Intravascular cuff

• US 20060276874A1
• Filed: 05/26/2006
• Published: 12/07/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 05/27/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Edwards Lifesciences Corporation
• Original Assignee: Heart Leaflet Technologies, Inc. (Bracco SPA)
• Inventors: Gainor, John, Wilson, Robert Foster
• Granted Patent: US 8,663,312 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 623/1.130
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/07 Stent-grafts
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/2418 Scaffolds therefor, e.g. support stents
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/2475 Venous valves
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/844 folded prior to deployment
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/302 toroidal, e.g. rings
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30604 modular
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2230/0065 toroidal, e.g. ring-shaped, doughnut-shaped
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2230/0078 hyperboloidal
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2250/0003 having an inflatable pocket filled with fluid, e.g. liquid or gas
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2250/0039 differing in diameter
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2250/006 modular

Abstract

An intravascular cuff acts as a lining between a native vessel and an intravascular prosthetic device. During deployment, the ends of the cuff curl back upon themselves and are capable of trapping native tissue, such as valve leaflet tissue, between the ends. The cuff creates a seal between the vessel and the prosthetic, thereby preventing leakage around the prosthetic. The cuff also traps any embolic material dislodged from the vessel during expansion of the prosthetic.

Claims

1. An intravascular cuff for receiving a prosthetic, comprising:

at least one strand braided to form a tubular structure having an extended configuration and a deployed configuration;

whereby in the extended configuration, the tubular structure includes;

a first end and a second end;

a tubular body between the first end and the second end;

a lumen extending through the body;

whereby in the deployed configuration, the first and second ends assume an expanded shape relative to the tubular body.

2. The intravascular cuff for receiving a prosthetic of claim 1 wherein said at least one strand comprises a shape memory material.

3. The intravascular cuff for receiving a prosthetic of claim 1 wherein said at least one strand comprises a super-elastic material.

4. The intravascular cuff for receiving a prosthetic of claim 2 wherein said at least one strand comprises Nitinol.

5. The intravascular cuff for receiving a prosthetic of claim 1 wherein said tubular body between the first end and the second end comprises a two-ply body.

6. The intravascular cuff for receiving a prosthetic of claim 1 wherein said tubular body between the first end and the second end comprises a two-ply body, formed by inverting said tubular body within itself to create a folded end and an unbraided end.

7. The intravascular cuff for receiving a prosthetic of claim 5 further comprising a material sandwiched between said first and second ply.

8. The material of claim 7 wherein said material is selected from the group consisting of non-woven material, woven material, braided fabric and polymer.

9. The intravascular cuff for receiving a prosthetic of claim 1 wherein the expanded shape of the ends comprises a mushroom shape.

10. The intravascular cuff for receiving a prosthetic of claim 1 wherein the lumen includes funneled ends in the deployed configuration.

11. The intravascular cuff for receiving a prosthetic of claim 1 wherein the tubular body between the first end and the second end retains a relatively unexpanded state in the deployed configuration.

12. The intravascular cuff for receiving a prosthetic of claim 1 wherein the tubular body shortens when expanded from the deployed state.

13. A method of preventing leakage between a prosthetic valve and a vessel wall comprising:

deploying a self-expanding cuff in the vessel prior to implanting the prosthetic valve;

implanting the prosthetic valve within a lumen of the cuff.

14. The method of claim 13 further comprising expanding the prosthetic valve within the lumen of the cuff.

15. The method of claim 14 wherein expanding the prosthetic valve within the lumen of the cuff causes the body portion of the cuff to expand.

16. The method of claim 15 wherein causing the body portion to expand further comprises causing the body portion to shorten longitudinally.

17. An intravascular cuff comprising:

at least one strand braided to form a tubular device having a lumen extending therethrough, the device having elongated, relaxed, and expanded configurations;

whereby in the elongated configuration, the tubular device is capable of insertion into a catheter;

whereby in the relaxed configuration, the tubular device has a first end and a second end having diameters greater than that of a body portion between the first and second ends;

whereby in the expanded configuration, the tubular device has a length shorter than a length of the device in the relaxed configuration.

18. The intravascular cuff of claim 17 wherein said at least one strand comprises Nitinol.

19. The intravascular cuff of claim 17 wherein said tubular device comprises a two-ply body.

20. The intravascular cuff for receiving a prosthetic of claim 17 wherein said tubular body between the first end and the second end comprises a two-ply body, formed by inverting said tubular body within itself to create a folded end and an unbraided end.

21. The intravascular cuff of claim 19 further comprising a material disposed between the two plies.

22. The intravascular cuff of claim 21 wherein said material comprises a fabric.

23. The intravascular cuff of claim 17 wherein at least one of the ends folds back on itself in the relaxed configuration in order to achieve said greater diameter.

24. The intravascular cuff of claim 17 wherein said lumen is flared outwardly proximate the first and second ends in the relaxed configuration.