Stent which is easily recaptured and repositioned within the body

• US 6,214,036 B1
• Filed: 11/09/1998
• Issued: 04/10/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 11/09/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Cardinal Health Switzerland 515 GmbH (Cardinal Health, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Cordis Corporation (Cardinal Health, Inc.)
• Inventors: Solovay, Kenneth S., Letendre, Robert P.
• Primary Examiner(s): Milano, Michael J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Phan, Hieu
• Application Number:
  US09/188,582
• Time in Patent Office: 883 Days
• Field of Search: 623/1, 623/12, 623/1.11, 623/1.23, 623/1.36, 623/1.12, 606/195, 606/198
• US Class Current: 623/1.11
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/07 Stent-grafts
• 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 2/91 made from perforated sheet material or tubes, e.g. perforated by laser cuts or etched holes
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/95 Instruments specially adapted for placement or removal of stents or stent-grafts
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/075 the stent being loosely attached to the graft material, e.g. by stitching
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/8486 provided on at least one of the ends
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/9505 having retaining means other than an outer sleeve, e.g. male-female connector between stent and instrument
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/9534 for repositioning of stents
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/9665 with additional retaining means

Abstract

In accordance with the present invention there is provided a pre-cursor stent for positioning within the infrarenal neck, between an abdominal aortic aneurysm and the renal arteries of a patient to assist in repairing the abdominal aortic aneurysm. The stent is designed to be coupled to a graft for directing blood flow through the aneurysm. The stent is made from a substantially cylindrical self-expanding member having a proximal end, a distal end, a longitudinal axis extending therebetween and an interior. The precursor stent further includes at least two spaced apart longitudinal legs having distal and proximal ends, the proximal ends of the legs attached to the distal end of the member, the legs extending distally from the member, each the leg including a flange adjacent its distal end. Also in accordance with the present invention is an aortic graft, having the above mentioned precursor stent attached thereto when fully deployed. Further in accordance with the present invention is a delivery apparatus for the above described precursor stent.

Claims

1. A delivery apparatus for a self-expanding stent, said apparatus comprsng:

a) an outer sheath, comprising an elongated tubular member having distal and proximal ends;

b) an inner Shaft located coaxially within said outer sheath, said shaft having a distal end and a proximal end, said distal end of said shaft further including at least two grooves disposed to; and

c) a substantially cylindrical self-expanding stent located within said sheath, said self-expanding stent having a proximal end, a distal end, a longitudinal axis extending therebetween and an interior, said self-expanding stent further including at least two spaced apart longitudinal legs having distal and proximal ends, said distal ends of said legs attached to said proximal end of said member, said legs extending proximally away from said member, each said leg including a flange adjacent its proximal end, said flanges are set within said grooves of said inner shaft, they releasable attaching said stent to said inner shaft.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said stent further includes a gasket member which is substantially impervious to blood flow, said gasket member is attached to said self-expending stent such that it will impede blood flow through said interior of said expandable member.

3. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said stent is made from a superelastic Nickel-Titanium alloy.

4. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said flanges and said grooves are T-shaped.

5. The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said flanges fit completely within said grooves so that said stent adds no additional outside diameter size to said inner shaft.

6. The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said legs extend distally and axially from said member when said precursor stent is deployed within a body.

7. The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said flanges and said grooves are I-shaped.

8. The precursor stent according to claim 1 wherein said longitudinal legs are equally spaced about said proximal end of said expandable member.

9. The precursor stent according to claim 1 wherein said flanges on said longitudinal legs are substantially I-shaped.