Interconnected leg extensions for an endoluminal prosthesis

• US 20050177222A1
• Filed: 12/16/2004
• Published: 08/11/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 12/17/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cook Medical Technologies, LLC (Cook Group Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Cook Medical Technologies, LLC (Cook Group Incorporated)
• Inventors: Mead, Jason A.
• Granted Patent: US 8,257,430 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 623/1.130
• 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 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 2002/065 Y-shaped blood vessels
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/067 modular
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/075 the stent being loosely attached to the graft material, e.g. by stitching
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/828 Means for connecting a plurality of stents allowing flexibility of the whole structure
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/91525 within the whole structure different bands showing different meander characteristics, e.g. frequency or amplitude
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/91533 characterised by the phase between adjacent bands
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/91575 connected peak to trough
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2210/0076 multilayered, e.g. laminated structures
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2220/0058 soldered or brazed or welded
• 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 2230/005 Rosette-shaped, e.g. star-shaped
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2230/0054 V-shaped
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2230/0067 conical

Abstract

An endoluminal prosthesis includes two stent grafts with a flexible bridge extending between and connected to the stent grafts. The prosthesis can be part of a prosthesis assembly for treatment of branched vascular systems and can function as an interconnected leg extension prosthesis in combination with a main bifurcated prosthesis. In treating abdominal aortic aneurysms, the prosthesis can be deployed within both iliac arteries.

Claims

1. An endoluminal prosthesis, comprising:

a first stent graft;

a second stent graft; and

a flexible bridge extending between and connected to the first and second stent grafts.

2. The endoluminal prosthesis of claim 1, wherein the first stent graft comprises a plurality of self-expanding stents.

3. The endoluminal prosthesis of claim 2, wherein the second stent graft comprises a plurality of self-expanding stents.

4. The endoluminal prosthesis of claim 1, wherein the flexible bridge comprises a wire.

5. The endoluminal prosthesis of claim 1, wherein the flexible bridge comprises a partial stent.

6. The endoluminal prosthesis of claim 1, wherein the first and second stent grafts each comprise a stent adjacent the flexible bridge, and the flexible bridge is integral with at least one of the stents.

7. The endoluminal prosthesis of claim 1, wherein the first and second stent grafts each comprise a stent affixed to the flexible bridge.

8. The endoluminal prosthesis of claim 1, wherein the first stent graft and the second stent graft each comprise a central opening and a terminal opening, the central openings adjacent to and on opposite ends of the flexible bridge;

and the central and terminal openings each comprising an internal stent.

9. The endoluminal prosthesis of claim 8, wherein the first stent graft further comprises at least one external stent between the central opening and the terminal opening.

10. The endoluminal prosthesis of claim 9, wherein the second stent graft further comprises at least one external stent between the central opening and the terminal opening.

11. An endoluminal prosthesis assembly, comprising:

a bifurcated prosthesis comprising a main tubular body having a single proximal opening and two distal openings; and

an extension prosthesis comprising a first stent graft, a second stent graft, and a flexible bridge extending between and connected to the first and second stent grafts.

12. The endoluminal prosthesis assembly of claim 11, wherein the extension prosthesis is sized and configured to engage the two distal openings of the bifurcated prosthesis.

13. The endoluminal prosthesis assembly of claim 11, wherein the bifurcated prosthesis comprises a self-expanding stent attached to and extending from the proximal opening.

14. The endoluminal prosthesis assembly of claim 11, wherein the bifurcated prosthesis comprises a shorter stent graft leg between the main tubular body and one of the distal openings and a longer stent graft leg between the main tubular body and the other distal opening.

15. The endoluminal prosthesis assembly of claim 14, wherein the first stent graft is longer than the second stent graft, and wherein the first stent graft is sized and configured to engage the distal opening of the shorter stent graft leg and the second stent graft is sized and configured to engage the distal opening of the longer stent graft leg.

16. A method of treating an aortic aneurysm, comprising:

inserting into the aortic artery a bifurcated prosthesis comprising a main tubular body having a single proximal opening, a first distal opening and a second distal opening;

inserting at least a portion of an extension prosthesis into a first iliac artery, through the first distal opening and into the main tubular body;

wherein the extension prosthesis is in a compressed state and comprises a first stent graft, a second stent graft and a flexible bridge extending between and connected to the first and second stent grafts;

inserting at least a portion of the first stent graft through the second distal opening and into a second iliac artery; and

allowing the extension prosthesis to expand to an expanded state such that the first stent graft sealingly engages the second distal opening and the second stent graft sealingly enages the first distal opening.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the bifurcated prosthesis comprises a longer stent graft leg between the main tubular body and the first distal opening and a shorter stent graft leg between the main tubular body and the second distal opening.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the first stent graft is longer than the second stent graft.

19. The method of claim 16, wherein the flexible bridge is bent at an acute angle when the extension prosthesis is in the expanded state.

20. The method of claim 16, wherein the flexible bridge comprises a wire.

21. The method of claim 16, wherein the flexible bridge comprises a partial stent.

22. The method of claim 16, wherein the first and second stent grafts each comprise a stent adjacent the flexible bridge, and the flexible bridge is integral with at least one of the stents.

23. The method of claim 16, wherein the first and second stent grafts each comprise a stent affixed to the flexible bridge.