Expandable supportive endoluminal grafts

• US 6,309,413 B1
• Filed: 06/16/2000
• Issued: 10/30/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 10/21/1993
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Lifeport Sciences LLC (Acacia Research Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Corvita Corporation (Boston Scientific Corporation)
• Inventors: Pinchuk, Leonard, Dereume, Jean-Pierre Georges Emile, MacGregor, David C.
• Primary Examiner(s): McDermott, Corrine
• Assistant Examiner(s): Barrett, Thomas C.
• Application Number:
  US09/595,700
• Time in Patent Office: 501 Days
• Field of Search: 623/1.13, 623/1.44
• US Class Current: 623/1.13
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/07 Stent-grafts
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/88 the wire-like elements formed as helical or spiral coils forming a net-like or mesh-like structure A61F2/90
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/885 comprising a coil including a plurality of spiral or helical sections with alternate directions around a central axis
• 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 2002/065 Y-shaped blood vessels
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/067 modular
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/072 Encapsulated stents, e.g. wire or whole stent embedded in lining
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/075 the stent being loosely attached to the graft material, e.g. by stitching
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30329 Connections or couplings between prosthetic parts, e.g. between modular parts; Connecting elements
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/826 more than one stent being applied sequentially
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2220/0025 Connections or couplings between prosthetic parts, e.g. between modular parts; Connecting elements
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2220/005 using adhesives
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2220/0058 soldered or brazed or welded
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2250/0039 differing in diameter

Abstract

An endoluminal graft which is both expandable and supportive is provided either in a longitudinal form or in a bifurcated form. The graft expands between a first diameter and a second, larger diameter. The support component is an expandable stent endoprosthesis. A cover, liner, or a liner, or both a cover and a liner are applied to the endoprosthesis in the form of a stretchable wall material that is porous, elastomeric and biocompatible in order to allow normal cellular invasion upon implantation, without stenosis, when the expandable and supportive graft is at its second diameter. Preferably, the elastomeric wall material is a polycarbonate urethane.

Claims

1. An expandable supportive endoluminal graft comprising:

a tubular supporting component with a longitudinal axis having a network of land areas with open areas defined between said land areas, and having an internal surface and an external surface;

a liner constructed of an essentially inert biocompatible material, said liner applied to said internal surface;

a cover constructed of an essentially inert biocompatible material, said cover applied to said external surface;

wherein said liner is bonded to said cover at locations defined by said open areas; and

wherein a window is formed through said liner and said cover at a location where said liner and said cover are bonded to each other.

2. The expandable supportive endoluminal graft of claim 1 wherein said liner and said cover each has a structure that allows normal cellular ingrowth from the body pathway when said expandable supportive endoluminal graft is implanted therein.

3. The expandable supportive endoluminal graft of claim 1 wherein said cover is substantially supported by said tubular supporting component.

4. An expandable supportive endoluminal graft comprising:

a tubular supporting component with a longitudinal axis having an internal surface and an external surface, said tubular supporting component defining at least one passageway from one end of said tubular supporting component to a second end, said tubular supporting component having a network of land areas with open areas defined therebetween;

a liner constructed of an essentially inert biocompatible material, said liner applied to said internal surface;

a cover constructed of an essentially inert biocompatible material, said cover applied to said external surface;

wherein said liner is bonded to said cover at locations defined by said open areas; and

wherein a window is formed through said liner and said cover at a location where said liner and said cover are bonded to each other.

5. The expandable supportive endoluminal graft of claim 4 wherein said cover is substantially supported by said tubular supporting component.