Stent system

• US 20030236566A1
• Filed: 06/21/2002
• Published: 12/25/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 06/21/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: PQ Bypass, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Richard R. Heuser
• Inventors: Heuser, Richard R.
• Granted Patent: US 6,858,038 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 623/1.12
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/07 Stent-grafts
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/90 characterised by a net-like or mesh-like structure
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/954 for placing stents or stent-grafts in a bifurcation
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/958 Inflatable balloons for placing stents or stent-grafts
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/061 provided with means for allowing access to secondary lumens
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/067 modular
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/072 Encapsulated stents, e.g. wire or whole stent embedded in lining
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2230/0054 V-shaped

Abstract

A stent system is provided for percutaneous insertion in an artery of a main stent which includes at least one peripheral aperture defined through the stent wall. The stent system also includes a peripheral stent configured to be inserted into the peripheral aperture of the main stent. The peripheral stent extends, when inserted in the peripheral aperture, generally perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the main stent. The stent system may further include a guidewire, insertable through the peripheral aperture, for maneuvering the main stent into place in the artery. The guidewire may be tapered toward its distal end. The stent system may also include a dilation device for dilating the peripheral stent within the peripheral aperture. The stent system may further include a tube inserted through the peripheral aperture of the main stent.

Claims

1. A stent system for installation in a human bodily fluid vessel, the stent system comprising:

a main stent including a generally cylindrical wall defining a central longitudinal axis, and having a first main opening and an opposite second main opening, the stent including at least one peripheral aperture defined through the wall;

a peripheral stent configured to be inserted into the peripheral aperture of the main stent, the peripheral stent extending, when inserted in the peripheral aperture, generally perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the main stent.

2. The stent system of claim 1 wherein the main stent includes a second peripheral aperture defined through the wall, and further comprising a second peripheral stent configured to be inserted in the second peripheral aperture.

3. The stent system of claim 2 wherein the second peripheral stent, when inserted in the second peripheral aperture, extends generally perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the main stent.

4. The stent system of claim 1 further comprising a guidewire, wherein the main stent is configured to be coupled to the guidewire, with the guidewire extending through the peripheral aperture, for maneuvering the main stent into place in the fluid vessel, and wherein the guidewire includes a distal end, the guidewire tapering toward the distal end.

5. The stent system of claim 1 wherein the main stent includes a second peripheral aperture defined through the wall, and further comprising a second peripheral stent configured to be inserted in the second peripheral aperture, and also comprising first and second guidewires, wherein the main stent is configured to be coupled to the guidewires with each of the guidewires extending through one of the peripheral apertures.

6. The stent system of claim 5 wherein the guidewires each include a distal end, the guidewires tapering toward the distal end.

7. The stent system of claim 1 further comprising a dilation device for dilating the peripheral stent within the peripheral aperture, and wherein the peripheral stent defines a first end and a second end, so that, with the peripheral stent inserted in the peripheral aperture, the first end remains within the main stent, and the second end extends out of the main stent, and wherein the dilation device includes a region of differential dilation for expanding the first end of the peripheral stent more than the second end of the peripheral stent.

8. The stent system of claim 1 further comprising a tube inserted through the peripheral aperture of the main stent.

9. A stent system for installation in a human bodily fluid vessel, the stent system comprising:

a first stent including a wall defining a first opening and an opposite second opening, and at least one peripheral aperture defined through the wall; and

a guidewire including a distal end, the guidewire tapering towards the distal end, and wherein the first stent is configured to be coupled to the guidewire, with the guidewire extending through the peripheral aperture, for maneuvering the stent into place in a human bodily fluid vessel.

10. The stent system of claim 9, wherein the first stent further includes a second peripheral aperture, and further comprising a second guidewire including a distal end, the second guidewire tapering toward the distal end, and wherein the first stent is configured to be coupled to the second guidewire with the second guidewire extending through the second peripheral aperture.

11. The stent system of claim 9 wherein the first stent defines a central longitudinal axis, and further comprising a peripheral stent configured to be guided over the guidewire and inserted into the peripheral aperture of the first stent.

12. The stent system of claim 9 further wherein the peripheral stent extends, when inserted in the peripheral aperture, generally perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the first stent.

13. The stent system of claim 9 wherein at least the distal end of the guidewire is formed at least in part of a hydrophilic material.

14. The stent system of claim 9 further comprising a tube inserted through the peripheral aperture of the first stent, and wherein the distal end of the guidewire is inserted through the tube.

15. A self-expanding stent for installation in a human bodily fluid vessel, the stent comprising:

a stent body including a generally cylindrical wall defining a first main opening and an opposite second main opening, the stent body including at least one peripheral aperture defined through the wall; and

a removable restraint disposed around the generally cylindrical wall of the stent body, the restraint including a space adjacent the peripheral aperture allowing access through the peripheral aperture.

16. The stent of claim 15 wherein the stent body includes a second peripheral aperture defined through the wall, and wherein the restraint includes a second space adjacent the second peripheral aperture, allowing access through the second peripheral aperture.

17. The stent of claim 15 further comprising a tube inserted through the peripheral aperture of the wall of the stent body.

18. The stent of claim 17 further comprising a guidewire insertable through the tube.

19. The stent of claim 15 further comprising a guidewire insertable through the peripheral aperture of the stent body.

20. A stent system for installation in a human bodily fluid vessel, the stent system comprising:

a main stent including a generally cylindrical wall, and having a first main opening and an opposite second main opening, the main stent including at least one peripheral aperture defined through the wall;

a peripheral stent defining a first end and a second end, and configured to be inserted into the peripheral aperture of the main stent, with the first end of the peripheral stent within the main stent and the second end of the peripheral stent outside the main stent; and

a dilation device for dilating the peripheral stent within the peripheral aperture, wherein the dilation device includes a region of differential dilation for expanding the first end of the peripheral stent more than the second end of the peripheral stent.

21. The stent system of claim 20 wherein the main stent includes a second peripheral aperture defined through the wall, and further comprising a second peripheral stent configured to be inserted in the second peripheral aperture.

22. The stent system of claim 20 wherein the generally cylindrical body of the main stent defines a central longitudinal axis, and wherein the peripheral stent, when inserted in the peripheral aperture of the main stent, extends generally perpendicular to the longitudinal axis.

23. The stent system of claim 20 further comprising a tube inserted through the peripheral aperture of the main stent, the tube configured to be withdrawn prior to dilation of the peripheral stent.

24. The stent system of claim 20 further comprising a guidewire insertable through the peripheral aperture of the main stent, the guidewire configured for guiding the peripheral stent into place in the peripheral aperture.

25. A stent system for installation in a human bodily fluid vessel, the stent system comprising:

a main stent including a generally cylindrical wall, and having a first main opening and an opposite second main opening, the main stent including at least one peripheral aperture defined through the wall; and

a tube inserted through the peripheral aperture of the main stent.

26. The stent system of claim 25 further comprising a guidewire configured to be inserted through the tube and through the peripheral aperture, and a peripheral stent defining a first end and a second end, wherein the tube is configured to be withdrawn from the peripheral aperture, and wherein the peripheral stent is configured to be inserted along the guidewire and into the peripheral aperture of the main stent, with the first end of the peripheral stent within the main stent and the second end of the peripheral stent outside the main stent.

27. The stent system of claim 26 further comprising a dilation device for dilating the peripheral stent within the peripheral aperture, wherein the dilation device includes a region of differential dilation for expanding the first end of the peripheral stent more than the second end of the peripheral stent.

28. The stent system of claim 26 wherein the main stent defines a central longitudinal axis, and wherein the peripheral stent, when inserted in the peripheral aperture of the main stent, extends generally perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the main stent body.

29. The stent system of claim 26 wherein the main stent includes a second peripheral aperture defined through the wall, and further comprising a second peripheral stent configured to be inserted through the second peripheral aperture.

30. A self-expanding stent comprising:

a body configured for insertion in a human bodily fluid passage, the body including an inner layer providing a first flexible covering, an outer layer providing a second flexible covering, and a middle layer between the inner and outer layers, the middle layer including a compressible, self-expanding structure.

31. The self-expanding stent of claim 30 wherein the inner and outer layers include PTFE.

32. The self-expanding stent of claim 30 wherein the self-expanding structure of the middle layer includes nitinol.

33. The self-expanding stent of claim 30 further wherein the body includes a peripheral aperture defined through the inner, middle, and outer layers.

34. The stent of claim 33 further including a removable restraint disposed around the stent body, the restraint including a space allowing access through the peripheral aperture.

35. The stent of claim 33 further including a tube inserted through the peripheral aperture.

36. The stent of claim 33 further including a guidewire insertable through the peripheral aperture.

37. A guidewire for insertion into a human bodily fluid vessel, the guidewire comprising:

a main body having a generally constant outer diameter; and

a distal portion coupled to the main body, the distal portion tapering to a diameter substantially smaller than the outer diameter of the main body.

38. The guidewire of claim 37 wherein the distal portion tapers to about half the diameter of the main body.

39. The guidewire of claim 37 wherein the main body is about 0.064″

in diameter and the distal portion is about 0.036″

.

40. The guidewire of claim 37 wherein the distal portion tapers over a length of at least about 8 cm.