Implantable device with radiopaque ends

• US 6,340,368 B1
• Filed: 10/23/1998
• Issued: 01/22/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 10/23/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Medtronic Incorporated (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Medtronic Incorporated (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Verbeck, Marcel A. E
• Primary Examiner(s): Milano, Michael J.
• Application Number:
  US09/178,397
• Time in Patent Office: 1,187 Days
• Field of Search: 623/1, 623/11, 623/12, 623/1.34
• US Class Current: 623/1.34
• 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 2002/91541 Adjacent bands are arranged out of phase
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/91558 connected peak to peak
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2230/0054 V-shaped
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2250/0098 radio-opaque, e.g. radio-opaque markers

Abstract

The present invention provides an implantable device for use in the treatment of at least partially obstructed body lumen. The implantable medical device includes at least one radiopaque tubular section attached to a first end of a tubular midsection. Upon viewing the device with x-ray, a three dimensional image is visible that allows for increased accuracy in assessing device placement, device sizing, device deployment, and even lumen orientation.

Claims

1. An implantable medical device, comprising:

a radiolucent tubular structure having a first end and a second end, the tubular structure being expandable from an initial diameter to a second diameter; and

a tubular end structure being formed of a plurality of longitudinal elements and a plurality of horizontal connecting elements and having a first end and a second end, wherein the first end of the tubular end structure is connected to the first end of the radiolucent tubular structure, the tubular end structure being expandable from an initial diameter to a second diameter to provide a substantially uninterrupted passageway therethrough, wherein the tubular end structure consists of a radiopaque material viewable upon exposure to x-ray as a three dimensional structure.

2. The implantable medical device of claim 1 further comprising a second tubular end structure attached to the second end of the tubular structure, the second tubular end structure being expandable from an initial diameter to a second diameter to provide a substantially uninterrupted passageway therethrough, wherein the second tubular end structure comprises a radiopaque material.

3. The implantable device of claim 1 wherein the radiopaque material is more compliant than the radiolucent material.

4. The implantable device of claim 1 wherein the radiopaque material has a density of about 19.3 gm/cm³ to about 21.0 gm/cm³.

5. The implantable device of claim 1 wherein the radiopaque material is selected from the group consisting of tantalum, gold, iridium, and a combination thereof.

6. The implantable device of claim 1 wherein the radiolucent midsection is formed from a material selected from the group of stainless steel, niobium, titanium, and a combination thereof.

7. The implantable device of claim 1 wherein the first tubular structure comprises less than about 25% of a total length of the implantable device.

8. An implantable medical device, comprising:

a tubular structure having a first end and a second end, the tubular structure being expandable from an initial diameter to a second diameter, wherein the tubular structure is formed from a radiolucent material;

a first tubular end structure being formed of a plurality of longitudinal elements and a plurality of horizontal connecting elements and having a first end and a second end, wherein the first end of the first tubular end structure is connected to the first end of the tubular structure, the first tubular end structure being expandable from an initial diameter to a second diameter; and

a second tubular end structure being formed of a plurality of longitudinal elements and a plurality of horizontal connecting elements and having a first end and a second end, wherein the first end of the second tubular end structure is connected to the second end of the tubular structure, the second tubular end structure being expandable from an initial diameter to a second diameter to provide a substantially uninterrupted passageway from the first tubular end structure to the second tubular end structure, wherein the first and the second tubular end structures each consist of a radiopaque material.

9. The implantable device of claim 8 wherein the radiopaque material is more compliant than the radiolucent material.

10. The implantable device of claim 8 wherein the radiopaque material has a density of about 19.3 gm/cm³ to about 21.0 gm/cm³.

11. The implantable device of claim 8 wherein the radiopaque material is selected from the group consisting of tantalum, gold, iridium, and a combination thereof.

12. The implantable device of claim 8 wherein the radiolucent material is selected from the group of stainless steel, niobium, titanium and a combination thereof.

13. The implantable device of claim 8 wherein the first tubular structure and the second tubular structure each comprise less than about 25% of a total length of the implantable device.

14. The implantable device of claim 8 wherein the first tubular structure and the second tubular structure each comprise about 20% to about 15% of a total length of the implantable device.

15. An implantable medical device, comprising:

a radiolucent tubular structure having a first end and a second end, the tubular structure being expandable from an initial diameter to a second diameter; and

a tubular end structure having a first end and a second end, wherein the first end of the first tubular end structure is connected to the first end of the radiolucent tubular structure, the tubular end structure being expandable from an initial diameter to a second diameter to provide a substantially uninterrupted passageway therethrough and being 15% to 20% of a total length of the implantable device, wherein the tubular end structure consists of a radiopaque material viewable upon exposure to x-ray as a three dimensional structure.

16. An implantable medical device, comprising:

a tubular structure having a first end and a second end, the tubular structure being expandable from an initial diameter to a second diameter, wherein the tubular structure is formed from a radiolucent material;

a first tubular end structure having a first end and a second end, wherein the first end of the first tubular end structure is connected to the first end of the tubular structure, the first tubular end structure being expandable from an initial diameter to a second diameter and being 15% to 20% of a total length of the implantable device; and

a second tubular end structure having a first end and a second end, wherein the first end of the second tubular end structure is connected to the second end of the tubular structure, the second tubular end structure being expandable from an initial diameter to a second diameter to provide a substantially uninterrupted passageway from the first tubular end structure to the second tubular end structure and being 15% to 20% of a total length of the implantable device, and wherein the first and the second tubular end structures each consist of a radiopaque material.