IMPLANTABLE VASCULAR GRAFT

• US 20100318181A1
• Filed: 08/20/2010
• Published: 12/16/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 12/11/1998
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Endologix
• Original Assignee: Endologix
• Inventors: Zeng, Frank M., Shaolian, Samuel M.
• Application Number:
  US12/860,310
• Publication Number:
  US 20100318181A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 623/1.16
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/07 Stent-grafts
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/856 Single tubular stent with a side portal passage
• 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 2/90 characterised by a net-like or mesh-like structure
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/954 for placing stents or stent-grafts in a bifurcation
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/061 provided with means for allowing access to secondary lumens
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/065 Y-shaped blood vessels
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/075 the stent being loosely attached to the graft material, e.g. by stitching
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2220/0016 with sharp anchoring protrusions, e.g. barbs, pins, spikes
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2220/005 using adhesives
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2220/0058 soldered or brazed or welded
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2250/0039 differing in diameter

Abstract

Disclosed is a tubular endoluminal vascular prosthesis, useful in treating, for example, an abdominal aortic aneurysm. The prosthesis comprises a self-expandable wire support structure having a tubular main body support and first and second branch supports. The prosthesis can have a plurality of radially outwardly extending barbs. The branch supports may articulate with the main body to permit the branches to pivot laterally from the axis of the main body throughout a substantial range of motion.

Claims

1. A flexible self expandable graft, comprising:

a tubular body support structure having a proximal end and a distal end, the tubular body support structure comprising a plurality of discrete tubular segments that are axially aligned along an longitudinal axis of the graft, each of the plurality of discrete tubular segments comprising a plurality of proximal bends and distal bends connected by struts surrounding the longitudinal axis such that a first strut is on a first side of the axis and a second strut is on a second side of the axis, generally opposite to the first side, the tubular body support structure being self-expandable from a radially collapsed state to a radially expanded state;

a tubular sleeve coupled to the tubular body support structure; and

a plurality of radially outwardly extending barbs integrally formed on at least one of the plurality of discrete tubular segments, the barbs extending radially outwardly from a portion of a discrete tubular segments.

2. The flexible self expandable graft of claim 1, wherein the barbs are formed on the at least one of the plurality of discrete tubular segments by bending a proximal or distal bend radially outwardly at a bend point.

3. The flexible self expandable graft of claim 1, wherein the plurality of discrete tubular segments are connected to each other by interconnecting the proximal bends of one tubular segment to the distal bends of an adjacent tubular segment.

4. The flexible self expandable graft of claim 1, wherein the tubular body support structure is formed from a wire.

5. The flexible self expandable graft of claim 1, wherein at least a portion of the tubular body support structure has an expansion ratio of at least about 1:

4.

6. The flexible self expandable graft of claim 1, wherein the barbs extend in an unconstrained form from about 10 degrees to about 160 degrees from the longitudinal axis.

7. The flexible self expandable graft of claim 1, wherein the barbs extend in an unconstrained form approximately 90 degrees from the longitudinal axis.

8. The flexible self expandable graft of claim 1, wherein the barbs are staggered with respect to each other along the longitudinal axis.

9. The flexible self expandable graft of claim 1, wherein the barbs are positioned on a discrete tubular segment positioned at a distal end of the graft.

10. The flexible self expandable graft of claim 9, wherein the barbs are formed by bending a distal bend to the discrete tubular segment positioned at a distal end of the graft.

11. A self expanding bifurcated endoluminal prosthesis, comprising:

a tubular support comprising a main body support structure having a proximal end, a distal end and a central lumen extending along a longitudinal axis therethrough, a first branch support structure having a proximal end, a distal end and a central lumen therethrough, a second branch support structure having a proximal end, a distal end and a central lumen extending therethrough, wherein the wire in each support structure is formed into a plurality of tubular segments, each tubular segment comprising a series of proximal bends, a series of distal bends, and a series of struts connecting the proximal and distal bends;

a tubular sheath covering at least a portion of the wire support; and

a plurality of radially outwardly extending barbs on a distal portion the main body, said barbs being integrally formed on the tubular support.

12. The self expanding bifurcated endoluminal prosthesis of claim 11, wherein the barbs are formed on the at least one of the tubular segment by bending a proximal or distal bend radially outwardly at a bend point.

13. The self expanding bifurcated endoluminal prosthesis of claim 11, wherein the plurality of tubular segments are connected to each other by interconnecting the proximal bends of one tubular segment to the distal bends of an adjacent tubular segment.

14. The self expanding bifurcated endoluminal prosthesis of claim 11, wherein the main body support structure is formed from a single wire.

15. The self expanding bifurcated endoluminal prosthesis of claim 11, wherein at least a portion of the tubular support has an expansion ratio of at least about 1:

4.

16. The self expanding bifurcated endoluminal prosthesis of claim 11, wherein the barbs extend in an unconstrained form from about 10 degrees to about 160 degrees from the longitudinal axis.

17. The self expanding bifurcated endoluminal prosthesis of claim 11, wherein the barbs extend in an unconstrained form approximately 90 degrees from the longitudinal axis.

18. The self expanding bifurcated endoluminal prosthesis of claim 11, wherein the barbs are staggered with respect to each other along the longitudinal axis.

19. The self expanding bifurcated endoluminal prosthesis of claim 11, wherein the barbs are positioned on a tubular segment positioned at a distal end of the graft.

20. The self expanding bifurcated endoluminal prosthesis of claim 19, wherein the barbs are formed by bending a distal bend to the discrete tubular segment positioned at a distal end of the graft.