Method and apparatus for covering a stent

• US 20040062788A1
• Filed: 09/24/2003
• Published: 04/01/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 03/22/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Medinol Limited (Medinol USA Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Medinol Limited (Medinol USA Incorporated)
• Inventors: Richter, Jacob
• Granted Patent: US 7,384,428 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 424/423
• 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 2002/075 the stent being loosely attached to the graft material, e.g. by stitching
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 31/005 Ingredients of undetermined constitution or reaction products thereof
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 31/08 Materials for coatings

Abstract

An expandable stent suitable for implantation in a lumen is covered with a biological material. In one embodiment, biological fibers are interwoven to form a stent covering. The fibers are disposed at an angle with respect to the longitudinal axis of the stent so that when the stent is expanded, the angle increases. In another embodiment, a strip of pericardium is helically wound around a supporting stent while the stent is in a compressed state. When the stent is expanded, the strip unwinds, but maintains full coverage of the stent. Interlocking edges may be formed on the strip of pericardium to maintain full coverage of the stent.

Claims

1. A method of covering a stent comprising the steps of:

providing pericardium tissue;

providing an expandable stent with a longitudinal axis, the stent being expandable from a first diameter to a second diameter;

dissolving the pericardium tissue into fiber groups;

interweaving the fiber groups into a cylindrical covering so that in the first diameter, the interwoven fiber groups are oriented at an angle with respect to the longitudinal axis of the stent, the angle being less than approximately 45 degrees when in the first diameter;

affixing the covering to the stent while the stent is in its first diameter.

2. A method of making an intraluminal stent comprising the steps of:

providing a stent with a first diameter and a second diameter;

providing a strip of pericardium with lateral edges;

helically winding the pericardium around the stent while the stent is in its first diameter so that the lateral edges of adjacent windings overlap.

3. The method of claim 2, further comprising the step of folding the pericardium to form locking edges.

4. The method of claim 2, wherein the pericardium tissue is selected from the group consisting of:

bovine pericardium, ovine pericardium, and porcine pericardium.

5. An intraluminal stent, comprising:

a tubular support member, the member being expandable from a first diameter to a second diameter;

an expandable covering applied over the tubular support member, the expandable covering being formed by a strip of pericardium helically wound around the tubular support member, the strip having lateral edges which overlap in the first diameter.

6. The intraluminal stent according to claim 5, wherein the strip of pericardium has locking edges.