head retainer ring.

FIG. 14 is a coronal view of the tail of an aortic splice of the present invention showing the attachment of a balloon catheter and tail retainer ring.

FIG. 15 is a coronal view of an aortic splice of the present invention showing a splice embedded in the aorta removing an aortic aneurysm.

The apparatus and method for mounting the splint and aortic splice of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the following drawings, but the present invention is not limited to this embodiment and many modifications can be made based on the attached claims. Is.

EXAMPLE FIG. 1 shows an aortic graft 10 for treating an abdominal aortic aneurysm 12. As shown in FIG. 3, the aortic aneurysm 12 is located in the abdominal aorta 11 between the renal artery 15 and the iliac artery 16.

It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that the aortic splint 10 of the present invention may take other positions within the scope of the appended claims. For example, the splint can also be used in fluid communication tubes such as arteries located in other parts of the body or other vessels.

As shown in the examples, the aortic splice 10 of the present invention includes an aortic splice device 18 having a head 19, a tail 20 end and a body 21.
have. The aortic graft device 18 of the present invention is preferably comprised of a flexible, elastic material such as Teflon (polytetrafluoroethylene) or other similarly flexible, elastic material. Materials such as natural or artificial polymer materials (polyester fiber, Dacron, Mylar, rayon, cellulose acetate, cellulose butynate) can also be used.
It is important that the material making up the aortic graft device 18 be biochemically inert and compatible with the tissue in which the aortic graft is embedded. Many materials are known as this type of material.

In an embodiment of the invention, the aortic graft device 18 includes a plurality of attachment devices 22 and a double balloon catheter system 35.
have. The splint is the first to measure the diameter of the aorta.
Catheter system, aorta with attachment device 22
18, hygienically handled and packaged as a kit having a second catheter system, which is a double balloon catheter system, and a third balloon catheter system 48 having a retaining ring 45. The aortic graft device 18, double balloon catheter system 35, and third catheter system 48 of the present invention are configured in various sizes to allow the system of the present invention to fit the size and shape of an individual patient's aortic aneurysm. ing.

As shown in FIG. 2, the mounting device 22 of the present invention has a base means 23, a strut means 24 and a hook means 25. The hook means 25 has a tip 26 to facilitate passage of the aorta 11 by the hook 25 and has a barb 27 to elastically retain the attachment device in the attachment position to the aorta 11. In the preferred embodiment of the invention, the aortic splice device 18 comprises a plurality of attachment devices 22 attached to the head 19 and tail 20 ends of the splice device 18.

In the preferred embodiment of the invention, the base means 23 comprises a biochemically compatible material such as metal or plastic. The base 23 is a flat metal strip that is substantially parallel to the axis of the aortic graft device 18. The base 23 is attached to the head 19 and tail 20 ends of the aortic graft device 18. This attachment includes, but is not limited to, gluing, welding, rivets,
This is done by simply positioning the base 23, and the end of the base 23 comes into contact with the end surface of the lumen of the aortic splicing device 18 and the strut
It is held by the force of 24.

The strut means 24 are preferably struts oriented substantially perpendicular to the base 23. In the preferred embodiment of the invention, the struts 24 are attached to the distal surface of the base 23 and the struts 24 are
When attached to the aortic splice device 18, it extends radially outward from the aortic splice device 18. The base 23 can be affixed to the aortic splicing device 18 via various means such as gluing, rivets, welding or the like that can biochemically secure the struts 24 to the base 23. The base 23 is also attached to the aortic graft device 18 in the inner cavity of the aortic graft device 18 by attaching the base 23.
The abutment surface of the base 23 abuts the proximal end surface of the lumen of the aortic splicing device 18, and the strut 24 passes through the aortic splicing device 18. The base 23 and the column 24 are held by the force applied to the base end of the column 24.

In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the hook means 25 is a post 24.
It is a hook attached to the end of. Hook 25 is the base
It is substantially parallel to 23 and thus parallel to the axis of the aortic graft device 18 when attached to the aorta 11. In the preferred embodiment of the invention, the hook on which the tip 26 is located
The part of the hand of 25 is longer from the column 23 than the end of the hook 25 from the tip 26. Further, the hook 25 is the attachment means 22.
Holding one or more barbs 27 that hold the aortic graft device 18 secured to the aorta 14 of the head 12 and tail 13 of the abdominal artery above and below the aortic aneurysm 12.

Aortic splice 10 is a double balloon catheter system 35
It is attached to the abdominal aorta 11 via. In the double balloon catheter system 35 of the present invention, when the balloon is inflated, the tips 26 of the hooks 25 engage the wall of the artery 11 rather than in a substantially parallel relationship so that the hooks 25 attach the aortic graft device 18 of the present invention to the aorta. Oriented to make it easy to secure at 11.

It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications can be made to the structure and attachment of the attachment device 22 of the present invention within the scope of the appended claims. For example, the relative lengths of the hooks 25 on each side of the post 24 can be varied. Further, the support columns 24 can have various shapes as long as the ends of the support columns 24 extend from the aortic graft device 18 in the radial direction and pass through the aorta 11. Also hook 25
Can take a variety of shapes and orientations if the aortic graft is oriented so as not to damage nearby organs when attached to the aorta 11. In addition, attachment device 22 may be rotated so that it does not pass through aorta 11 and oriented to simply hold aorta 11 in place. Therefore, the present invention provides
Various changes may be made in the appended claims.

The operation and attachment of the aortic graft device 10 can best be explained by the operation of the double balloon catheter system 35. Implanting the aortic graft device of the present invention involves a number of steps. First, the femoral aorta 17 or the iliac aorta 16 is incised to approach the aortic aneurysm 12. As shown in FIG. 3, in the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the first balloon catheter device 28 measures certain important features of the aorta 11. As in the embodiment, the first balloon catheter 28 includes a guide wire 29, a balloon 30, a delivery tube 3
1. It has a first balloon catheter sheath 32 and a projection agent 33. The guide wire 29 is the first catheter device 28.
Is inserted through the incision in the femoral aorta 17 or the iliac aorta 16. The balloon 30 is filled with a radio wave projection agent 33 and visualized by radio wave image means. The catheter device 28 is
The balloon 30 is supplied to the opening of the femoral aorta 17 or the iliac aorta 16 until it is inserted into the aneurysm 12 of the abdominal aorta 11. Using the radio wave imaging system 34, the balloon 30 becomes an aneurysm.
Aligned with the head 13 of the abdominal aorta 11 above 12. balloon
The 30 is inflated until it engages the inner surface of the head 13 of the abdominal aorta 11 just above the aneurysm 12. Imaging device 34 measures the diameter of the head of the abdominal aorta above the aortic aneurysm.

As shown in FIG. 4, the first catheter device 28 is withdrawn until the balloon 30 is aligned with the tail 14 of the abdominal aorta 11 below the aneurysm 12. The balloon 30 is inflated again at the tail 14 of the abdominal artery 11 below the aneurysm 12 until it reaches the inner wall of the abdominal aorta 11. The imaging device 34 again measures the diameter of the abdominal artery 11 in the tail of the abdominal aorta below the aneurysm 12. This measurement is recorded. Head 13 of abdominal aorta 11 and abdominal aorta using data collected via video equipment
The distance between 11 and the tail 14 is determined above and below the aneurysm 12 as well as the diameters of the head 13 and tail 14 of the aorta 11. This information is used to select the appropriate size of the patient's aortic tree graft 10.

As shown in the embodiment, the aortic graft device 18 is an imaging device.
It is preferably 2 to 10 mm longer than the distance between the head 13 and tail 14 of the abdominal aorta 11 determined by 34. The aortic graft 10 of the present invention comprises an aortic graft device 18, an attachment device 22 and a double balloon catheter system 35. The double balloon catheter device 35 also has a projection marker 42. Projecting agent markers 42 are provided at the ends 37 and 38 of the head balloon 36 as well as the distal end 41 and the proximal end 40 of the tail balloon 39 of the double balloon catheter 35. As shown in FIG. 5, the projection agent marker 42 and the imaging device 34
Using the aortic graft 10, the femoral aorta 17 or the iliac aorta 16 until the head balloon 36 is aligned with the head 13 of the abdominal aorta 11 and the tail balloon 39 is aligned with the tail 14 of the abdominal aorta 11.
Inserted in.

The head balloon 36 is now inflated. As shown in FIG. 6, the head balloon 36 begins to be inflated from the end 38 of the head balloon 36. When the distal end 38 of the head balloon 36 is inflated, the abutting attachment device 22 rotates, the distal end of the base 23 moves radially outward from the axis of the aortic splicing device 18, and the proximal end of the base 23 aorta splices. Remains near the axis of the wood device 18. By this rotation, the tip portion 26 of the hook 25 becomes substantially non-parallel to the abdominal aorta 11. Further expansion of head balloon 36 causes tip 26 to engage abdominal aorta 11. The inflation of the head balloon 36 causes the tip 26 to pass through the abdominal aortic wall 11 and the hook 25 to extend into the aortic wall 11. Tajiri 27 passes and the tip 26 of hook 25
The edge 27 passes through the abdominal aortic wall 11 and is located on the outer wall surface thereof.

As shown in FIG. 7, the head balloon 36 continues to be inflated, and the abdominal aorta wall is expanded until the head balloon 36 is completely inflated.
A mounting device 22 is attached to 11. When the head balloon 36 is fully inflated, the attachment device 22 on the head 19 of the aortic graft device 18 passes through the abdominal aorta wall 11 of the head 13 and passes through the abdominal aorta 11
The aortic graft device 18 is permanently affixed to it. The head balloon 36 is fully inflated and the attachment device 22 and aortic graft device 18
The head 19 of the head adheres to the base 13 of the vessel wall 11 and the head balloon remains fully inflated. Blood flow through the abdominal aorta 11 is effectively opened during the remaining surgery due to inflation of the head balloon 36. Inflation of head balloon 36 causes aortic graft device 18
The head of the aorta is held and the tail 20 of the aortic graft device is attached to the tail of the abdominal aorta 11.

As shown in FIG. 8, the tail 20 of the aortic graft device 18 is expanded by inflating the tail balloon 39 of the double balloon system 35 at the proximal end 40 of the tail balloon 39.
Mounted on 11 tails 14. When the proximal end 40 of the caudal balloon 39 is inflated, the attachment device 22 of the caudal portion 20 of the aortic splicing device 18 rotates relative to the head 19 as described above and the splicing device 18
The tail attachment device 22 is permanently attached to the tail 14 of the abdominal aorta 11 as shown in FIG.

A head balloon 36 and a tail balloon as shown in FIG.
When 39 and 39 are fully inflated, the graft device 18 is located above and below the abdominal aorta 11. At this time, the head 19 of the splice device 18
The tail 20 further prevents blood above and below from effectively reaching the aneurysm 12. The body 21 of the graft device 18 serves as the abdominal artery wall 11 of the aneurysm 12. As shown in FIG. 10, when the graft device 18 is completely positioned on the head 13 and tail 14 of the abdominal aorta 11, the double balloon catheter system 35
Is removed. The aortic graft device 18 effectively removes the aneurysm 12 and removes the stress on the aneurysm under the full pressure and stress circulating in the abdominal aorta 11.

In the preferred embodiment of the invention, the aortic splice 10 is a retaining means.
Has 45. The retainer or retaining means 45 is the aorta 11
An elastic ring for holding the splint device 18 on. In the embodiment, the retainer 45 has a main body 46 and locking means 47. As shown in FIG. 11, in the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the retainer 45 is a split ring shaped so that the two bridges of the split ring form a smooth ring.

Many modifications are possible in the structure and attachment of the attachment device 22 of the present invention within the scope of the claims. For example retainer 45
May be an elastic mesh material as shown in FIG. The body 46 of mesh material preferably has legs 42 attached to each other such that the mesh material is collapsible for insertion and locked once installed and inflated. It is therefore clear that the invention is capable of many variants within the scope of the claims.

When the double balloon catheter 35 is removed from the abdominal aorta 11 as shown in FIG. 10, the guide wire 29 remains. A retainer 45 is inserted into the abdominal aorta 11 using a third catheter system 48 as shown in FIG. When the retainer 45 and the third catheter device 48 are inserted into the abdominal aorta 11, the imaging device 34 tracks the position of the retainer 45 with respect to the head 13 of the abdominal aorta 11 and the aortic graft device 18. Head 13 of abdominal aorta 11 and aortic graft device
When the retainer 45 is aligned with the head balloon 49, the head balloon 49 is inflated. Locking means when the head balloon 49 is inflated
47 engages the fixed retainer of the aorta 11 in the open position.
When balloon 30 is fully inflated and retainer 45 is fully inflated, retainer 45 causes aortic graft device 18 and aorta 11 to
And are inflated to press the aortic graft device 18 and attachment device 22 against the head 13 of the abdominal aorta 11.

As shown in FIG. 14, tail balloon 50 is inflated to lock retainer 45 to the tail of aortic graft device 18 and aorta 11. The third catheter system 48 has a guide wire 29.
Removed along the way. The incision of the femoral aorta 17 or the iliac aorta 16 on which the surgery was performed is closed. Circulation of the lower extremities is restored and aortic graft device 18 removes aortic aneurysm 12 from the circulation.

It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications of the invention can be made within the scope of the claims. Especially aortic splint
10 may or may not be used with retainer 45.
The retainer 45 has various engagements and sizes and has a function of fixing the aortic joint 10 and the abdominal aorta 11.
The mounting device 22 can also be modified in its shape in many ways within the scope of the claims. Further, the direction in which each balloon of the double balloon catheter system 35 is inflated may be such that the attachment device 22 is oriented with respect to the inflation direction of the head 36 and tail 39 of the balloon to facilitate passage of the aorta 11. Therefore, the present invention is capable of many modifications within the scope of the claims.

Claims (18)

[Claims] 1. An aortic joint for performing an anastomosis of an aorta in a part of an aorta, the aortic joint device having a head end and a tail end and having one axis, and the aortic joint device. A plurality of attachment devices attached to the head and tail ends for securing the aortic graft device to the aorta, the attachment devices being attached to the aortic graft device and the aortic graft device. A base device oriented substantially parallel to the axis, a strut device attached to the base device extending generally radially outward from the aortic graft device, and a post device oriented substantially parallel to the axis of the aortic graft device. And a hook device attached to the end of the strut device for passing through the aorta and for fixing the splice device to the aorta. Aortic joint tree that. 2. The aortic splice according to claim 1, wherein the aortic splice device is substantially cylindrical. 3. An aortic splice according to claim 1, wherein the aortic splice device comprises an elastic flexible material. 4. An aortic splice according to claim 1, wherein the aortic splice device comprises a material inert to body fluids. 5. The aortic splice according to claim 1, wherein the hook device has a barb hook. 6. The aortic splice according to claim 1, wherein the aortic splice device has a retainer ring device, and the head end and tail end of the aortic splice device are connected to the aorta. An aortic splice characterized by engaging and abutting a part and holding it. 7. An aortic graft for anastomosing an aorta in a portion of an aorta, the apparatus being a substantially cylindrical aortic graft having first and second ends, and the first and first aortic graft devices. A plurality of attachment devices attached to two ends for securing the aortic graft device to the aorta, the attachment devices being substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the aortic graft device. A base device attached to the device at first and second ends; a strut device extending radially from the aortic graft device and attached to the base device; and a piercing device extending through the aorta and to the aorta. And a hook device attached to the end of the strut device to secure the splice device, the hook device having a barb hook. 8. An aortic splice according to claim 7, wherein the aortic splice device comprises an elastic flexible material. 9. An aortic splice according to claim 7, wherein the aortic splice device comprises a material inert to body fluids. 10. The aortic splice according to claim 7, wherein the aortic splice device has a retainer ring device for engaging and retaining the first and second ends at a joint of the aorta. Aortic splint characterized by 11. The aortic splice according to claim 7, wherein the aortic splice is adapted to be attached by a double balloon catheter, and when the first balloon of the double balloon catheter is inflated, The attachment device at the first end of the aortic graft device is adapted to penetrate the aorta, and inflating a second balloon of the double-balloon catheter will cause the attachment at the second end of the aortic graft device. An aortic splice characterized in that the attachment device is adapted to penetrate the aorta. 12. An aortic splicing anastomosis of an aorta in a portion of the aorta, wherein the device is a substantially cylindrical aortic splicing device having first and second ends, and the first and second aortic splicing devices. A plurality of attachment devices attached to two ends for securing the aortic graft device to the aorta, the attachment devices at the first and second ends of the aortic graft device. A base device that abuts an inner surface of the tree device and is substantially parallel to a longitudinal axis of the aortic tree graft device; and first and second aortic tree graft devices attached to the base device and radially from the aortic tree graft device. A strut device extending through an end of the strut device and a hook device attached to a distal end of the strut device for passing the aorta to secure the splice device to the aorta. Ri has a hook, aortic joint wood, characterized in that it comprises a retainer ring device for maintaining said first and second ends in a coupling portion of the aorta. 13. An aortic splice according to claim 12, wherein the aortic splice device comprises an elastic flexible material. 14. An aortic splice according to claim 12, wherein the retainer ring device is of one form and is a series of hooks that are engaged with each other to elastically retain the diameter of the retainer ring device against compression. An aortic splint characterized by having a short section of. 15. The aortic splice according to claim 12, wherein the retainer ring device is a web having an elastic mesh. 16. The aortic splice according to claim 12, wherein the hook device is substantially parallel to the base device, and the barbs are directed toward the base device and away from the aorta. Aortic splicing characterized by. 17. The aortic splice according to claim 12, wherein the hook device has first and second tip portions, and the barbs are arranged at the first tip portion,
An aortic splice, wherein the first tip is longer than the second tip measured from the end of the strut device. 18. The aortic splice according to claim 12, wherein the aortic splice device is adapted to be mounted by a double balloon catheter, and when the first balloon of the double balloon catheter is inflated. The attachment device at the first end of the aortic graft device is adapted to penetrate the aorta, and inflating a second balloon of the double balloon catheter causes the attachment at the second end of the aortic graft device. An aortic graft characterized in that the device is adapted to penetrate the aorta.