Tubular Polymer Stent Coverings

• US 20080132999A1
• Filed: 07/11/2005
• Published: 06/05/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 07/09/2004
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: University of Florida Research Foundation, Incorporated (State University System of Florida)
• Original Assignee: University of Florida Research Foundation, Incorporated (State University System of Florida)
• Inventors: Burry, Matthew V., Watkins, Courtney S., Batich, Christophe D., Santra, Swadeshmukul, Mericle, Robert A.
• Application Number:
  US11/547,703
• Publication Number:
  US 20080132999A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 623/1.34
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/06 Blood vessels
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/07 Stent-grafts
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/90 characterised by a net-like or mesh-like structure
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/072 Encapsulated stents, e.g. wire or whole stent embedded in lining
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/075 the stent being loosely attached to the graft material, e.g. by stitching
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2210/0061 swellable
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2250/0067 Means for introducing or releasing pharmaceutical products into the body

Abstract

The present invention concerns thin, flexible tubings useful as stent coverings; covered stents; methods for applying such coverings to stents; and methods for reinforcing biological lumens, such as the intracranial vasculature, by introducing the covered stent into the biological lumen and positioning the covered stent at a target site, such as the site of a vascular defect.

Claims

1. A flexible stent covering comprising a polymer tube having a thickness within the range of 20 microns and 200 microns.

2. The stent covering of claim 1, wherein said stent covering has a thickness of 150 microns.

3. The stent covering of claim 1, wherein said polymer tube comprises an elastomer.

4. The stent covering of claim 1, wherein said polymer tube comprises a thermoplastic elastomer.

5. The stent covering of claim 1, wherein said polymer tube comprises a thermoplastic elastomer selected from the group consisting of polyurethane, silicone-polyurethane copolymer, styrene-ethylene-butylene-styrene, and silicone.

6. The stent covering of claim 1, wherein said polymer tube is lubricated.

7. The stent covering of claim 1, wherein said polymer tube is seamless.

8. The stent covering of claim 1, wherein said stent covering is swellable.

9. The stent covering of claim 1, wherein said stent covering occupies a rolled configuration.

10. The stent covering of claim 1, wherein said stent covering is impregnated, or coated with, one or more biologically active agents.

11. The stent covering of claim 10, wherein said one or more biologically active agents comprise one or more substances that degrade vascular occlusions or prevents the formation of vascular occlusions.

12. The stent covering of claim 10, wherein said one or more biologically active agents are released from said stent covering in a controlled release fashion.

13. The stent covering of claim 10, wherein said one or more biologically active agents are released or become activated upon exposure to blood.

14. The stent covering of claim 10, wherein said one or more biologically active agents are released or become activated at a predetermined pH.

15. The stent covering of claim 1, wherein said stent covering further comprises an imageable material.

16. The stent covering of claim 15, wherein said imageable material is radio-opaque.

17. The stent covering of claim 15, wherein said imageable material comprises gold particles.

18. The stent covering of claim 15, wherein said imageable material comprises at least one material selected from the group consisting of paramagnetic iron oxide, dysprosium (Dys) oxide, and gadolinium (Gd) oxide.

19. The stent covering of claim 15, wherein said imageable material comprises a quantum dot.

20. The stent covering of claim 1, wherein said stent covering has one or more perforations.

21. A covered stent comprising a stent and a stent covering, wherein said stent comprises a hollow cylinder having a lumen, an inner surface defining said lumen, an outer surface, wherein said stent covering covers at least a portion of said stent outer surface, and wherein said stent covering comprises a polymer tube having a thickness within the range of 20 microns and 200 microns.

22. The covered stent of claim 21, wherein said stent is a flexible stent, and wherein said stent covering does not reduce the flexibility of said flexible stent.

23. The covered stent of claim 21, wherein said stent is a metallic stent.

24. The covered stent of claim 21, wherein said stent is a braided or mesh metallic stent.

25. The covered stent of claim 21, wherein said stent comprises a polymer.

26. The covered stent of claim 21, wherein said stent is a radially-expandable stent.

27. The covered stent of claim 21, wherein said stent is a balloon-expandable stent.

28. The covered stent of claim 21, wherein said stent is a self-expanding stent.

29. A method for reinforcing a biological lumen, comprising introducing a covered stent at a target site within the biological lumen, wherein the covered stent comprises a stent and a stent covering and wherein the stent covering comprises a polymer tube having a thickness within the range of 20 microns and 200 microns.

30. The method of claim 29, wherein the biological lumen is selected from the group consisting of a ureter, a urethra, a fallopian tube, a bile duct, and an intestine.

31. The method of claim 29, wherein the biological lumen is a blood vessel.

32. The method of claim 29, wherein the biological lumen is within a human.

33. The method of claim 29, wherein the biological lumen is an intracranial blood vessel within a human.

34. A method for making a covered stent, comprising swelling a polymer tube in a swelling agent and mounting the swelled polymer tube over a stent, wherein the swelled polymer tube has a thickness within the range of 20 microns and 200 microns.

35. The method of claim 34, wherein the swelling agent comprises a solvent.

36. The method of claim 34, wherein the solvent comprises acetone or n-hexane.

37. The method of claim 34, wherein the solvent is a mixed solvent.

38. The method of claim 37, wherein the mixed solvent comprises acetone and water.