Stent graft device for treating abdominal aortic aneurysms

• US 6,238,432 B1
• Filed: 08/25/1998
• Issued: 05/29/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 08/25/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Jaun C. Parodi
• Original Assignee: Juan Carlos Parodi
• Inventors: Parodi, Juan Carlos
• Primary Examiner(s): Milano, Michael J.
• Application Number:
  US09/139,957
• Time in Patent Office: 1,008 Days
• Field of Search: 606/191, 606/194, 606/195, 606/198, 606/108, 623/1, 623/11, 623/12, 623/1.27, 623/1.3, 623/1.31, 623/1.35
• US Class Current: 623/1.35
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/07 Stent-grafts
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/065 Y-shaped blood vessels
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2230/0078 hyperboloidal
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2250/0039 differing in diameter

Abstract

A stent graft device has an upper main tubular portion dividing into two tubular limbs and is adapted for location in an aorta having an aneurysm. The stent graft device is well suited for an aorta having a restricted section having an inner diameter smaller than the sum of the inner diameters of the iliac arteries, which branch from the aorta. The diameters of the two tubular limbs are sufficiently small to allow for both tubular limbs to be deployed side-by-side in a fully expanded state within the restricted section without being constrained by the aorta inner surface. The limbs also have distal end portions having diameters larger than the diameters of limbs at the area near the restricted section for being retained within the iliac arteries.

Claims

1. A stent graft device for deployment within an aorta having a restricted section with an inner diameter and a bifurcation into iliac arteries each having an inner diameter measured at a first location, the inner diameter of said restricted section being smaller than a sum of the iliac inner diameters, the graft comprising a proximal main tubular portion to be retained within an upper portion of the aorta and having a first diameter and two tubular limbs depending from the proximal main tubular portion, each limb having a second diameter and a distal end portion for deployment inside an associated iliac artery against an inner surface of the iliac artery at the first location, the distal end portion defining a third diameter larger than the second diameter, wherein the sum of the two second diameters is less than the inner diameter of said restricted section and each tubular limb comprises a concave transition portion extending from the second diameter to the third diameter.

2. The stent graft device of claim 1, wherein the transition portion is conical.

3. The stent graft device of claim 2, wherein the distal end portion is cylindrical.

4. The stent graft device of claim 1, wherein the second diameter is smaller than a predetermined iliac artery inner diameter and the third diameter, in an unconfined state, is larger than said predetermined iliac artery inner diameter.

5. The stent graft device of claim 1, wherein the stent graft device is unitary.

6. An expandable unitary stent graft device of the type for deployment in an aorta having a restricted section with an inner diameter and having an inner surface bifurcation into iliac arteries each having an inner diameter measured at a first location and an inner surface, the aorta inner diameter being smaller than the sum of the iliac inner diameters, the device comprising a proximal main tubular portion adapted for deployment within an upper portion of the aorta and having a first diameter and two tubular limbs depending from the main tubular portion, each limb adapted for deployment inside an associated iliac artery, each limb having a second diameter, a distal end portion having a third diameter larger than the second diameter and adapted to be restricted from full expansion by the iliac artery inner surface at the first location, and a concave transition portion extending from the second diameter to the third diameter, the second diameters of the two tubular limbs being sufficiently small to allow both tubular limbs to be deployed side-by-side in a fully expanded state within the aorta inner diameter without being constrained by the aorta inner surface.

7. A method of treating an afflicted portion of an aorta, the method comprising the steps of:

identifying an aorta having a restricted section with an inner diameter and having an inner surface bifurcation into iliac arteries each having an inner diameter measured at a first location and an inner surface, the aorta inner diameter being smaller than the sum of the iliac inner diameters,

implanting a stent graft device comprising a proximal main tubular portion having a first diameter and two tubular limbs depending from the main tubular portion, each limb having a second diameter and a distal end portion, the distal end portion having a third diameter larger than the second diameter and, at a location such that;

(i) said main proximal portion is disposed within an upper portion of the aorta;

(ii) each of said tubular limbs is disposed inside an associated iliac artery; and

(iii) the distal end portion is disposed within one of said iliac arteries and restricted from full expansion by the iliac artery inner surface at the first location, wherein the second diameters of each of said two tubular limbs are sufficiently small to allow both tubular limbs to be deployed side-by-side in a fully expanded state within the inner diameter of said restricted section without being constrained by the aorta inner surface and wherein each tubular limb comprises a concave transition portion extending from the second diameter to the third diameter.

8. A stent graft device for deployment within an aorta having a restricted section and a bifurcation into iliac arteries, the graft comprising:

a proximal main tubular portion to be retained within an upper portion of the aorta; and

a first and a second tubular limb depending from said proximal main tubular portion;

wherein each of said first and second tubular limbs comprises;

(i) an elongated portion for extending across the restricted section and having a first diameter;

(ii) a distal end portion to be located inside an associated iliac artery and to be held against an inner surface of the iliac artery, the distal end portion defining a second diameter larger than the first diameter; and

(iii) a concave transition portion extending between said elongated portion and said distal end portion.