Bifurcated stent and method of making same

• US 6,117,156 A
• Filed: 03/27/1998
• Issued: 09/12/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 05/03/1996
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Medinol Limited (Medinol USA Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Medinol Limited (Medinol USA Incorporated)
• Inventors: Richter, Jacob, Pinchasik, Gregory
• Primary Examiner(s): Buiz, Michael
• Assistant Examiner(s): TRUONG, KEVIN THAO
• Application Number:
  US09/049,363
• Time in Patent Office: 900 Days
• Field of Search: 606/194, 606/198, 606/191, 606/195, 606/108, 128/898
• US Class Current: 606/194
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/07 Stent-grafts
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/82 Devices providing patency to, or preventing collapsing of, tubular structures of the body, e.g. stents stent-grafts for tubular structures of the body other than blood vessels A61F2/04; stent-grafts for blood vessels A61F2/07; instruments specially adapted for placement or removal of stents or stent-grafts A61F2/95; for closing wounds, or holding wounds closed A61B17/04 - A61B17/115; dilators A61M29/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/856 Single tubular stent with a side portal passage
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/954 for placing stents or stent-grafts in a bifurcation
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/958 Inflatable balloons for placing stents or stent-grafts
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/065 Y-shaped blood vessels
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/075 the stent being loosely attached to the graft material, e.g. by stitching
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2220/0041 using additional screws, bolts, dowels or rivets, e.g. connecting screws
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2220/0058 soldered or brazed or welded
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2230/001 Figure-8-shaped, e.g. hourglass-shaped
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2240/001 Designing or manufacturing processes
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 623/901 Method of manufacturing prosthetic device
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/494 Fluidic or fluid actuated device making

Abstract

A bifurcated stent for insertion into a bifurcated vessel such as a blood vessel. In one embodiment, a first sheet is formed into a first leg, a second sheet is formed into a second leg, a third sheet is formed into a stem, and the two legs are attached to the stem. In a second embodiment, a first sheet is formed into a member having a first leg and half of a stem, a second sheet is formed into a second member having a second leg and half of a stem, and the two stem halves are combined to form the bifurcated stent. In a third embodiment, the stent comprises two sections that are serially inserted and assembled within the vessel at the site of the bifurcation to be treated.

Claims

1. A method of making a bifurcated stent comprising the steps of:

a) preparing a first expandable tubular member having a proximal end and a distal end and a longitudinal bore therethrough, said first tubular member provided with a branch aperture disposed between said proximal end and said distal end, said branch aperture communicating with said longitudinal bore and said aperture sized and adapted to receive and secure a second expandable tubular member;

b) delivering said first expandable tubular member to a bifurcated vessel having a first lumen and a second lumen so that said first expandable member is disposed within said first lumen and said branch aperture communicates with said second lumen;

c) expanding said first expandable member in an amount sufficient to secure said first expandable member in said first lumen;

d) preparing a second expandable tubular member having a proximal end and a distal end having longitudinal bore therethrough;

e) widening said branch aperture;

f) delivering said second expandable tubular member into said branch aperture so that said distal end of said second expandable tubular member is disposed within said second lumen and said proximal end of said second expandable tubular member is disposed within said longitudinal bore of said first longitudinal member; and

g) expanding said second expandable tubular member in an amount sufficient to secure said second expandable tubular member within said second lumen and within said branch aperture.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein said delivering steps b and f and said expanding steps c and g and said widening step e are carried out using a balloon catheter.

3. A method of making a bifurcated stent comprising the steps

a) preparing a first expandable tubular member having a proximal end and a distal end and a longitudinal bore therethrough, said first tubular member provided with a branch aperture disposed between said proximal end and said distal end, said branch aperture communicating with said longitudinal bore and said aperture sized and adapted to receive and secure a second expandable tubular member;

b) delivering said first expandable tubular member to a bifurcated vessel having a first lumen and a second lumen so that said first expandable member is disposed within said first lumen and said branch aperture communicates with said second lumen;

c) expanding said first expandable member in an amount sufficient to secure said first expandable member in said first lumen;

d) preparing a second expandable tubular member having a proximal end and a distal end having a longitudinal bore therethrough;

e) delivering said second expandable tubular member into said branch aperture so that said distal end of said second expandable tubular member is disposed within said second lumen and said proximal end of said second expandable tubular member is disposed within said longitudinal bore of said first longitudinal member; and

f) expanding said second expandable tubular member in an amount sufficient to secure said second expandable tubular member within said second lumen and within said branch aperture.