Endovascular graft having bifurcation and apparatus and method for deploying the same

• US 6,395,022 B1
• Filed: 06/05/2001
• Issued: 05/28/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 04/11/1991
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Lifeport Sciences LLC (Acacia Research Corporation)
• Original Assignee: EndoVascular Technologies Incorporated (Boston Scientific Corporation)
• Inventors: Sterman, Wesley D., Piplani, Alec A., Quiachon, Dinah B.
• Primary Examiner(s): McDermott, Corrine
• Assistant Examiner(s): Matthews, William H
• Application Number:
  US09/877,799
• Time in Patent Office: 357 Days
• Field of Search: 623/1.1,1.11,1.13,1.23,1.35,1.36
• US Class Current: 623/1.35
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 90/39 Markers, e.g. radio-opaque or breast lesions markers
• 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 2/89 the wire-like elements comprising two or more adjacent rings flexibly connected by separate members
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/954 for placing stents or stent-grafts in a bifurcation
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/958 Inflatable balloons for placing stents or stent-grafts
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/065 Y-shaped blood vessels
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/075 the stent being loosely attached to the graft material, e.g. by stitching
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/8486 provided on at least one of the ends
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2250/0098 radio-opaque, e.g. radio-opaque markers
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 623/903 Blood vessel

Abstract

Graft having a bifurcation for repairing an aneurysm in the vicinity of an aortic bifurcation in a patient comprising a main tubular body and first and second tubular legs joined to said main body in a bifurcation. The main body and the legs are formed of a flexible surgically implantable material. The main body and each of the first and second legs having an opening therein in communication with the other openings. Expandable spring attachments are secured to the main body adjacent the opening in the main body. An additional expandable spring attachment is secured to one of said legs adjacent the opening in said one leg.

Claims

1. A graft for assembly within vasculature, comprising:

a first graft component, wherein the first graft component is a graft prosthesis having a main member, a first leg and a second leg, the first leg and second leg are joined to the main tubular member at a bifurcation; and

a second graft component, the second graft component capable of joining with the first graft component after both have been delivered within vasculature.

2. The graft of claim 1, further comprising an anchor attached to the main tubular member.

3. The graft of claim 2, wherein the anchor attached to the main tubular member is self-expanding.

4. The graft of claim 1, further comprising an anchor attached to the first leg.

5. The graft of claim 4, wherein the anchor attached to the first leg is self-expanding.

6. The graft of claim 5, wherein the anchor includes a spring body having hook-like elements disposed outwardly therefrom adapted to come into engagement with vasculature.

7. The graft of claim 1, wherein the second graft component is a securing mechanism.

8. The graft of claim 7, wherein the securing mechanism is an anchor.

9. The graft of claim 8, wherein the anchor is self-expanding.

10. The graft of claim 9, wherein the anchor includes a spring body having hook-like elements disposed outwardly therefrom adapted to come into engagement with vasculature.

11. A graft for assembly within vasculature, comprising:

a first graft structure having a main tubular member and first and second tubular legs joined at a bifurcation; and

a second graft structure, the second graft structure capable of being attached to one of the first and second tubular legs of the first graft structure after the first graft structure has been implanted within a vasculature.

12. The graft of claim 11, further comprising a self-expanding anchor attached to the main tubular member.

13. The graft of claim 11, further comprising a self-expanding anchor attached to one of the first or second leg.

14. The graft of claim 11, wherein the second graft structure is a self expanding anchor.

15. A graft for assembly within vasculature, comprising:

an independently implantable main graft component having a main tubular body, a first and second tubular leg joined to the main tubular body in a bifurcation, a self-expanding anchor secured to the main tubular body and an additional self-expanding anchor secured to the first tubular leg; and

a self-expanding second component mateable with the independently implantable main graft component, the self-expanding second component being selectively secured to the independently implantable main graft module.

16. The graft of claim 15, wherein the self-expanding second component is adapted to secure the second tubular leg to vasculature.

17. The graft of claim 15, wherein the self-expanding anchor, the additional self-expanding anchor and the self-expanding second component are in the form of spring attachments, each having hook-like elements disposed outwardly therefrom adapted to come into engagement with vasculature.