Systems and methods for creating customized endovascular stents and stent grafts

• US 20070293936A1
• Filed: 04/26/2007
• Published: 12/20/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 04/28/2006
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: John Dobak
• Original Assignee: John Dobak
• Inventors: Dobak, John
• Application Number:
  US11/796,128
• Publication Number:
  US 20070293936A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 623/1.13
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/07 Stent-grafts
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/82 Devices providing patency to, or preventing collapsing of, tubular structures of the body, e.g. stents stent-grafts for tubular structures of the body other than blood vessels A61F2/04; stent-grafts for blood vessels A61F2/07; instruments specially adapted for placement or removal of stents or stent-grafts A61F2/95; for closing wounds, or holding wounds closed A61B17/04 - A61B17/115; dilators A61M29/00
• 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 2002/075 the stent being loosely attached to the graft material, e.g. by stitching
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30199 Three-dimensional shapes
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2230/0063 Three-dimensional shapes
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2240/004 Using a positive or negative model, e.g. moulds

Abstract

A system and method are provided for making a customized stent or stent graft, including the steps of obtaining a digital image of the endoluminal shape of an artery or the blood flow channel of an aneurysm, processing the obtained image to create a three dimensional model of the shape or channel, and fabricating a scaffold around the model such that the scaffold substantially conforms to the model.

Claims

1. A method for making a customized stent or stent graft, comprising the steps of:

a. obtaining a digital image of the endoluminal shape of an artery or the blood flow channel of an aneurysm;

b. processing the obtained image to create a three dimensional model of the shape or channel; and

c. fabricating a scaffold around the model such that the scaffold substantially conforms to the model.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the digital image is three-dimensional.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the three-dimensional model is created by stereolithography.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the scaffold is a wire scaffold.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the processing includes etching.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising sterilizing the scaffold.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the scaffold is formed in a braided pattern.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the scaffold is formed in a V-shaped pattern.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the scaffold is a helix.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the helix is formed with a wire.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the wire is flat or round.

12. The method of claim 1, further comprising drug-coating the scaffold.

13. The method of claim 1, further comprising attaching a graft material to the scaffold.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the graft material is selected from the group consisting of:

nylon, Teflon®

, and Gore-Tex®

, or combinations thereof.

15. The method of claim 1, further comprising etching at least one hole into the scaffold.

16. The method of claim 15, further comprising placing a drug in the hole.

17. The method of claim 1, further comprising mounting struts or hooks to the scaffold.

18. The method of claim 1, wherein the scaffold is created in a modular fashion and the modules are connected together into a unitary component prior to or during installation in a patient.

19. The method of claim 1, further comprising installing the stent or stent graft while the scaffold is disposed on a catheter and, when the scaffold is in an installation location, expanding the scaffold such that the scaffold has a larger diameter.

20. A stent graft or stent created by the process of claim 1.

21. A computer-readable medium containing instructions for causing a computer to implement the method of claim 1.