Coiled-sheet stent-graft with slidable exo-skeleton

• US 20040030378A1
• Filed: 08/05/2003
• Published: 02/12/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 11/16/1998
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Farhad Khosravi, Himanshu N. Patel
• Original Assignee: Farhad Khosravi, Himanshu N. Patel
• Inventors: Khosravi, Farhad, Patel, Himanshu N.
• Granted Patent: US 7,223,284 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 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 2/92 Stents in the form of a rolled-up sheet expanding after insertion into the vessel , e.g. with a spiral shape in cross-section
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/958 Inflatable balloons for placing stents or stent-grafts
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/065 Y-shaped blood vessels
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/072 Encapsulated stents, e.g. wire or whole stent embedded in lining
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/075 the stent being loosely attached to the graft material, e.g. by stitching
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/8486 provided on at least one of the ends
• 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 2220/005 using adhesives
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2220/0066 stapled
• 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 2250/0039 differing in diameter

Abstract

A stent-graft having an exo-skeleton attached to a tubular graft, the tubular graft having a peripheral wall defining a lumen therein extending between first and second ends. One or more support elements, defining the exo-skeleton, are attached to the tubular graft, each support element extending generally peripherally around the tubular graft, each support element including generally axial segments and generally peripheral segments. A plurality of first fasteners attach the plurality of support elements to the wall of the tubular graft, at least one generally axial segment being slidably engaged by each first fastener. A plurality of second fasteners also attach the plurality of support elements to the wall of the tubular graft, each second fastener substantially anchoring a generally peripheral segment of the respective support element to the wall of the tubular graft. The stent-graft also includes first and second stents on the first and second ends for substantially anchoring the respective ends within a body passage.

Claims

1. A stent-graft, comprising:

a tubular graft having a wall generally defining a circumference and having a lumen therein, the lumen extending axially between first and second open ends of the tubular graft;

an exo-skeleton for supporting the wall of the tubular graft, the exo-skeleton comprising a plurality of generally annular-shaped support elements distributed axially along the wall of the tubular graft, each support element including generally axial segments and generally circumferential segments;

a plurality of first fasteners for attaching the plurality of support elements to the wall of the tubular graft, at least one generally axial segment being slidably engaged by each first fastener; and

a plurality of second fasteners for attaching the plurality of support elements to the wall of the tubular graft, each second fastener substantially anchoring a segment of the respective support element to the wall of the tubular graft.

2. The stent-graft of claim 1, further comprising a stent on the first end of the tubular graft for substantially anchoring the first end of the tubular graft within a body passage.

3. The stent-graft of claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of support elements comprises a generally sinusoidal shaped member which extends circumferentially around the wall of the tubular graft.

4. The stent-graft of claim 1, wherein the plurality of first fasteners are selected from the group consisting of sutures, staples, and wires.

5. The stent-graft of claim 1, wherein the plurality of second fasteners engage respective generally circumferential segments for preventing substantial axial movement thereof.

6. The stent-graft of claim 1, wherein alternating generally circumferential segments of each support element are engaged by the plurality of second fasteners.

7. The stent-graft of claim 1, wherein every generally axial segment of each support element is engaged by a first fastener.

8. The stent-graft of claim 1, wherein each support element is directable between a contracted condition for facilitating introduction within a body passage and an enlarged condition for deployment within the body passage.

9. The stent-graft of claim 1, wherein each support element is radially compressible to the contracted condition and biased to assume the enlarged condition.

10. The stent-graft of claim 1, wherein the second end of the tubular graft is bifurcated, and wherein the stent-graft further comprises:

a tubular graft extension segment extending from the second end, the tubular graft extension segment having a wall; and

a plurality of support elements attached to and distributed along the wall of the tubular graft extension segment, a portion of each support element being slidable along the wall of the tubular graft extension segment.

11. The stent-graft of claim 10, further comprising:

a tubular graft docking limb having a wall, the docking limb being attachable to the second end of the tubular graft adjacent the tubular graft extension segment; and

a plurality of support elements attached to and distributed along the circumferential wall of the tubular graft docking limb, a portion of each support element being slidable along the wall of the tubular graft docking limb.

12. A stent-graft, comprising:

a tubular graft having a wall defining a periphery and a lumen therein, the lumen extending axially between first and second open ends of the tubular graft;

one or more support elements attached to the tubular graft, each support element extending generally peripherally around the tubular graft, each support element including generally axial segments and generally peripheral segments; and

a set of first fasteners attached to respective first wall regions of the tubular graft, each first fastener slidably securing one or more axial segments thereto, whereby the axial segments slidably secured by each first fastener may slide axially with respect to the respective first wall region.

13. The stent-graft of claim 12, further comprising a stent on the first end for substantially anchoring the first end within a body passage.

14. The stent-graft of claim 13, wherein the stent on the first end comprises a coiled-sheet stent.

15. The stent-graft of claim 13, wherein the stent includes external outwardly oriented hooks for engaging a wall of a body passage.

16. The stent-graft of claim 13, further comprising pro-thrombotic material on an exterior surface of at least the stent, or one of the first and second ends of the tubular graft.

17. The stent-graft of claim 12, further comprising a plurality of support elements distributed axially along the tubular graft for providing articulation of the tubular graft between adjacent support elements.

18. The stent-graft of claim 17, wherein each first fastener slidably secures at least two axial segments of adjacent support elements to a respective first wall region, whereby the two axial segments independently slide axially with respect to the respective first wall region.

19. The stent-graft of claim 12, wherein the set of first fasteners is selected from the group consisting of sutures, staples, and wires.

20. The stent-graft of claim 12, further comprising a set of second fasteners attached to respective second wall regions of the tubular graft, each second fastener substantially anchoring a peripheral segment to the respective second wall region.

21. The stent-graft of claim 12, wherein the support elements are directable between a contracted condition for facilitating introduction within a body passage and an enlarged condition for deployment within the body passage, the support elements substantially supporting the tubular graft to hold the lumen of the tubular graft substantially open in the enlarged condition.

22. The stent-graft of claim 21, wherein the support elements are radially compressible to the contracted condition and biased to assume the enlarged condition.

23. The stent-graft of claim 12, wherein the tubular graft comprises a polymeric material.

24. The stent-graft of claim 23, wherein the polymeric material is selected from the group consisting of polyester, polytetrafluorethaline, dacron, teflon, and polyurethane.

25. The stent-graft of claim 12, wherein each support element comprises a generally serpentine shaped member.

26. The stent-graft of claim 25, wherein each serpentine shaped member comprises a wire formed into a generally curved zigzag shape.

27. The stent-graft of claim 12, wherein the first end of the tubular graft has a cross-section that is substantially smaller than a cross-section of the second end of the tubular graft.

28. The stent-graft of claim 12, wherein the support elements are attached to an exterior surface of the tubular graft.