Non-migrating vascular prosthesis and minimally invasive placement system therefor

• US 5,891,193 A
• Filed: 04/11/1997
• Issued: 04/06/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 11/04/1993
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: C.R. Bard, Inc. (Becton, Dickinson & Co)
• Original Assignee: C.R. Bard, Inc. (Becton, Dickinson & Co)
• Inventors: Robinson, Timothy, Kujawski, Dennis, Carey, John, Weiser, Michael
• Primary Examiner(s): Milano, Michael J.
• Application Number:
  US08/840,145
• Time in Patent Office: 725 Days
• Field of Search: 623/1, 623/12, 606/194, 606/195
• US Class Current: 128/898
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/07 Stent-grafts
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/848 having means for fixation to the vessel wall, e.g. barbs
• 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 2/95 Instruments specially adapted for placement or removal of stents or stent-grafts
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/9522 Means for mounting a stent or stent-graft onto or into a placement instrument
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/9525 using a funnel
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/958 Inflatable balloons for placing 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 2002/825 having longitudinal struts
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/8486 provided on at least one of the ends
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/9665 with additional retaining means
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2220/0008 Fixation appliances for connecting prostheses to the body
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2220/0016 with sharp anchoring protrusions, e.g. barbs, pins, spikes
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2220/0075 sutured, ligatured or stitched, retained or tied with a rope, string, thread, wire or cable
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 623/921 Blood vessel

Abstract

A graft assembly for securely positioning a graft at a predetermined location across an abdominal aortic aneurysm. The assembly includes a resilient self-expanding anchor that is secured to the graft. The anchor is characterized as being at least as long as the graft, and further as being adapted to be removed or repositioned at any time prior to complete deployment in the patient.

Claims

1. A method for repairing a blood vessel comprising the steps of:

a) providing an implant which comprises;

a graft having a proximal end, a distal end, and an axial length; and

an anchor having a proximal end, a distal end and an axial length at least equal to that of the graft, the anchor extending along the full length of the graft and supporting the graft, wherein at least the proximal end and the distal end of the anchor are resiliently expandable and connected to each other by at least two longitudinal segments, each of the segments extending between the proximal and distal ends of the anchor and further being constructed and arranged to transmit a radial compression force from one end of the anchor to the other

b) positioning the implant at a desired location within the blood vessel, and

c) securing the implant within the blood vessel such that migration of the implant is prevented.

2. A method as in claim 1 wherein the implant is secured across an aneurysm.