Flexible barb for anchoring a prosthesis

• US 20030236570A1
• Filed: 05/08/2003
• Published: 12/25/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 05/16/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cook Medical Incorporated (Cook Group Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Cook Incorporated (Cook Group Incorporated)
• Inventors: DeBruyne, Michael P., Cook, William A., Osborne, Thomas A., Nickless, Benjamin
• Granted Patent: US 7,081,132 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 623/1.36
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/82 Devices providing patency to, or preventing collapsing of, tubular structures of the body, e.g. stents stent-grafts for tubular structures of the body other than blood vessels A61F2/04; stent-grafts for blood vessels A61F2/07; instruments specially adapted for placement or removal of stents or stent-grafts A61F2/95; for closing wounds, or holding wounds closed A61B17/04 - A61B17/115; dilators A61M29/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/848 having means for fixation to the vessel wall, e.g. barbs
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/8483 Barbs

Abstract

A barbed medical prosthesis is disclosed in which the barb includes a basal portion comprising a point of union with the substrate of origin (such as a strut), an anchoring portion adapted to embed into tissue, and a stress-dispersing portion located between the basal and anchoring portions. In one embodiment the stress-dispersing portion comprises a helical coil having a free winding that is unattached to the strut from which the barb extends. In another embodiment, the stress-dispersing portion comprises a series of bends or curves formed in the barb proximate to the point of union with the strut. The barb can be mechanically attached and/or soldered to the prosthesis, or integrally formed therefrom. A second barb portion and stress-dispersing portion, may also extend from the basal portion.

Claims

1. A barbed prosthesis configured for deployment within the body of a patient, comprising:

at least one barb comprising a basal portion, an anchoring portion configured to penetrate tissue adjacent the prosthesis, and a stress-dispersing region located therebetween;

a substrate of origin;

wherein the basal portion of the barb is joined to the substrate of origin, forming a point of union between the barb portion and the substrate of origin, and wherein the stress-dispersing portion is located proximate the point of union.

2. The prosthesis of claim 1, wherein the substrate of origin comprises a strut of a stent.

3. The prosthesis of claim 2, wherein the basal portion is affixed to the strut using at least one of a mechanical attachment and a bonding means.

4. The prosthesis of claim 3, wherein the basal portion is affixed to the strut using both a mechanical attachment and a bonding means.

5. The prosthesis of claim 3, wherein the basal portion comprises a helical coil formed around the strut wherein the windings have a first pitch.

6. The prosthesis of claim 5, wherein the stress-dispersing region comprises a winding that extends distally from the helical coil, wherein the distal winding has a second pitch that is greater than the first pitch.

7. The prosthesis of claim 3, wherein the mechanical attachment comprises a piece of cannula.

8. The prosthesis of claim 1, wherein the stress-dispersing region includes one or more bends.

9. The prosthesis of claim 8, wherein the stress-dispersing region comprises a low-radius curve.

10. The prosthesis of claim 9, wherein at least one of the curves comprises a coil loop.

11. The prosthesis of claim 1, wherein the barb is integral with the substrate of origin.

12. The prosthesis of claim 1, wherein the barb includes a first barb portion comprising a first anchoring portion and first stress-dispersing region, and a second barb portion comprising a second anchoring portion and second stress-dispersing region, the first barb portion and second barb portion each extending from a common basal portion.

13. The prosthesis of claim 1, wherein the barb is formed such that the stress-dispersing region substantially lacks residual stress therealong.

14. A barbed prosthesis configured for deployment within the body of a patient, comprising:

at least one barb comprising a basal portion, an anchoring portion configured to penetrate tissue adjacent the prosthesis, and a stress-dispersing region located therebetween;

at least one strut;

wherein the basal portion of the barb is joined to the at least one strut, the barb further comprising a helical coil having at least one free winding comprising the stress-dispersing region, whereby the at least one free winding is configured to flex in response to a stress load placed on the anchoring portion of the barb.

15. The prosthesis of claim 14, wherein the basal portion is affixed to the strut using at least one of a mechanical attachment and a bonding means.

16. The prosthesis of claim 15, wherein the basal portion is affixed to the strut using both a mechanical attachment and a bonding means.

17. The prosthesis of claim 14, wherein the basal portion comprises a helical coil formed around the strut wherein the windings have a first pitch.

18. The prosthesis of claim 17, wherein the stress-dispersing region comprises a winding that extends distally from the helical coil, wherein the distal winding has a second pitch that is greater than the first pitch.

19. The prosthesis of claim 15, wherein the mechanical attachment comprises a piece of cannula.

20. An intraluminal medical device configured for deployment within the body of a patient, comprising:

at least one barb comprising a basal portion, an anchoring portion configured to penetrate tissue adjacent the prosthesis, and a stress-dispersing region located therebetween;

a plurality of struts;

wherein the basal portion of the at least one barb is attached to one or more of the plurality of struts, forming a point of union therebetween, the attachment comprising a bonding means and a helical coil having at least one free winding comprising the stress-dispersing region which is located proximate the point of union, whereby the at least one free winding is configured to flex in response to a stress load placed on the anchoring portion of the barb.