Stent graft assembly and method

• US 20030114918A1
• Filed: 09/26/2002
• Published: 06/19/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 04/28/2000
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Nfocus Neuromedical, Inc. (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Nfocus Neuromedical, Inc. (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Garrison, Michi E., Rudakov, Leon V.
• Application Number:
  US10/255,199
• Publication Number:
  US 20030114918A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 623/1.13
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/07 Stent-grafts
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/852 Two or more distinct overlapping stents
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/90 characterised by a net-like or mesh-like structure
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/91 made from perforated sheet material or tubes, e.g. perforated by laser cuts or etched holes
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/915 with bands having a meander structure, adjacent bands being connected to each other
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/075 the stent being loosely attached to the graft material, e.g. by stitching
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/91533 characterised by the phase between adjacent bands
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/91541 Adjacent bands are arranged out of phase
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/91558 connected peak to peak
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/91566 connected trough to trough
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/91575 connected peak to trough
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2220/0033 made by longitudinally pushing a protrusion into a complementary-shaped recess, e.g. held by friction fit
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2220/005 using adhesives
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2220/0058 soldered or brazed or welded
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2220/0075 sutured, ligatured or stitched, retained or tied with a rope, string, thread, wire or cable
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2230/0054 V-shaped
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2240/001 Designing or manufacturing processes
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2250/0063 Nested prosthetic parts
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2250/0067 Means for introducing or releasing pharmaceutical products into the body
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2250/0071 breakable or frangible
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2250/0098 : radio-opaque, e.g. radio-opaque markers
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 31/048 : obtained by reactions only involving carbon-to-carbon unsaturated bonds A61L31/041 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 31/06 : obtained otherwise than by reactions only involving carbon-to-carbon unsaturated bonds A61L31/041 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 31/18 : Materials at least partially X-ray or laser opaque
• CPC Class Codes: C08L 27/18 : Homopolymers or copolymers or tetrafluoroethene
• CPC Class Codes: C08L 75/04 : Polyurethanes
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49826 : Assembling or joining

Abstract

A method for assembling a stent graft onto a balloon delivery catheter is disclosed. The method includes the steps of: assembling a graft over a stent with attached security rings and inserting the ends of the graft between the stent and the rings; placing the assembled stent graft on the delivery balloon of the delivery catheter; and crimping the stent graft onto the balloon. The stent may include a plurality of axially aligned belts that include a plurality of mid belts, and first and second end belts, where each of the mid belts includes a plurality of circumferentially spaced struts having first and second ends adjoining first sinusoidal-shaped elements, and each of the first and second end belts includes at least about twice the number of circumferentially spaced struts adjoining second sinusoidal-shaped elements. Also disclosed is a stent graft for use in practicing the method.

Claims

1. A stent graft, comprising

a stent and a graft in the form of a polymeric sleeve extending over at least a portion of the stent, and

security rings attached on opposite ends of the stent graft to prevent inadvertent displacement of the graft with respect to the stent during deployment of the stent graft into a vessel in a patient.

2. The stent graft of claim 1, wherein said stent comprises

a plurality of axially aligned belts comprising a plurality of mid belts, and first and second end belts;

where each of said mid belts comprises a plurality of circumferentially spaced struts having first and second ends adjoining first sinusoidal-shaped elements, and each of said first and second end belts comprise at least about twice the number of circumferentially spaced struts adjoining second sinusoidal-shaped elements compared to the number of said struts in said mid belts.

3. The stent graft of claim 2, wherein the first and second sinusoidal-shaped elements have hinge points, and the second sinusoidal-shaped elements have narrower hinge points relative to the hinge points of the first sinusoidal-shaped elements.

4. The stent graft of claim 1, wherein said attachment is a weld.

5. The stent graft of claim 4, wherein said weld is a laser weld.

6. The stent graft of claim 1, wherein the graft is ePTFE.

7. The stent graft of claim 1, wherein the graft further includes a bioactive coating thereon.

8. The stent graft of claim 1, wherein one or both of the security rings further includes a radiopaque marker carried thereon.

9. The stent graft of claim 8, wherein one or both of the security rings includes an eyelet and wherein the radiopaque material is disposed in the eyelet.

10. A method for assembling a stent graft onto a balloon delivery catheter, comprising:

assembling a graft over a stent with attached security rings and inserting the ends of the graft between the stent and the rings;

placing the assembled stent graft on the delivery balloon of the delivery catheter; and

crimping the stent graft onto the balloon.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein said stent comprises

a plurality of axially aligned belts comprising a plurality of mid belts, and first and second end belts;

where each of said mid belts comprises a plurality of circumferentially spaced struts having first and second ends adjoining first sinusoidal-shaped elements, and each of said first and second end belts comprise at least about twice the number of circumferentially spaced struts adjoining second sinusoidal-shaped elements compared to the number of said struts in said mid belts.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the first and second sinusoidal-shaped elements have hinge points, and the second sinusoidal-shaped elements have narrower hinge points relative to the hinge points of the first sinusoidal-shaped elements.

13. The method of claim 10, wherein said attachment is a weld.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein said weld is a laser weld.

15. The method of claim 10, wherein said graft is ePTFE.

16. The method of claim 10, wherein the graft further includes a bioactive coating thereon.

17. The method of claim 10, wherein one or both of the security rings further includes a radiopaque marker carried thereon.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein one or both of the security rings includes an eyelet and wherein the radiopaque material is disposed in the eyelet.