Polymer coated stent

• US 6,364,903 B2
• Filed: 03/19/1999
• Issued: 04/02/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 03/19/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Lifeshield Sciences LLC (Acacia Research Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Meadox Medicals, Inc. (Boston Scientific Corporation)
• Inventors: Tseng, David, Parsons, Bruce A., Donahue, William
• Primary Examiner(s): Willse, David H.
• Assistant Examiner(s): GHERBI, SUZETTE JAIME J
• Application Number:
  US09/272,538
• Publication Number:
  US 20010049551A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,110 Days
• Field of Search: 623/1.13, 623/1.15, 623/1.44, 623/1.46, 623/1.39, 623/1.49, 427/2--
• US Class Current: 623/1.15
• 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 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

Abstract

A tubular intraluminal prosthesis includes a PTFE or ePTFE tubular structure such as a graft, and a tubular diametrically deformable stent circumferentially surrounding the tubular structure. The diametrically deformable stent includes a polymeric coating which allows for attachment to the tubular graft structure and enhances the biocompatibility and integrity of the composite prosthesis.

Claims

1. A tubular intraluminal prosthesis comprising:

an ePTFE tubular structure having opposed interior and exterior surfaces;

a tubular diametrically deformable stent in contact with said ePTFE tubular structure; and

said stent being partially coated with a polymeric powder coating;

said stent being affixed to said tubular structure at said partial coating.

2. A tubular intraluminal prosthesis according to claim 1 wherein the polymeric coating is polytetrafluoroethylene.

3. A tubular intraluminal prosthesis according to claim 1 wherein the polymeric coating is at least partially sintered.

4. A tubular intraluminal prosthesis according to claim 1 wherein the tubular diametrically deformable stent is formed from an elongate wire helically wound with a plurality of longitudinally spaced turns into an open tubular configuration, each of said turns including successive upper and lower wave-like peaks.

5. A tubular intraluminal prosthesis according to claim 4 wherein selective peaks of said upper and lower wave-like peaks of said stent are exposed exteriorly of said polymeric coating.

6. A tubular intraluminal prosthesis of claim 3 wherein said at least partially coated stent is sintered to said tubular structure.

7. A tubular intraluminal prosthesis of claim 3 wherein said at least partially coated stent is affixed to said tubular structure at selected locations.

8. A tubular intraluminal prosthesis of claim 4 wherein the at least partially coated stent is affixed to said tubular structure at locations intermediate said upper and lower wave like peaks.

9. A tubular intraluminal prosthesis of claim 1 wherein said polymeric coating is selected from the group consisting of polytetrafluoroethylene, polyurethane, fluorinated ethylene propylene, silicone, silicone-acrylate, urethane-acrylate, urethane-silicone and combinations thereof.

10. A tubular intraluminal prosthesis of claim 1 wherein said deformable stent is self-expanding.

11. A tubular intraluminal prosthesis of claim 1 wherein said stent is formed of nitinol.

12. A method of forming an intraluminal prosthesis comprising the steps of:

providing a tubular stent;

partially coating a portion of said stent with a polymeric powder coating;

providing a tubular ePTFE graft structure; and

affixing said coated stent to said tubular ePTFE graft structure at said partial coating.

13. A method according to claim 12 wherein said affixing step includes:

applying said coated stent to an exterior surface of said ePTFE graft structure.

14. A method according to claim 12 wherein said affixing step includes:

applying sufficient heat and pressure to cause adherence of said stent to said ePTFE graft.

15. A method according to claim 12 wherein the polymeric coating is polytetrafluoroethylene.

16. A method according to claim 12 wherein the polymeric coating is at least partially sintered.

17. A method according to claim 12 further includes the steps of affixing a second tubular member to the other side of said stent.

18. A method according to claim 12 wherein the tubular stent is formed from an elongate wire helically wound with a plurality of longitudinally spaced turns into an open tubular configuration, each of said turns including successive upper and lower wave-like peaks.

19. A method according to claim 18 wherein selective peaks of said upper and lower wave-like peaks are exposed exteriorly of said polymeric coating.

20. A method according to claim 12 wherein said at least partially coated stent is affixed to said tubular structure at selected locations.

21. A method according to claim 20 wherein the at least partially coated stent is affixed to said tubular structure at locations intermediate said upper and lower wave-like peaks.

22. A method according to claim 12 wherein said polymeric coating is selected from the group consisting of polytetrafluorethylene, polyurethane, fluorinated ethylene propylene, silicone, silicone-acrylate, urethane-acrylate, urethane-silicone and combinations thereof.

23. A method according to claim 12 wherein the stent is self-expanding.

24. A method according to claim 12 wherein said stent is formed of nitinol.

26. A method according to claim 24 wherein said stent is partially sintered on said stent before positioning said stent with respect to said graft.

27. A method according to claim 24 further including positioning a second graft or the opposing side of said stent and effectuating adhesion therebetween.

25. A method of forming an intraluminal prosthesis comprising the steps of:

partially coating at least a portion of said stent with a polymeric coating applied from a liquid or particulate state;

positioning said stent either interior to or exterior to said graft using a support mandrel; and

sintering said coated stent and graft to effect a bond therebetween at said partial coating.