ENDOPROSTHESIS HAVING ALIGNED LEGS FOR EASE OF CANNULATION

• US 20130211501A1
• Filed: 01/14/2013
• Published: 08/15/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 02/14/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: W. L. Gore & Associates (W.L. Gore & Associates)
• Original Assignee: W. L. Gore & Associates (W.L. Gore & Associates)
• Inventors: Buckley, Kyle R., Zukowski, Stanislaw L., Espen, Benjamin I.
• Granted Patent: US 9,687,371 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 623/1.23
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/07 Stent-grafts
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/954 for placing stents or stent-grafts in a bifurcation
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/97 the outer sleeve being splittable
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/065 Y-shaped blood vessels
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/072 Encapsulated stents, e.g. wire or whole stent embedded in lining
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/9511 the retaining means being filaments or wires
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2210/0014 using shape memory or superelastic materials, e.g. nitinol
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2210/009 magnetic
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2220/005 using adhesives
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2220/0058 soldered or brazed or welded

Abstract

The present disclosure is directed to a branched endoprosthesis comprising a graft component and at least one support component. In various embodiments, the branched endoprosthesis comprises a body portion and at least two leg portions, wherein at least two legs are in an aligned configuration for ease of cannulation. In various embodiments, at least one leg is in an open configuration for ease of cannulation. Cannulation methods are also taught.

Claims

1. A branched endoprosthesis comprising:

a graft component and at least one support component together defining a body portion, a first leg portion, and a second leg portion; and

a removable restraint aligning the first leg portion with the second leg portion relative to each other to assist in cannulation of the second leg portion.

2. The branched endoprosthesis as in claim 1, wherein the removable restraint comprises a tether having an end tail tucked under undeployed portions of a sleeve surrounding the branched endoprosthesis.

3. The branched endoprosthesis as in claim 1, wherein the removable restraint comprises a tether having an end tail routed under one or more apices of the at least one support component.

4. The branched endoprosthesis as in claim 1, wherein the first leg portion is substantially axially longer than the second leg portion.

5. The branched endoprosthesis as in claim 1, wherein the first leg portion and the second leg portion are structurally biased to angle apart in a Y configuration.

6. The branched endoprosthesis as in claim 1, wherein the removable restraint is a sheath enclosing both the first leg portion and the second leg portion.

7. The branched endoprosthesis as in claim 1, further comprising a plurality of serially aligned support components adapted to hold the second leg portion open for cannulation.

8. The branched endoprosthesis as in claim 1, further comprising a radiopaque marker at the distal end of the second leg portion.

9. A bifurcated stent graft comprising:

a body portion;

a first leg portion;

a second leg portion having an opening at its distal end; and

a sheath configured to secure the plane of said opening perpendicular to the axis of the first leg portion.

10. A method for cannulation comprising:

providing a branched stent graft comprising a body portion, an ipsilateral leg portion, and a contralateral leg portion, wherein the leg portions are biased to be angled apart in a Y configuration;

temporarily overcoming the bias by creating an alignment of the leg portions;

delivering the branched stent graft to a trunk vessel via an ipsilateral branch vessel;

deploying the body portion and the ipsilateral leg portion of the branched stent graft in the trunk vessel and the ipsilateral branch vessel respectively;

using the alignment of the leg portions to locate a distal opening of the contralateral leg portion;

cannulizing the contralateral leg portion; and

allowing the leg portions to return to the Y configuration.

11. The method as in claim 10 wherein said step of creating the alignment of the leg portions comprises tethering the leg portions.

12. The method as in claim 10 wherein said step of creating the alignment of the leg portions comprises commonly sheathing the leg portions.

13. The method as in claim 10 wherein said step of creating the alignment of the leg portions comprises aligning the leg portions with a soluble adhesive.

14. The method as in claim 10 wherein said step of creating the alignment of the leg portions comprises aligning the leg portions with a plurality of hook and loop fasteners.

15. The method as in claim 10 wherein said step of creating the alignment of the leg portions comprises aligning the leg portions with magnetism.

16. The method as in claim 10 wherein said step of creating the alignment of the leg portions comprises aligning the leg portions with a nanostructure binding agent.

17. The method as in claim 10 further comprising incorporating a plurality of serially aligned support components to hold the distal opening of the contralateral leg portion open for cannulation.

18. The method as in claim 10 further comprising incorporating a radiopaque marker at the distal opening of the contralateral leg portion.