Abrasion resistant vascular graft

• US 20040024443A1
• Filed: 07/30/2002
• Published: 02/05/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 07/30/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cardinal Health Switzerland 515 GmbH (Cardinal Health, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Cordis Corporation (Cardinal Health, Inc.)
• Inventors: Dwyer, Clifford J., Schaneville, Tara L., Kershner, James R.
• Granted Patent: US 6,984,243 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 623/1.13
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/07 Stent-grafts
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/89 the wire-like elements comprising two or more adjacent rings flexibly connected by separate members
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/075 the stent being loosely attached to the graft material, e.g. by stitching
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2230/0013 Horseshoe-shaped, e.g. crescent-shaped, C-shaped, U-shaped

Abstract

A stent-graft fabricated from a thin-walled, high strength material provides for a more durable and lower profile endoprosthesis. The stent-graft comprises one or more stent segments covered with a fabric formed by the weaving, knitting or braiding of a biocompatible, high tensile strength, abrasion resistant, highly durable yarn such as ultra high molecular weight polyethylene. The one or more stent segments may be balloon expandable or self-expanding. The fabric may be attached to the stent segments utilizing any number of known materials and techniques.

Claims

1. An endovascular graft comprising:

one or more scaffold structures;

a biocompatible, high tensile strength, abrasion resistant, highly durable thin-walled graft material affixed to the one or more scaffold structures; and

at least one connector for connecting the graft material to the one or more scaffold structures.

2. The endovascular graft according to claim 1, wherein the one or more scaffold structures comprises a plurality of first stents, a second stent and a third stent.

3. The endovascular graft according to claim 2, wherein the graft material is affixed to an outer portion of the plurality of first stents, the second stent and the third stent.

4. The endovascular graft according to claim 1, wherein the graft material comprises a plurality of crimps between the one or more scaffold structures.

5. The endovascular graft according to claim 1, wherein the graft material comprises ultra high molecular weight polyethylene.

6. The endovascular graft according to claim 1, wherein the graft material comprises polyaramid.

7. The endovascular graft according to claim 1, wherein the graft material comprises polyhymelenbenzobisoxazole.

8. The endovascular graft according to claim 1, wherein the graft material comprises liquid crystal polymer.

9. The endovascular graft according to claim 5, wherein the ultra high molecular weight polyethylene graft material comprises a yarn having a weight in the range from about twenty denier to about thirty denier.

10. The endovascular graft according to claim 1, wherein the graft material comprises blends of ultra high molecular weight polyethylene.

11. The endovascular graft according to claim 1, wherein the graft material is woven.

12. The endovascular graft according to claim 1, wherein the graft material is knitted.

13. The endovascular graft according to claim 1, wherein the graft material is braided.

14. The endovascular graft according to claim 1, wherein the at least one connector comprises sutures.

15. An endovascular graft comprising:

a plurality of individual stent structures; and

a graft material formed from an ultra high molecular weight polyethylene yarn affixed to an outside portion of the plurality of individual stent structures.

16. The endovascular graft according to claim 15, wherein the ultra high molecular weight polyethylene yarn has a weight in the range from about twenty denier to about thirty denier.

17. The endovascular graft according to claim 16, wherein the yarn is woven into the graft material.

18. The endovascular graft according to claim 16, wherein the yarn is knitted into the graft material.

19. The endovascular graft according to claim 16, wherein the yarn is braided into the graft material.

20. An endovascular graft comprising a substantially tubular structure formed from ultra high molecular weight polyethylene yarn.