Modular endoluminal stent-grafts and methods for their use

• US 6,348,066 B1
• Filed: 08/14/1998
• Issued: 02/19/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 11/07/1995
• 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
• Primary Examiner(s): Prebilic, Paul B.
• Application Number:
  US09/134,887
• Time in Patent Office: 1,285 Days
• Field of Search: 623/1, 623/12, 623/1.15, 623/1.16, 623/1.21, 606/191, 606/194, 606/198
• US Class Current: 623/1.16
• 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 2002/065 Y-shaped blood vessels
• 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 2002/826 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 2220/0075 sutured, ligatured or stitched, retained or tied with a rope, string, thread, wire or cable
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2230/0067 conical
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2230/0078 hyperboloidal
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2230/008 paraboloidal
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2230/0097 Harpoon-shaped
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2250/0039 differing in diameter

Abstract

Modular endoluminal stent-grafts include at least two different sized stent-grafts which are deployed one within the other. According to one embodiment of the invention, a first stent-graft is provided having a flared end which is expandable to a first diameter and a midsection which is expandable to a second diameter smaller than the first diameter. A second stent-graft is also provided having an end which is expandable to a diameter which engages the midsection of the first stent-graft. The first embodiment of the invention is deployed by expanding the first stent-graft such that its flared end engages a large diameter vessel, then expanding the second stent-graft inside the midsection of the first stent graft and inside a small diameter vessel such that the second stent graft engages the small diameter vessel and the midsection of the first stent-graft. According to a second embodiment of the invention, the midsection of the first stent-graft is reinforced with a flexible member to restrict the midsection from ballooning. According to other aspects of the invention, the first stent-graft is provided with two flared ends and the second stent graft is provided with or without flared ends. According to still another embodiment of the invention, three or more stent-grafts of different expanded diameter are deployed one within the other.

Claims

1. A modular endoluminal stent-graft system for bridging a lesion in a blood vessel, said blood vessel having a large diameter on a proximal side of the lesion, a small diameter on the distal side of the lesion, and an intermediate region between said proximal side and said distal side, said intermediate region having a diameter larger than said large diameter, said system comprising a first stent-graft and a second stent-graft, both stent-grafts having a contracted state for insertion into the vessel and an expanded state upon deployment in the vessel;

wherein;

a) the first stent-graft has a flared proximal end, a flared distal end, and a midsection, said flared proximal end having an expanded diameter at its tip adapted to be equal to or slightly larger than the large diameter of the blood vessel; and

b) the second stent-graft has a proximal end and a distal end, said proximal end having an expanded diameter equal to or slightly larger than said expanded diameter of said midsection of said first stent graft, and said distal end having an expanded diameter which is adapted to be equal to or slightly larger than the small diameter of the blood vessel;

and wherein;

said flared distal end of said first stent-graft is adapted to directly engage the wall of the blood vessel in said intermediate region; and

said distal end of said second stent graft is adapted to engage the small diameter of the blood vessel.

2. The modular stent-graft system of claim 1, wherein said proximal end of said second stent-graft is adapted to securely engage said midsection of said first stent-graft to hold said second stent-graft substantially fixed relative to said first stent-graft.

3. The modular stent-graft system of claim 1, wherein said proximal end of said second stent-graft is coupled to said first stent-graft such that a common lumen is thus defined.

4. A system according to claim 1, wherein:

said proximal end of said second stent-graft is flared.

5. A system according to claim 1, wherein:

said distal end of said second stent-graft is flared.

6. A system according to claim 1, wherein:

at least said midsection of said first stent-graft is reinforced with a flexible material.

7. A system according to claim 6, wherein:

said flexible material is selected from the group consisting of polyethylene terphthalate, nylon, polytetrafluoroethylene, polyolefin, polyamide, polycarbonate, polycarbonate urethane, and metallic wire.

8. A system according to claim 6, wherein:

said flexible material is selected from the group consisting of sutures, knits, weaves, braids, wires, and stents.

9. A system according to claim 1, further comprising:

c) a third stent-graft having a first end, a second, end, and a midsection, said first end of said third stent-graft having an expanded fifth diameter, wherein

said midsection of said second stent-graft has an expanded sixth diameter equal to or slightly smaller than said expanded fifth diameter of said first end of said third stent-graft, such that

in a deployed orientation, said first end of said third stent-graft engages said midsection of said second stent-graft.

10. A system according to claim 9, wherein:

said proximal end of said third stent-graft is flared.

11. A system according to claim 1, wherein:

said proximal end of said second stent-graft is coupled to said first stent-graft by a coupling material selected from the group consisting of sutures, wires, adhesive and welds.

12. A system according to claim 1, wherein:

said proximal end of said second stent-graft is coupled to said midsection of said first stent-graft.