Implant which is intended to be placed in a blood vessel

• US 20080082166A1
• Filed: 09/26/2007
• Published: 04/03/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 09/28/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: W. L. Gore & Associates (W.L. Gore & Associates)
• Original Assignee: Perouse Medical Co.
• Inventors: Perouse, Eric, Styrc, Mikolaj
• Granted Patent: US 8,167,934 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 623/2.18
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/2418 Scaffolds therefor, e.g. support stents
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/8486 provided on at least one of the ends
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2250/006 modular

Abstract

This implant (10) comprises an endoprosthesis (30) having an axis (X-X′) which can be spontaneously deployed in a radial manner between a compressed configuration and a dilated configuration. The implant (10) comprises at least one radial runner (28) which comprises a separation surface (60) which extends radially with respect to an outer surface (42) of the endoprosthesis and a member (54) which can be deployed away from the axis (X-X′).

The runner (28) is arranged so as to delimit a confinement housing (62) which extends between the separation surface (60) and the outer surface (42) and a radial spacer (65) which is defined by the separation surface (60) and the deployable member (54).

When the implant (10) is retained in a state of radial compression, the maximum radial width of the housing (62) is less than the maximum radial width of the spacer (65) which is not equal to zero.

Use in replacement of natural valves with endovalves.

Claims

1. Implant which is intended to be placed in a blood vessel, of the type comprising:

an endoprosthesis which has a longitudinal axis and which can be deployed spontaneously in a radial manner from a compressed configuration to a dilated configuration, the endoprosthesis delimiting an inner passage for blood flow and an outer peripheral surface;

at least one runner for radial support which co-operates with the endoprosthesis, the runner comprising a separation surface which extends radially with respect to the outer surface and at least one member which can be deployed away from the longitudinal axis relative to the separation surface;

wherein the runner is arranged so as to delimit;

a confinement housing which extends between the separation surface and the outer surface; and

a radial spacer which is formed by the separation surface and the deployable member;

and wherein, when the implant is retained in a state of radial compression around the or each runner, with the endoprosthesis being in the dilated configuration thereof, the maximum radial width of the housing is less than the maximum radial width of the spacer, the spacer having a maximum radial width which is not equal to zero.

2. Implant according to claim 1, wherein the force for deploying the deployable member away from the separation surface is greater than the total of the radial deployment force of the endoprosthesis and the force for retaining the separation surface in a remote state relative to the outer surface, when the implant is retained in a state of radial compression around the or each runner.

3. Implant according to claim 1, wherein the or each runner is permanently mounted on the endoprosthesis.

4. Implant according to claim 3, wherein the or each runner is integral with the endoprosthesis.

5. Implant according to claim 4, wherein the endoprosthesis comprises a trellis which is formed by at least one resilient filament, the or each runner being formed by an extension of at least one filament of the trellis.

6. Implant according to claim 3, wherein an edge of the separation surface is articulated to an edge of the outer surface.

7. Implant according to claim 1, wherein the or each runner is mounted in a detachable manner on the endoprosthesis.

8. Implant according to claim 7, wherein the or each runner comprises a rigid tubular support which is pressed on the outer surface during operation, the spacing member being able to be deployed radially from the tubular support.

9. Implant according to claim 1, wherein the deployable member is articulated to the separation surface.

10. Implant according to claim 1, wherein the or each runner has a cross-section, taken in a centre plane which extends through the longitudinal axis, substantially in the form of a V.

11. Implant according to claim 10, wherein the endoprosthesis comprises a shutter which is permanently mounted in the inner passage, the shutter having a cross-section, taken in a centre plane which extends through the longitudinal axis, which converges in the opposite direction to the V-shaped cross-section of the or each runner.

12. Implant according to claim 1, wherein the spacer is permeable with respect to liquids.

13. Implant according to claim 1, wherein the confinement housing is capable of receiving a leaflet of a natural valve when the implant is implanted in the blood vessel.

14. Method for implanting an implant according to claim 1 in a blood vessel comprising a natural valve having leaflets, the method comprising the steps of

moving the implant into the blood vessel in a deployment device,

deploying the or each runner and introducing the leaflets of the natural valve in the confinement housing;

deploying the endoprosthesis to its dilated configuration;

wherein, when the implant is maintained in a state of radial compression in the blood vessel, after deploying the endoprosthesis, the deployable member of the or each runner is retained with radial spacing from the separation surface and the outer surface, the maximal radial width of the housing being less than the maximal radial width of the spacer, the spacer having a maximal radial width which is not equal to zero