Non-migrating vascular prosthesis and minimally invasive placement system therefor

• US 5,935,161 A
• Filed: 04/11/1997
• Issued: 08/10/1999
• 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:
  US08/827,758
• Time in Patent Office: 851 Days
• Field of Search: 623/1, 623/12, 606/194, 606/195, 606/198
• 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, 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) radially compressing the implant into a collapsed configuration within a sheath, the sheath being axially moveable relative to the implant,

c) positioning the sheath containing the implant at a first location within the blood vessel,

d) partially withdrawing the sheath to expose a distal portion of the implant, thereby allowing the distal portion of the implant to resiliently expand into contact with the blood vessel, and

e) determining the position of the implant in the blood vessel.

2. The method of claim 1 which includes, after the determining step, the further step of advancing the sheath distally relative to the implant to recapture the implant within the sheath.

3. The method of claim 2 which includes the further steps of:

a) repositioning the sheath containing the implant at a second location within the blood vessel,

b) partially withdrawing the sheath to expose a distal portion of the implant, thereby allowing the distal portion of the implant to resiliently expand into contact with the blood vessel,

c) determining the position of the implant in the blood vessel.

4. The method of claim 1 or 3 which includes, after the determining step, the step of withdrawing the sheath to fully expose the implant and allow the entire implant to resiliently expand into contact with the blood vessel.

5. The method of claim 1 or 3 wherein determining the position of the implant is acheived using fluoroscopic visualization.