Lock modular graft component junctions

• US 20030229389A1
• Filed: 08/16/2002
• Published: 12/11/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 05/01/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Lifeport Sciences LLC (Acacia Research Corporation)
• Original Assignee: EndoVascular Technologies Incorporated (Boston Scientific Corporation)
• Inventors: Escano, Arnold M.
• Granted Patent: US 7,666,221 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 623/1.13
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/07 Stent-grafts
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/848 having means for fixation to the vessel wall, e.g. barbs
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/89 the wire-like elements comprising two or more adjacent rings flexibly connected by separate members
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/067 modular
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/075 the stent being loosely attached to the graft material, e.g. by stitching
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30322 differing in surface structures
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/8483 Barbs
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2220/0008 Fixation appliances for connecting prostheses to the body
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2220/0016 with sharp anchoring protrusions, e.g. barbs, pins, spikes
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2220/0041 using additional screws, bolts, dowels or rivets, e.g. connecting screws
• 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 2230/0067 conical
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2250/0026 differing in surface structures

Abstract

The present invention embodies an endovascular graft having an attachment frame connection mechanism that allows placement of the main body component in vasculature in combination with limb components. Various limb component-to-main body component attachment mechanisms are provided which ensure a reliable bond while facilitating a smaller delivery profile.

Claims

1. A modular endovascular graft device for treating vasculature, comprising:

a first graft component having a first wall with proximal and distal ends, the proximal end configured to be implanted within vasculature; and

a second graft component having a second wall with proximal and distal ends, the proximal end having a frame with a plurality of radially extending components which extend beyond the wall and whereupon attaching the second component to the first implanted component, at least one of the plurality of radially extending components extends through the distal end of the first wall.

2. The device of claim 1, the first component further comprising a frame with a plurality of radially extending components at the proximal end.

3. The device of claim 1, the second component further comprising a frame with a plurality of radially extending components at the distal end.

4. The device of claim 1, wherein the frame is in the form of a self-expanding stent.

5. The device of claim 1, wherein the frame is external the graft component.

6. The device of claim 1, wherein the frame is internal the graft component.

7. The device of claim 1, wherein the plurality of radially extending components are in the form of hooks or barbs.

8. The device of claim 7, wherein the hooks or barbs have sharpened points.

9. The device of claim 7, wherein the hooks or barbs are pointed in a caudal direction.

10. The device of claim 1, the first graft component further comprising at least one limb support section at the distal end.

11. The device of claim 1, wherein the first graft component is bifurcated.

12. The device of claim 1, wherein the first graft component is trifurcated.

13. The device of claim 1, wherein at least one of the first and second graft components has a generally tubular configuration.

14. The device of claim 1, wherein at least one of the first and second graft components has a flared configuration.

15. The device of claim 1, wherein at least one of the first and second graft components has a tapered configuration.

16. The device of claim 1, further comprising fuzzy tufts of yarn configured at a junction between the first and second components.

17. The device of claim 1, the first component further comprising radiopaque markers.

18. The device of claim 1, the second component further comprising radiopaque markers.

19. The device of claim 1, the first component further comprising at least one support frame at the distal end.

20. The device of claim 1, further comprising additional graft components, each having a wall and including a frame with a plurality of radially extending components which, upon assembling each additional component and the previously assembled components, at least one of the plurality of radially extending components extend through the wall of at least one of the previously assembled components such that a successive chain of assembled components is formed.

21. A modular endovascular graft device for treating vasculature, comprising:

a first graft component having a first wall with proximal and distal ends, the proximal end configured to be implanted within vasculature and the distal end having a frame with a plurality of radially extending components that extend beyond the wall; and

a second graft component having a second wall with proximal and distal ends, the proximal end configured to be disposed over at least a portion of the distal end of the first component, and whereupon attaching the second component to the first partially-implanted first component, at least one of the plurality of radially extending components of the first component extends through the second wall of the second component.

22. The device of claim 21, the first component further comprising a frame with a plurality of radially extending components at the proximal end.

23. The device of claim 21, the first component further comprising a support frame at the distal end.

24. The device of claim 21, the second component further comprising a frame with a plurality of radially extending components at the distal end.

25. The device of claim 21, wherein the frame is in the form of a self-expanding stent.

26. The device of claim 21, wherein the frame is external the graft component.

27. The device of claim 21, wherein the frame is internal the graft component.

28. The device of claim 21, the second component further comprising a support frame at the proximal end.

29. The device of claim 21, wherein the plurality of radially extending components are in the form of hooks or barbs.

30. The device of claim 29, wherein the hooks or barbs have sharpened points.

31. The device of claim 30, wherein the hooks or barbs are pointed in a caudal direction.

32. The device of claim 21, wherein the first graft component is bifurcated.

33. The device of claim 21, wherein the first graft component is trifurcated.

34. The device of claim 21, wherein the second graft component has a generally tubular configuration.

35. The device of claim 21, wherein the second graft component has a flared configuration.

36. The device of claim 21, wherein the second graft component has a tapered configuration.

37. The device of claim 21, further comprising fuzzy tufts of yarn configured at a junction between the first and second components.

38. The device of claim 21, the first component further comprising radiopaque markers.

39. The device of claim 21, the second component further comprising radiopaque markers.

40. A method of assembling a modular endovascular graft in-situ, comprising:

providing a first graft component in a compressed sate, the first graft component having a first wall with proximal and distal ends, the distal end having a frame with a plurality of radially extending components that extend beyond the wall;

partially deploying the first graft component such that the proximal end is implanted in vasculature and the distal end is not deployed;

providing a second graft component in a compressed state, the second graft component having a second wall with proximal and distal ends, the proximal end configured to be disposed over at least a portion of the distal end of the first graft component;

partially deploying the second graft component such that the proximal end is disposed over the distal end of the first graft component; and

deploying the distal end of the first graft component such that at least one of plurality of radially extending components extends through the second wall of the second graft component.

41. The method of claim 40, the first component further comprising a frame with a plurality of radially extending components at the proximal end.

42. The method of claim 40, the first component further comprising a support frame at the distal end.

43. The method of claim 40, the second component further comprising a frame with a plurality of radially extending components at the distal end.

44. The method of claim 40, wherein the first graft component is bifurcated with a first and second limb support portion at the distal end, each limb support portion having a frame with a plurality of radially extending components compressed in a capsule with a tether attached thereto, and comprising:

partially deploying the first graft component such that the proximal end is implanted in vasculature and the plurality of radially extending components at the distal end of each limb support portion are not deployed;

snaring the tether attached to the first capsule while partially deploying the second graft component such that the proximal end is disposed over the first capsule;

removing the first capsule to deploy the plurality of radially extending components compressed therein;

snaring the tether attached to the second capsule while providing a third graft component in a compressed state;

partially deploying the third graft component such that the proximal end is disposed over the second capsule;

removing the second capsule to deploy the plurality of radially extending components compressed therein;

45. The method of claim 40, wherein the second graft component has a generally tubular configuration.

46. The method of claim 40, wherein the second graft component has a flared configuration.

47. The method of claim 40, wherein the second graft component has a tapered configuration.