Internal graft prosthesis and delivery system

• US 6,533,811 B1
• Filed: 05/09/1997
• Issued: 03/18/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 07/08/1993
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Medtronic Ave Incorporated (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Medtronic Incorporated (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Ryan, Timothy J., Mollenauer, Kenneth H., Fogarty, Thomas J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Isabella, David J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Chattopadhyay, Urmi
• Application Number:
  US08/854,089
• Time in Patent Office: 2,139 Days
• Field of Search: 606/191, 606/192, 606/194, 606/195, 606/198, 623/1.1, 623/1.11, 623/1.13, 623/1.14, 623/1.23, 623/1.25, 623/1--, 623/1.36, 623/11, 623/12, 623/903, 128/898, 604/7-8
• 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 2/90 characterised by a net-like or mesh-like structure
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/9517 handle assemblies therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/954 for placing stents or stent-grafts in a bifurcation
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/97 the outer sleeve being splittable
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/061 provided with means for allowing access to secondary lumens
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/9511 the retaining means being filaments or wires
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/9534 for repositioning of stents
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2220/0016 with sharp anchoring protrusions, e.g. barbs, pins, spikes
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2220/0075 sutured, ligatured or stitched, retained or tied with a rope, string, thread, wire or cable

Abstract

A resilient tubular graft is delivered into place within a body passage by elongating the graft to reduce its diameter and then directing the graft to the desired position while in the elongated condition. The graft is carried into position by a pair of elongate members mounted for longitudinal movement relative to one other. Flexible lines secure opposite ends of the graft to the respective elongate members whereby relative longitudinal movement of the members functions to elongate the graft and reduce its diameter. The lines extend around the graft to impart radial compression thereto simultaneously with elongation of the graft. Upon placement of the graft at the desired location within a body passage, the lines are released to permit the graft to expand into engagement with the passage. Barbs on the graft provide for secure engagement of the graft with a body passage.

Claims

1. A tubular graft for treating aneurysm within a major artery wherein branch arteries extend from the major artery in close proximity of the aneurysm and a system for placing the graft within an artery, said graft being fabricated of a resilient material and adapted to reduce in diameter upon elongation, said graft and system comprising:

a first elongate substantially fluid impermeable portion adapted to be positioned over the aneurysm so as to shield the aneurysm from blood flow through the major artery;

a second elongate substantially fluid permeable portion contiguous with the first portion, said second portion being adapted to extend over the branch arteries when the first portion is positioned over the aneurysm, said second portion engageable against the major artery surrounding the branch arteries to affix the position of the graft when deployed;

first and second elongate members extending longitudinally of the graft means, said members being longitudinally movable relative to one another and the graft means;

securing means releasably attaching the elongate members to the tubular graft means whereby longitudinal movement of the elongate members relative to one another in one direction elongates the graft means and longitudinal movement of the members in an opposite direction relaxes the graft means for expansion to the foreshortened enlarged diameter condition; and

,

means to selectively release the securing means from the elongate members.

2. A tubular graft for treating aneurysm within a major artery wherein branch arteries extend from the major artery in close proximity of the aneurysm and a system for placing the graft within an artery, said graft being fabricated of a resilient material and adapted to reduce in diameter upon elongation, said graft and system comprising:

a first elongate substantially fluid impermeable portion adapted to be positioned over the aneurysm so as to shield the aneurysm from blood flow through the major artery;

a second elongate substantially fluid permeable portion contiguous with the first portion, said second portion being adapted to extend over the branch arteries when the first portion is positioned over the aneurysm, said second portion engageable against the major artery surrounding the branch arteries to affix the position of the graft when deployed;

elongate placement means extending longitudinally of the graft to carry the graft through the body passage;

flexible lines securing opposite ends of the tubular graft means to the placement means;

means to move said lines to selectively elongate the graft means; and

,

means to selectively release the flexible lines from the placement means.

3. A method of treating an aneurysm within a major artery wherein branch arteries extend from the major artery in close promimity of the aneurysm, said method comprising:

providing a tubular craft of an outside diameter closely approximating the internal diameter of the major artery and a length exceeding that of the aneurysm, said graft being fabricated of a resilient material and adapted to reduce in diameter upon elongation and having;

a first elongate substantially fluid impermeable portion; and

,

a second elongate substantially fluid permeable portion contiguous with the first portion;

elongating the graft to reduce its outside diameter to less than the internal diameter of the major artery;

passing the graft into the major artery and over the aneurysm;

positioning the graft and relaxing its elongation to expand the first portion into a condition covering the aneurysm and the second portion into a condition covering at least some of the branch arteries;

affixing the graft within the major artery by engaging the major artery with the second portion adjacent the at least some of the branch arteries;

extending first and second elongate members along the graft for longitudinal movement relative to one another and the graft;

securing a first end of the graft to an attachment point on said first elongate member and a second end of the graft to an attachment point on said second elongate member; and

moving said members longitudinally relative to one another to move the attachment points apart and, thereby, elongate the graft;

moving said elongate members longitudinally relative to one another to move the attachment points together and, thereby, relax elongation of the graft and permit the graft to expand resiliently into engagement with the passage; and

disconnecting the graft from the elongate members and removing the members from the passage.

4. A method for treating an aneurysm within a major artery, wherein a branch artery extends from the major artery at a branch intersection, the intersection in close proximity of the aneurysm, the method comprising:

introducing a tubular vascular graft into the major artery while the graft is in a small diameter configuration, the graft comprising a plurality of filaments which define a perforates tubular frame, the filaments extending along a substantially fluid impermeable axial portion of the graft and along a fluid permeable axial portion of the graft;

positioning the fluid impermeable portion of the graft within the major artery in axial alignment with the aneurysm and with the fluid permeable portion in axial alignment with the intersection; and

radially expanding the frame so that the filaments along the fluid permeable portion radially engage the major artery surrounding the branch artery to anchor the graft within the major artery, the fluid permeable portion of the graft covering the branch artery such that bloodflow between the major artery and the branch artery passes through the expanded fluid permeable portion, the expanded fluid impermeable portion isolating the aneurysm from bloodflow through the major artery.

5. A method as claimed in claim 4, wherein the major artery comprises the aortic artery, and wherein the fluid permeable portion covers the renal arteries.

6. A method as claimed in claim 4, wherein the filaments comprise resilient structures which resiliently engage the surrounding major artery.

7. A method as claimed in claim 6, wherein the filaments comprise a resilient material and extend helically around the graft in opposite directions so that the frame expands axially when resiliently compressed radially, and wherein an elastomeric material is supported by the filaments along the fluid impermeable portion of the graft to isolate the aneurysm from the bloodflow.