System and method for endovascular aneurysm repair in conjunction with vascular stabilization

• US 6,517,574 B1
• Filed: 03/25/2002
• Issued: 02/11/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 04/27/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: EndoVascular Technologies Incorporated (Boston Scientific Corporation)
• Original Assignee: EndoVascular Technologies Incorporated (Boston Scientific Corporation)
• Inventors: Chuter, Timothy A. M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Chaudhuri, Olik
• Assistant Examiner(s): Trinh, Hoa B.
• Application Number:
  US10/108,184
• Time in Patent Office: 323 Days
• Field of Search: 623/6-1-, 623/1.23, 606/200, 606/194, 606/191, 606/198, 606/192
• US Class Current: 623/1.23
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/07 Stent-grafts
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/848 having means for fixation to the vessel wall, e.g. barbs
• 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 2002/065 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 2002/8483 Barbs
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2220/0008 Fixation appliances for connecting prostheses to the body
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2220/0016 with sharp anchoring protrusions, e.g. barbs, pins, spikes

Abstract

The present invention is a device and method for installing a graft within a vascular lumen of a patient so as to substantially reduce fluid flow around the graft and axial migration of the graft.

By first deploying a substantially rigid stent within the vascular lumen of the patient so as to expand the vascular lumen beyond its initial natural diameter, the substantially rigid stent is thereby frictionally engaged to the wall of the vascular lumen. A graft is then deployed within the lumen of the substantially rigid stent, with the graft'"'"'s attachment system being at substantially the same longitudinal level within the target vessel as the substantially rigid stent.

Claims

1. A method for repairing an aortic vessel, comprising:

implanting in the lumen of the vessel at a position superior of the renal arteries, a substantially rigid stent, the stent having a generally tubular configuration and configured to substantially resist expansion after deployment within the lumen of the vessel; and

subsequent to the implanting step, deploying a prosthetic device within the vessel adjacent the stent, the prosthetic device comprising,

an attachment system configured to engage the prosthetic device with the stent, the attachment system being positioned within the lumen of the stent,

a graft located longitudinally separated from the attachment system, the graft being positioned inferior of the renal arteries, and

ties connecting the attachment system to the graft, the longitudinal separation between the attachment system and the graft being a function of the length of the ties.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of configuring the stent to facilitate tissue ingrowth.

3. The method of claim 2, the attachment system of the prosthetic device further comprising hooks.

4. The method of claim 3, the stent further comprising a wall having a plurality of orifices, wherein the hooks of the attachment system are configured to protrude into the orifices of the stent.

5. The method of claim 1, the prosthetic device further comprising a support structure within the interior of the graft, wherein the support structure is configured to maintain patency of the graft to create a sealing engagement between the graft and the vessel.

6. A system for repairing a vessel, the vessel having a wall defining a lumen, the system comprising:

a substantially rigid stent, the stent having a generally tubular configuration and configured to have a substantially fixed diameter after deployment within the lumen of the vessel; and

a prosthetic device, the prosthetic device comprising,

an attachment system, the attachment system being configured to engage the prosthetic device with the stent after the stent is placed in the lumen of the vessel, and

a graft,

wherein the attachment system is positioned so as to be longitudinally separated from the graft.

7. The system of claim 6, the attachment system of the prosthetic device further comprising hooks.

8. The system of claim 7, the stent further comprising a wall having a plurality of orifices, wherein the hooks of the attachment system are configured to protrude into the orifices of the stent.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein the hooks of the attachment system are further configured to penetrate the wall of the vessel.

10. The system of claim 6, wherein the attachment system of the prosthetic device is self-expanding.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein the stent is sufficiently rigid to substantially resist expansion induced by self-expansion forces from the attachment system.

12. The system of claim 10, wherein continued self-expansion of the attachment system after engagement of the prosthetic device with the stent is substantially precluded by the stent.

13. The system of claim 6, wherein the attachment system of the prosthetic device is balloon-expanded.

14. The system of claim 6, the prosthetic device further comprising ties to connect the attachment system to the graft, wherein the longitudinal separation between the attachment system and the graft is substantially a function of the length of the ties.

15. The system of claim 6, wherein the attachment system of the prosthetic device is formed from a frame which follows a generally undulating path.

16. The system of claim 15, the attachment system further comprising a plurality of superior apices and a plurality of inferior apices, the superior apices being connected to the inferior apices by connecting legs.

17. The system of claim 6, the stent further including a plurality of orifices.

18. The system of claim 17, wherein the orifices within the stent are adapted for tissue ingrowth and operate to provide the prosthetic device with mechanical support to resist downstream forces.

19. The system of claim 6, the prosthetic device further comprising a support structure configured within an interior of the prosthetic device.

20. The system of claim 19, wherein the support structure is adapted to maintain patency of the prosthetic device.

21. The system of claim 6, wherein the stent is adapted for tissue ingrowth and operates to provide the prosthetic device with mechanical support to resist downstream forces.