Stent graft sealing zone connecting structure
First Claim
1. An endoluminal device, comprising:
- a) a first stent including a first plurality of apexes;
b) a discrete second stent including a second plurality of apexes;
c) a tether extending through and freely movably relative to said first and second plurality of apexes,wherein when said first and second stents are crimped to a first diameter, slack in said tether permits the first and second stents to be longitudinally displaced to provide a gap therebetween, and wherein when said first and second stents are expanded to a second diameter, said tether draws said first and second stents together to reduce or eliminate said gap.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
An endoluminal prosthesis useful for treatment of an abdominal aortic aneurysm includes a main body portion and two leg portions. The main body portion includes a graft material coupled to stents. The stents include an upper supra renal stent and sealing stents. The sealing length between the top of the graft material and the bottom of the uppermost sealing stent is minimized while avoiding stent overlap or otherwise compromising the crimped profile by connecting the apexes of the supra renal and sealing stents with a tether that is free to slide within the apexes. In addition, a pleat is provided at the top of the graft material at the attachment of the suprarenal and upper sealing stents to improve sealing. The tether and pleat also redistribute the downward force from blood flow to minimize the force carried by the attachment sites between the stent and graft.
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Citations
21 Claims
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1. An endoluminal device, comprising:
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a) a first stent including a first plurality of apexes; b) a discrete second stent including a second plurality of apexes; c) a tether extending through and freely movably relative to said first and second plurality of apexes, wherein when said first and second stents are crimped to a first diameter, slack in said tether permits the first and second stents to be longitudinally displaced to provide a gap therebetween, and wherein when said first and second stents are expanded to a second diameter, said tether draws said first and second stents together to reduce or eliminate said gap. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. An endoluminal prosthesis, comprising:
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a) a tubular graft comprising a graft material, said graft material including a pleat defining an inner fold material, an outer fold material, and an interposed material between said inner and outer fold materials, said pleat increasing the thickness of said graft material at the location of said pleat; b) a first stent including a first plurality of apexes in contact with said inner fold material; and c) a second stent including a second plurality of apexes in contact with said outer fold material, wherein said pleat can be at least partially unfolded to accommodate stent separation. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. An endoluminal prosthesis, comprising:
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a) a tubular graft main body comprising a graft material including inner and outer surfaces and first and second ends; b) a first stent coupled at said inner surface of said graft material at said first end and extending out thereof; c) a second stent coupled at said inner surface of said graft material and extending completely therewithin; and d) two tubular leg portions extending from said second end of said main body such that said prosthesis assumes a Y-configuration, wherein said graft material is multiple layers thick at a junction of said first and second stents when said main body portion is in an expanded state. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21)
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Specification