The invention provides an attachment member for anchoring a graft system at a
desired location in a vessel of a patient's vascular system. The attachment member
comprises a cranial zone having a first radial strength, a caudal zone having a
second radial strength, and an intermediate zone having multiple joining longitudinal
struts located between and connecting the cranial and caudal zones. The intermediate
zone has a third radial strength which is less than the first and second radial
strengths, and the cranial and caudal zones are formed from a self-expanding material
capable of expanding from a first delivery configuration to a second deployed configuration.
The invention also provides an endovascular graft system, a method for deploying
an aortic attachment member, and a method for repairing an aneurysm in an aorta.