Bifurcated intraluminal prostheses construction and methods

• US 6,576,009 B2
• Filed: 02/11/2000
• Issued: 06/10/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 12/01/1995
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Medtronic Ave Incorporated (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Medtronic Ave Incorporated (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Lenker, Jay A., Ryan, Timothy J., Kim, Steven W., Freislinger, Kirsten, Evans, Michael A., Will, Allan R.
• Primary Examiner(s): SNOW, BRUCE EDWARD
• Application Number:
  US09/502,942
• Publication Number:
  US 20020156521A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,215 Days
• Field of Search: 623/1.16, 623/1.15, 623/1.27, 623/1.35
• US Class Current: 623/1.35
• 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 2002/075 the stent being loosely attached to the graft material, e.g. by stitching
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30199 Three-dimensional shapes
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30617 Visible markings for adjusting, locating or measuring
• 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 2230/0008 elliptical or oval
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2230/001 Figure-8-shaped, e.g. hourglass-shaped
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2230/0054 V-shaped
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2230/0063 Three-dimensional shapes
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2250/0097 Visible markings, e.g. indicia

Abstract

The present invention provides modular bifurcated intraluminal tubular prostheses, particularly stents and stent-grafts, for the treatment of disease conditions, particularly aneurysms. Modular sections of the prostheses, or “prosthetic modules,” may be selectively assembled to form a prosthesis having characteristics which are tailored to the specific requirements of the patient, including branch angle and branch lumen sizes which match the patients vascular geometry. A Y-connector prosthetic module structure provides support and separation for each of the adjacent branching lumens. Radiopaque markers on the prostheses promote alignment between prosthetic modules and with the body lumen system.

Claims

1. An endoluminal support device comprising:

a radially-expandable, bifurcated support,

the support including;

a first support portion, and

a second support portion including a first lobe and a second lobe, and a longitudinal isthmus between the first lobe and the second lobe,

the first and second lobes having smaller diameters than the first portion; and

a liner coupled to the radially-expandable, bifurcated support,

wherein the endoluminal support device has an uninterrupted cross-section over its entire length.

2. The endoluminal support device of claim 1, wherein the liner is coupled to an interior side of the radially-expandable, bifurcated support.

3. The endoluminal support device of claim 1, wherein the liner is coupled to an exterior side of the radially-expandable, bifurcated support.

4. The endoluminal support device of claim 1, wherein each of the first and second lobes is adapted to receive a branch support.

5. The endoluminal support device of claim 1, wherein the radially-expandable, bifurcated support is formed of a plurality of ring members.

6. The endoluminal support device of claim 5, wherein the ring members are attached to each other by stitching.

7. The endoluminal support device of claim 5, wherein the ring members are self expanding.

8. The endoluminal support device of claim 5, wherein the ring members are formed of stainless steel.

9. The endoluminal support device of claim 5, wherein the ring members are formed of Nitinol.

10. The endoluminal support device of claim 5, wherein the ring members are independent.

11. An endoluminal support device comprising:

a plurality of independent, expandable ring members forming a bifurcated vascular support structure;

the bifurcated vascular support structure having a first longitudinally-oriented portion with a generally circular cross-section and a second portion with at least one longitudinal indentation; and

a liner coupled to the support structure,

wherein the endoluminal support device has an uninterrupted cross-section over its entire length.

12. The endoluminal support device of claim 11, wherein the second portion includes two lobes.

13. The endoluminal support device of claim 12, wherein each of the two lobes is adapted to receive a branch support.

14. The endoluminal support device of claim 11, wherein the ring members are self-expanding.

15. The endoluminal support device of claim 11, wherein the ring members are formed of stainless steel.

16. The endoluminal support device of claim 11, wherein the ring members are formed of Nitinol.

17. The endoluminal support device of claim 11, wherein the liner is coupled to an interior side of the support structure.

18. The endoluminal support device of claim 11, wherein the liner is coupled to an exterior side of the support structure.

19. The endoluminal support device of claim 17, further comprising a bifurcated liner coupled to the support structure.

20. The endoluminal support device of claim 11, wherein the ring members are attached to each other by stitching.

21. The endoluminal support device of claim 11, wherein the second portion includes at least two longitudinal indentations.

22. A branching endovascular prosthesis comprising:

a radially expandable support, the support including;

a distal support portion comprising at least one expandable circumferential portion, and

a proximal support portion including a first lobe and a second lobe separated from the first lobe by an isthmus, and

a bifurcated liner coupled to the distal support portion and to the proximal support portion,

wherein the branching endovascular prosthesis has an uninterrupted cross-section over its entire length.

23. The prosthesis of claim 22, wherein the bifurcated liner is coupled an interior side of the distal support portion and to an interior side of the proximal support portion.

24. The prosthesis of claim 22, wherein the bifurcated liner is coupled an exterior side of the distal support portion and to an exterior side of the proximal support portion.

25. The prosthesis of claim 22, wherein the support is formed of a plurality of ring members.

26. The prosthesis of claim 25, wherein the ring members are attached to each other by stitching.

27. The prosthesis of claim 25, wherein the ring members are independent.

28. The endoluminal support device of claim 25, wherein the ring members are formed of stainless steel.

29. The prosthesis of claim 25, wherein the ring members are formed of Nitinol.

30. The prosthesis of claim 22, wherein the prosthesis is self explanding.

31. A branching endovascular prosthesis comprising:

a distal support portion comprising at least one radially expandable portion;

a proximal support portion coupled to the distal support portion,

the proximal support portion including a first radially expandable lobe and a second radially expandable lobe separated from the first lobe by an isthmus; and

a bifurcated liner coupled to the distal support portion and to the proximal support portion,

wherein the branching endovascular prosthesis has an uninterrupted cross-section over its entire length.

32. The prosthesis of claim 31, wherein the bifurcated liner is coupled to an interior side of the distal support portion and to an interior side of the proximal support portion.

33. The prosthesis of claim 31, wherein the bifurcated liner is coupled an exterior side of the distal support portion and to an exterior side of the proximal support portion.

34. The prosthesis of claim 31, wherein the prosthesis is formed of a plurality of ring members.

35. The prosthesis of claim 34, wherein the ring members are attached to each other by stitching.

36. The prosthesis of claim 34, wherein the ring members are self explanding.

37. The prosthesis of claim 34, wherein the ring members are independent.

38. The prosthesis of claim 34, wherein the ring members are formed of stainless steel.

39. The prosthesis of claim 34, wherein the ring members are formed of Nitinol.

40. An endoluminal support device comprising:

a plurality of independent ring members forming an expandable bifurcated vascular support structure,

each ring member having a circumferentially repeating diamond pattern, and

the bifurcated vascular support structure having an uninterrupted cross-section over its entire length; and

a bifurcated liner coupled to the bifurcated vascular support structure.

41. The endoluminal support device of claim 40, wherein the expandable bifurcated vascular support structure includes two lobes.

42. The endoluminal support device of claim 41, wherein each of the two lobes is adapted to receive a branch support.

43. The endoluminal support device of claim 40, wherein the ring members are self-expanding.

44. The endoluminal support device of claim 40, wherein the ring members are formed of stainless steel.

45. The endoluminal support device of claim 40, wherein the liner is coupled to an interior side of the endoluminal support device.

46. The endoluminal support device of claim 45, wherein the liner is bifurcated.

47. The endoluminal support device of claim 40, wherein the ring members are attached to each other by stitching.

48. The endoluminal support device of claim 40, wherein the ring members are formed of Nitinol.

49. A branching endoluminal prosthesis comprising:

a liner and a radially expandable support coupled to said liner;

wherein said liner comprises;

a main body having a proximal portion and a distal portion, said proximal portion including a main lumen, and said distal portion including a first branch having a first lumen extending to a first distal end, and a second branch having a second lumen extending to a second distal end, the first and second branch lumens being in communication with the main lumen and extending through said distal portion to define a bifurcation extending to said first and second distal ends; and

wherein said support comprises;

a distal support portion disposed over said distal portion of said main body, said distal support portion comprising at least one expandable circumferential portion defining a first lobe supporting said first branch, a second lobe supporting said second branch, and opposed indentations to support and separate said first and second branches,

wherein said branching endoluminal prosthesis has an uninterrupted cross-section over its entire length.

50. The branching endoluminal prosthesis of claim 49 wherein said support further comprises a, an expandable proximal circumferential portion supporting said proximal portion of said main body.

51. The branching endoluminal prosthesis of claim 49 further comprising an attachment mechanism which couples said distal support to said distal portion of said main body of said liner.

52. The branching endoluminal prosthesis of claim 51 wherein said attachment mechanism attaches said first lobe and a portion of each indentation to the first branch.

53. The branching endoluminal prosthesis of claim 52 wherein said attachment mechanism attaches said second lobe and a portion of each indentation to the second branch.

54. The branching endoluminal prosthesis of claim 49 wherein said support comprises a plurality of independent ring members.