What is the basic composition of a stent graft?
A stent graft is composed of a metallic stent structure covered by a medical-grade fabric. The stents are typically made from stainless steel or nitinol (nickel titanium alloy), and the fabric is either Dacron (polyester) or expanded polytetrafluoroethylene (ePTFE). A stent graft comes compressed and loaded in a delivery catheter. Stent graft designs include straight tubes and bifurcated “pant leg” designs to accommodate the iliac branch. Bifurcated designs can either be unibody (one piece) or modular (multiple pieces).
