Method of reinforcing a body vessel using a intraluminal stent

• US 5,766,237 A
• Filed: 06/07/1995
• Issued: 06/16/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 02/21/1992
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Lifeport Sciences LLC (Acacia Research Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Boston Scientific Technology Incorporated (Boston Scientific Corporation)
• Inventors: Cragg, Andrew H.
• Primary Examiner(s): Polutta, Mark O.
• Application Number:
  US08/478,181
• Time in Patent Office: 1,105 Days
• Field of Search: 606/192, 606/191, 606/194, 606/195, 606/108, 623/1, 623/12, 623/11, 128/898
• US Class Current: 606/194
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/07 Stent-grafts
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/88 the wire-like elements formed as helical or spiral coils forming a net-like or mesh-like structure A61F2/90
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/90 characterised by a net-like or mesh-like structure
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/95 Instruments specially adapted for placement or removal of stents or stent-grafts
• 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 2002/30092 using shape memory or superelastic materials, e.g. nitinol
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30462 retained or tied with a rope, string, thread, wire or cable
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2210/0019 operated at only one temperature whilst inside or touching the human body, e.g. constrained in a non-operative shape during surgery, another temperature only occurring before the operation
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2220/0066 stapled
• 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 2310/00017 Iron- or Fe-based alloys, e.g. stainless steel
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2310/00023 Titanium or titanium-based alloys, e.g. Ti-Ni alloys
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2310/00131 Tantalum or Ta-based alloys
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2400/16 Materials with shape-memory or superelastic properties
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 31/06 obtained otherwise than by reactions only involving carbon-to-carbon unsaturated bonds A61L31/041 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: C08L 67/00 Compositions of polyesters obtained by reactions forming a carboxylic ester link in the main chain of polyester-amides C08L77/12; of polyester-imides C08L79/08; Compositions of derivatives of such polymers

Abstract

A method of implanting a tubular intraluminial stent which is made of a predetermined length of wire having a zig-zag configuration and defining a series of axially displaced hoop members, each hoop member having a successive series of zig-zags, the apices of axially oppositely disposed zig-zags in adjacent hoop members abutting one another, wherein the wire is a shape-memory material and the stent is compressible and radially expandable by thermal transformation, using a tubular sheath disposed between an entry location in a body and the location of implantation and a catheter. The method includes the steps of compressing the stent; inserting the compressed stent into the tubular sheath; pushing the compressed stent through the sheath to the implantation location using the catheter; withdrawing the sheath while holding the stent at the implantation location with the catheter; and expanding the stent within the implantation location by thermal transformation.

Claims

1. A method of reinforcing a body vessel using a tubular sheath disposed between an entry location in a body and the location of implantation and a catheter, said method comprising the steps of:

A. placing in a martensitic phase by exposing to a low temperature a stent which is made of a shape-memory material having a zig-zag configuration and defining a series of axially displaced hoop members, each hoop member comprising a successive series of zig-zags with apices, the apices of axially oppositely disposed zig-zags in adjacent hoop members abutting one another and some of said abutting apices connected together by a separate member, wherein said stent is radially compressible and expandable by thermal transformation;

B. compressing the stent in said martensitic phase;

C. inserting the compressed stent into the tubular sheath;

D. pushing the compressed stent through the sheath to the implantation location using the catheter;

E. withdrawing the sheath while holding the stent at the implantation location with the catheter; and

F. expanding the stent within the implantation location by thermal transformation and causing a transformation of the martensitic phase to an austenitic phase,

whereby the stent exerts a continuing dilating force in the implanted state against said body vessel.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of implanting at least one additional stent according to steps A-F.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein said step of expanding the stent is achieved by exposing the stent to body temperature within said body vessel.