STENT DESIGN WITH SHEATH ATTACHMENT MEMBERS

• US 20080009935A1
• Filed: 09/19/2007
• Published: 01/10/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 10/10/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Lifeshield Sciences LLC (Acacia Research Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Boston Scientific Scimed (Boston Scientific Corporation)
• Inventors: Bicek, Andrew, Girton, Timothy
• Granted Patent: US 8,641,750 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 623/001.13
• 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 2002/075 the stent being loosely attached to the graft material, e.g. by stitching
• 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 2220/0016 with sharp anchoring protrusions, e.g. barbs, pins, spikes
• 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 2230/0054 V-shaped

Abstract

A stent is provided having attachment members for allowing attachment of a sheath or sheaths. Accordingly, a practitioner is able to selectively choose a desirable sheath, such as a polymeric sleeve, a biomaterial, or a natural blood vessel, at a point-of-use and attach it to the sheath. The attachment members may be bendable tabs and/or secondary support stents.

Claims

1. A stent comprising a radially-expandable body having first and second axial ends, at least one bendable tab extending from said first axial end, said tab being bendable to at least partially overlap said body for forcibly engaging a sheath.

2. A stent as in claim 1, wherein said stent is generally cylindrical.

3. A stent as in claim 1, wherein at least one bendable tab extends from said second axial end, said tab being bendable to at least partially overlap said body.

4. A stent as in claim 1, wherein a plurality of said tabs extend from said first axial end.

5. A stent as in claim 1, wherein said at least one tab has a non-linear shape.

6. A stent as in claim 1, wherein said at least one tab is unitarily formed with said body.

7. A stent as in claim 1, further comprising at least one barb extending from at least one said tab.

17. A stent as in claim 1, wherein said at least one tab has a U or V shape with side legs terminating in free ends forming an open mouth therebetween.

18. A stent as in claim 1, wherein said at least one tab is connected to said body via a single bendable stem configured to bend and bring said tab into overlap with said body to forcible engage a sheath.

19. A stent as in claim 18, wherein said stem is strengthened to reduce likelihood of failure upon bending.

20. A stent as in claim 18, wherein said stem is provided with a strengthening agent, e.g., a coating or a cladding.

21. A stent as in claim 18, wherein said stem is provided with a strengthening agent, e.g., a coating or a cladding.

22. A stent as in claim 18, wherein said stem has a thinner profile than surrounding portions of the stent to facilitate enhanced bending.

23. A stent as in claim 17, wherein said side legs of said tab diverge.

24. A stent as in claim 17, wherein said free ends of said side legs are flared outwardly.

25. A stent as in claim 17, wherein the stent at said axial end has a ring of wave or zig-zag form, said stem being integral with said ring at a valley of said wave or zig-zag form and extending until beyond the peaks of said wave of zig-zag form.

26. A stent as in claim 1, wherein one or more barbs are formed in said tab.

27. A stent as in claim 1, wherein said tab generates a relative pressing force with said body to hold said sheath in place, said sheath being not bonded to said tab with said pressing force solely acting to hold said sheath in place.

8. A method of preparing a covered stent for implantation, said method comprising:

providing a stent having a radially-expandable body with first and second axial ends, at least one bendable tab extending from said first axial end;

disposing a sheath in concentric arrangement with said body; and

bending at least one of said tabs into engagement with said sheath.

9. A method as in claim 8, wherein said sheath is disposed radially outwardly of said stent.

10. A method as in claim 8, wherein said sheath is disposed radially inwardly of said stent.

11. A method as in claim 8, wherein said sheath is selected from the group consisting of a polymeric sleeve, a biomaterial sleeve, and a natural blood vessel.

12. A method as in claim 11, wherein said sheath is treated with a drug selected from the group consisting of pharmaceutical agents, radioactive agents, bioactive agents, and combinations thereof.

13. A method as in claim 8, further comprising disposing a second sheath in concentric arrangement with said body.

14. A method as in claim 13, wherein said first-mentioned sheath is disposed externally of said stent, and said second sheath is disposed internally of said stent.

15. A method as in claim 14, further comprising bending at least one of said tabs into engagement with said second sheath.

16. A method as in claim 13, wherein said second sheath is interposed between said first-mentioned sheath and said stent.

28. A method of preparing a covered stent for implantation, said method comprising:

providing a main stent having a radially-expandable body;

disposing a sheath in concentric arrangement with said body; and

,

disposing at least one support stent externally of said sheath such that said sheath is interposed between said body and said at least one support stent, and no portion of said main stent is in contact with said at least one support stent.

29. A method as in claim 28 further comprising deforming plastically said at least one support stent.

30. A method as in claim 28, wherein said sheath is disposed radially outwardly of said stent.

31. A method as in claim 28, wherein said sheath is disposed radially inwardly of said stent.

32. A method as in claim 28, wherein said sheath is selected from the group consisting of a polymeric sleeve, a biomaterial sleeve, and a natural blood vessel.

33. A method as in claim 32, wherein said sheath is treated with a drug selected from the group consisting of pharmaceutical agents, radioactive agents, bioactive agents, and combinations thereof.

34. A method as in claim 28, further comprising disposing a second sheath in concentric arrangement with said body.

35. A method as in claim 34, wherein said first-mentioned sheath is disposed externally of said main stent, and said second sheath is disposed internally of said main stent.

36. A method as in claim 34 wherein said second sheath is interposed between at least one of said support stents and said body.

37. A method as in claim 28, wherein said at least one support stent has an axial length which is less than the axial length of said body.

38. A method as in claim 37, wherein said at least one support stent is disposed in proximity to an end of said body.