Percutaneous stent assembly

• US 5,282,824 A
• Filed: 06/15/1992
• Issued: 02/01/1994
• Est. Priority Date: 10/09/1990
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Cook Medical Technologies, LLC (Cook Group Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Cook Incorporated (Cook Group Incorporated)
• Inventors: Gianturco, Cesare
• Primary Examiner(s): Pellegrino, Stephen C.
• Assistant Examiner(s): LEWIS, WILLIAM W
• Application Number:
  US07/899,109
• Time in Patent Office: 596 Days
• Field of Search: 606/108, 606/153, 606/191, 606/195, 606/198, 606/200, 623/1, 623/11, 623/12
• US Class Current: 623/1.13
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/07 Stent-grafts
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/86 Stents in a form characterised by the wire-like elements; Stents in the form characterised by a net-like or mesh-like structure
• 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 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 2002/30461 sutured, ligatured or stitched
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/825 having longitudinal struts
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/828 Means for connecting a plurality of stents allowing flexibility of the whole structure
• 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

Abstract

A self-expanding stent assembly consisting of one or more Z-stents connected to one another and covered by a flexible sleeve, which can be made from either nylon, plastic or another suitable material. The stents are formed of stainless steel wire arranged in a closed zig-zag configuration which includes an endless series of struts that are joined by an equal number of joints. The stent assembly is compressible into a reduced diameter size for insertion into, and possible removal from, a body passageway. After being properly positioned within a body passageway, the stent assembly is allowed to expand to its larger diameter shape, wherein the sleeve is pressed against the walls of the passageway by the stents. One application of the invention includes dilating a biliary duct which has been occluded by a tumorous growth. The advantage being that the sleeve prevents the tumor from growing between the gaps created by the stent which would otherwise restenose the passageway. Another intended application is to repair aneurysms. In this configuration, the stents are postioned on either side of an aneurysm, and the sleeve forms and artificial arterial wall which spans the aneurysm.

Claims

1. A percutaneous stent assembly comprising:

a flexible sleeve having an inner surface and an outer surface and being open at both ends;

at least one resiliently compressible stent, each said stent including a plurality of struts defining a series of gaps between said struts;

means for attaching said stents to said flexible sleeve such that said gaps defined by each said stent are substantially covered by said flexible sleeve;

means for rendering said percutaneous stent assembly resistant to contraction along the axis defined by said flexible sleeve when the stent assembly is radially compressed into a smaller first shape and being axially pushed into position adjacent a stenosis in a passageway of a patient;

wherein said percutaneous stent assembly defines said smaller first shape when radially compressed and resiliently defines a larger second shape when allowed to radially expand;

said flexible sleeve is made of nylon; and

said means for attaching said stents to said flexible sleeve consists of a plurality of stitches.

2. A percutaneous stent assembly comprising

a flexible sleeve having an inner surface and an outer surface and being open at both ends;

at least one resiliently compressible stent, each said stent including a plurality of struts defining a series of gaps between said struts;

means for attaching aid stents to said flexible sleeve such that said gaps defined by each said stent are substantially covered by said flexible sleeve;

means for rendering said percutaneous stent assembly resistant to contraction along the axis defined by said flexible sleeve when the stent assembly is radially compressed into a smaller first shape and being axially pushed into position adjacent a stenosis in a passageway of a patient;

wherein said percutaneous stent assembly defines said smaller first shape when radially compressed and resiliently defines a larger second shape when allowed to radially expand;

said stent comprising at least two resiliently compressible stents arranged end to end;

said means for rendering the stent assembly resistant to contraction along the axis defined by said sleeve includes interconnecting adjacent ends of said at least two stents together;

each said end of each said stent includes a plurality of eye portions; and

said means for rendering the stent assembly resistant to contraction along the axis defined by said sleeve includes tieing at least one of said plurality of eye portions from each said stent to an adjacent said eye portion of an adjacent said stent.

3. The percutaneous stent assembly of claim 2 wherein said eye portions of each said stent are serially tied to said eye portions of an adjacent said stent.

4. A percutaneous stent assembly comprising:

a resiliently compressible stent capable of being radially compressed into a smaller first shape but resiliently radially expanding into a larger second shape when allowed to expand, said stent having a plurality of interconnected struts which define a series of gaps therebetween when said stent is in said larger second shape;

a flexible sleeve having an inner surface, an outer surface and being open at both ends; and

means for attaching said stent to said flexible sleeve such that said gaps defined by each said stent are substantially covered by said flexible sleeve;

a second stent substantially identical to said first stent and being interconnected end-to-end with said first stent;

said flexible sleeve extends to cover said second stent; and

said sleeve is formed from a flexible plastic material and said stents are embedded in said plastic.

5. The percutaneous stent assembly of claim 4 wherein said stents are tied end-to-end with a filament.

6. The percutaneous stent assembly of claim 5 wherein said sleeve is formed of nylon.