Endoluminal prosthesis
First Claim
1. An endoluminal prosthesis comprising:
- a tubular graft having a length and comprising;
a graft material, a proximal end having a proximal opening, and a distal end having a distal opening, wherein the proximal and distal openings and the graft material form a lumen for the flow of body fluids therethrough;
a first annular support member attached to the graft material, said first annular support member comprising a closed ring defining a circumference and an axis extending longitudinally therethrough, a plurality of apices coupled by a plurality of spokes, wherein the apices comprise alternating crests and troughs arranged to hold the graft material in a leak resistant sealing engagement with the inner wall of a body lumen;
wherein at least one of the troughs extends axially beyond an other of the troughs.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An endoluminal prosthesis is provided that includes a tubular graft and an expandable annular support structure for use in a body lumen through which body fluids flow. The annular support structure is coupled to the tubular graft where it is to be sealingly engaged with the inner wall of a body lumen so that the graft and support structure, in combination, provide an improved seal. An embodiment according to the invention provides an annular structure with longitudinally staggered apices providing multiple levels of contact with the inner body lumen wall to provide a seal at multiple levels along the length of the prosthesis. One embodiment relates to tubular grafts for endoluminal placement within blood vessels for the treatment of abdominal and other aneurysms.
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Citations
22 Claims
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1. An endoluminal prosthesis comprising:
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a tubular graft having a length and comprising;
a graft material, a proximal end having a proximal opening, and a distal end having a distal opening, wherein the proximal and distal openings and the graft material form a lumen for the flow of body fluids therethrough;
a first annular support member attached to the graft material, said first annular support member comprising a closed ring defining a circumference and an axis extending longitudinally therethrough, a plurality of apices coupled by a plurality of spokes, wherein the apices comprise alternating crests and troughs arranged to hold the graft material in a leak resistant sealing engagement with the inner wall of a body lumen;
wherein at least one of the troughs extends axially beyond an other of the troughs. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. An endoluminal prosthesis comprising:
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a tubular graft having a length and comprising;
a graft material, a proximal end having a proximal opening, and a distal end having a distal opening, wherein the proximal and distal openings and the graft material form a lumen for the flow of body fluids therethrough;
a first annular support member attached to the graft material, said first annular support member comprising a closed ring defining a circumference and an axis extending longitudinally therethrough, said first annular support member having a plurality of radially supporting elements arranged to hold the graft material in a leak resistant sealing engagement with the inner wall of a body lumen, wherein the plurality of radially supporting elements are arranged to hold the graft material in the leak resistant sealing engagement at three or more lengths along the graft with respect to the length of the graft. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. An endoluminal prosthesis comprising:
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tubular graft means for placement within a body lumen and for conducting flow of body fluids therethrough, the tubular graft means having a length and comprising body fluid exclusion means, a proximal portion having a proximal opening, and a distal portion having a distal opening, the proximal and distal openings and the body fluid exclusion means forming a lumen means for the flow of body fluids therethrough;
first annular support means for holding the tubular graft means in a leak resistant sealing engagement with the inner wall of a body lumen, said first annular support means comprising a plurality of radial spring means for holding the graft material in a leak resistant sealing engagement with the inner wall of a body lumen at a plurality of lengths along the graft means with respect to the length of the graft means. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19)
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20. A method of manufacturing an endoluminal prosthesis comprising the steps of:
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providing a tubular graft comprising a graft material and defining an opening having an axis therethrough;
attaching a first annular support member to the graft material, the first annular support member comprising a plurality of apices coupled by a plurality of spokes and forming a closed ring defining a circumference, wherein the apices comprise alternating crests and troughs, wherein at least one of the troughs extends axially beyond an other of the troughs and wherein the troughs of the annular support member comprise a plurality of alternating longer troughs and shorter troughs. attaching a second annular support member to the tubular graft adjacent the first annular support member, the second annular support member comprising a plurality of second spokes coupled by a plurality of second apices to form a second ring, wherein the second annular support member is attached to the graft material to define a circumferential area of the graft material around the second annular support member, and attaching one of the longer troughs of the first support member to the graft material within the circumferential area of the second support member. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22)
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Specification