Stent Graft and Introducer Assembly

• US 20110118816A1
• Filed: 11/15/2010
• Published: 05/19/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 11/18/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cook Medical Incorporated (Cook Group Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Cook Incorporated (Cook Group Incorporated), William Cook Europe ApS (Cook Group Incorporated)
• Inventors: Jensen, Kim Moegelvang, Oehlenschlaeger, Bent, Rasmussen, Erik E.
• Granted Patent: US 9,226,814 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 623/1.11
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/07 Stent-grafts
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/844 folded prior to deployment
• 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 2/915 with bands having a meander structure, adjacent bands being connected to each other
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/966 with relative longitudinal movement between outer sleeve and prosthesis, e.g. using a push rod
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/075 the stent being loosely attached to the graft material, e.g. by stitching
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/9511 the retaining means being filaments or wires
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2230/0013 Horseshoe-shaped, e.g. crescent-shaped, C-shaped, U-shaped
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2230/0078 hyperboloidal
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2250/001 for adjusting a diameter
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2250/0048 differing in mechanical expandability, e.g. in mechanical, self- or balloon expandability

Abstract

A stent graft (40) for treating Type-A dissections in the ascending aorta (22) is provided with a plurality of diameter reducing suture loops (56-60) operable to constrain the stent graft during deployment thereof in a patient'"'"'s aorta. The diameter reducing loops (56-60) allow the stent graft (40) to be partially deployed, in such a manner that its location can be precisely adjusted in the patient'"'"'s lumen. In this manner, the stent graft can be placed just by the coronary arteries (26, 28) with confidence that these will not be blocked. The stent graft (40) is also provided with proximal and distal bare stents (44,52) for anchoring purposes.

Claims

1. A stent graft including a tubular portion of graft material provided with proximal and distal ends, a plurality of stent rings attached to the graft tube and at least first and second diameter restraining devices, the first diameter restraining device being located at or proximate the proximal end of the graft tube, the or at least one second diameter restraining device being located in an intermediate position along the graft tube.

2. A stent graft according to claim 1, wherein the second diameter restraining device is located substantially half-way along the graft tube.

3. A stent graft according to claim 1, wherein the restraining devices are diameter reducing loops disposed circumferentially around the graft tube.

4. A stent graft according to claim 1, wherein there are provided at least two second or intermediate diameter restraining devices, operable to restrain proximal and distal ends of a stent located on the graft tube or a plurality of stents positioned in an intermediate position along the graft tube.

5. A stent graft according to claim 1, including a bare stent extending from a proximal end of the graft tube.

6. A stent graft according to claim 5, wherein the bare stent is designed to flare outwardly relative to the graft tube.

7. A stent graft according to claim 6, wherein the or each bare stent is formed of an undulating stent structure providing a series of fingers arranged circumferentially around the graft tubing and having curved apices.

8. A stent graft according to claim 1, wherein there are provided bare stents at both the proximal and distal ends of the graft tube.

9. A stent graft according to claim 8, wherein the distal bare stent flares outwardly relative to the graft tubing.

10. A stent graft according to claim 8, wherein each bare stent is formed of an undulating stent structure providing a series of fingers arranged circumferentially around the graft tubing and having curved apices.

11. A stent graft according to claim 1, wherein the graft tube is in the region of 65 mm in length.

12. A stent graft according to claim 1, wherein the stent graft is provided with a stent section extending from the distal end of the graft tubing.

13. A stent graft according to claim 12, wherein the stent section in one of integral with the graft section and a separate component.

14. An introducer assembly for deploying a stent graft according to claim 1, the introducer assembly including a carrier for carrying the stent graft, an outer sheath movable from a position covering the carrier to a withdrawn position exposing the carrier;

the introducer assembly including a plurality of restraining elements for maintaining the restraining devices of the stent graft in a radially compressed configuration after withdrawal of the sheath.

15. An introducer assembly according to claim 14, wherein the restraining elements include one or more trigger wires.

16. An introducer assembly according to claim 15, wherein the trigger wires are arranged to restrain a proximal bare stent of the stent graft as well as the restraining devices and to release these from a proximal-most position to a distal-most position upon withdrawal of the restraining wires.

17. An introducer assembly according to claim 16, wherein the restraining wires also hold the distal end of the stent graft

18. An introducer assembly according to claim 15, including a plurality of sets of trigger wires.

19. An introducer assembly according to claim 14, including a pliable dilator tip able to be passed through a patient'"'"'s heart valve during the deployment procedure.