When Duane Stoner was diagnosed with an abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) in 2001 , no one had to tell him how serious the condition was. Three years earlier, Stoner’s wife of 33 years, Mae, died from a ruptured AAA. The 69 -year-old security guard and great- grandfather knew the traditional repair surgery was very invasive and had a long recovery time. After discussing his options with clinicians at the Jobst Vascular Center in Toledo, Ohio, Stoner opted instead for a new, less-invasive approach called the Lifepath AAA Endovascular Graft System that had just become available as part of a U.S. clinical trial. Just days after his procedure, Stoner was released from the hospital. Three weeks later he was back to work, and today he says he’s feeling great.“I’m glad I chose the Lifepath AAA device, and I’m glad I’m alive,” says Stoner. So are three generations of his offspring. 

## Security Guard, Great-Grandfather, Survivor 

## Duane Stoner 

Left untreated, an abdominal aortic aneurysm, or AAA, can become a potentially life-threatening condition. Traditional surgical treatments for AAA are highly invasive, but an innovative technology is providing new hope for patients. 

