Exterior supported self-expanding stent-graft

• US 6,331,188 B1
• Filed: 06/09/1997
• Issued: 12/18/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 08/31/1994
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: W. L. Gore & Associates (W.L. Gore & Associates)
• Original Assignee: Gore Enterprise Holdings Incorporated (W.L. Gore and Associates)
• Inventors: Lau, Lilip, Maroney, Charles
• Primary Examiner(s): Prebilic, Paul B.
• Application Number:
  US08/871,427
• Time in Patent Office: 1,653 Days
• Field of Search: 623/1, 623/11, 623/12, 623/1.13, 623/1.15, 623/1.16, 623/1.22, 623/1.34, 623/23.7, 623/23.64, 606/191, 606/194, 606/195, 606/198
• US Class Current: 623/1.13
• 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 2/91 made from perforated sheet material or tubes, e.g. perforated by laser cuts or etched holes
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/915 with bands having a meander structure, adjacent bands being connected to each other
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/92 Stents in the form of a rolled-up sheet expanding after insertion into the vessel , e.g. with a spiral shape in cross-section
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/95 Instruments specially adapted for placement or removal of stents or stent-grafts
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/061 provided with means for allowing access to secondary lumens
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/3008 radio-opaque, e.g. radio-opaque markers
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30092 using shape memory or superelastic materials, e.g. nitinol
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30462 retained or tied with a rope, string, thread, wire or cable
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/91508 the meander having a difference in amplitude along the band
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/91516 the meander having a change in frequency along the band
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/91533 characterised by the phase between adjacent bands
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/91558 connected peak to peak
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/91575 connected peak to trough
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/9511 the retaining means being filaments or wires
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2210/0019 operated at only one temperature whilst inside or touching the human body, e.g. constrained in a non-operative shape during surgery, another temperature only occurring before the operation
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2210/0076 multilayered, e.g. laminated structures
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2220/0075 sutured, ligatured or stitched, retained or tied with a rope, string, thread, wire or cable
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2250/0098 radio-opaque, e.g. radio-opaque markers
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2310/00017 Iron- or Fe-based alloys, e.g. stainless steel
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2310/00023 : Titanium or titanium-based alloys, e.g. Ti-Ni alloys
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2310/00029 : Cobalt-based alloys, e.g. Co-Cr alloys or Vitallium
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2310/00137 : Tungsten or W-based alloys
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2310/00149 : Platinum or Pt-based alloys

Abstract

The present invention relates to a stent-graft where the stent is formed from a self-expanding material and is coaxially and slidably coupled to the graft component which contains collagen. At least one flexible linkage is provided for coupling the stent and graft together in the slidable manner.

Claims

1. A device comprising:

a support component having multiple turns of an undulating member, said undulating member being formed from a single continuous wire, each turn of said undulating member having multiple undulations which define multiple apexes, wherein undulations in one turn are generally in-phase with undulations in an adjacent turn; and

a tubular, graft component substantially coaxial with said support component, said tubular graft component containing collagen and being slidably attached to said support component to allow said undulations to move longitudinally relative to said graft component.

2. The device of claim 1 wherein said support is a helical member configured to form said support component and which contains said multiple turns of said support.

3. The device of claim 2 further comprising at least one flexible link, said flexible link coupling adjacent helical turns of said support component to maintain said undulations generally in-phase.

4. The device of claim 3, wherein said flexible link is secured to said graft component at least in-part.

5. The device of claim 1 further comprising at least one loop passing around at least a portion of one of said undulations to attach said support component to said graft component.

6. The device of claim 1 wherein said support component includes at least one common arm between adjacent undulations.

7. The device of claim 1 wherein the support comprises wire and the undulations have a sinusoidal shape.

8. The device of claim 1 wherein the support comprises wire and the undulations have a U-shape.

9. The device of claim 1 wherein the support comprises wire and the undulations have a V-shape.

10. The device of claim 1 wherein the support comprises wire and the undulations have an ovaloid shape.

11. The device of claim 1 wherein the support comprises a stainless steel material.

12. The device of claim 1 wherein the support comprises a cobalt chromium alloy.

13. The device of claim 1 wherein the support comprises a platinum/tungsten alloy.

14. The device of claim 1 wherein the support comprises a titanium alloy.

15. The device of claim 1 wherein the support comprises a nickel-titanium alloy.

16. The device of claim 1 wherein the support is produced from sheet material or tubing.

17. The device of claim 1 further comprising radiopaque markers within said collagen containing graft member.

18. The device of claim 1 wherein at least one end of the support component is flared.

19. The device of claim 3 wherein said at least one flexible link comprises a polyfluorocarbon.

20. The device of claim 5 wherein the at least one loop comprises a polyfluorocarbon.

21. The device of claim 1 wherein said support component is slidably secured to said graft component such that relative movement therebetween is limited.

22. The device of claim 2 further including a flexible link interwoven through undulations in adjacent helical turns.

23. A device comprising:

a support component comprising a helically configured member having multiple helical turns and multiple undulations defining multiple apexes;

a tubular, graft component substantially coaxial with said support component, said tubular graft component containing collagen and being slidably attached to said support component which allows said undulations to move longitudinally relative to said graft component; and

at least one flexible link passing through adjacent helical turns of said support component to maintain said undulations generally in-phase.

24. A device comprising:

a support component having multiple turns of an undulating member, said undulating member being formed from a single continuous wire, each turn of said undulating member having multiple undulations which define multiple apexes, wherein apexes in one turn are longitudinally movable with respect to apexes in an adjacent turn, and wherein undulations in said one turn are generally in-phase with undulations in said adjacent turn; and

a tubular, graft component substantially coaxial with said support component, said tubular graft component containing collagen and being slidably attached to said support component to allow said apexes to move longitudinally relative to said graft component.