Stent and catheter assembly and method for treating bifurcations

• US 6,579,312 B2
• Filed: 06/14/2001
• Issued: 06/17/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 08/13/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Advanced Cardiovascular Systems Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Advanced Cardiovascular Systems Incorporated
• Inventors: Wilson, W. Stan, Mauch, Kevin M.
• Primary Examiner(s): TRUONG, KEVIN THAO
• Application Number:
  US09/882,989
• Publication Number:
  US 20010037138A1
• Time in Patent Office: 733 Days
• Field of Search: 623/1.11, 623/1.23, 623/1.35, 623/1.36, 606/108, 606/194, 606/195, 606/192, 604/96.01, 604/101.01, 604/101.02, 604/101.03
• US Class Current: 623/1.35
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/856 Single tubular stent with a side portal passage
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/90 characterised by a net-like or mesh-like structure
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/91 made from perforated sheet material or tubes, e.g. perforated by laser cuts or etched holes
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/915 with bands having a meander structure, adjacent bands being connected to each other
• 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 2002/067 modular
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/821 Ostial stents
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/91508 the meander having a difference in amplitude along the band
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/91516 the meander having a change in frequency along the band
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/91533 characterised by the phase between adjacent bands
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/91575 connected peak to trough
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2250/0014 having different values of a given property or geometrical feature, e.g. mechanical property or material property, at different locations within the same prosthesis
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2250/006 modular
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2025/1045 for treating bifurcations, e.g. balloons in y-configuration, separate balloons or special features of the catheter for treating bifurcations
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/10 Balloon catheters A61M25/0125 takes precedence; embolectomy A61B17/22032; retractors A61B17/02; inflatable balloons for placing stents or stent-grafts A61F2/958 ; stomach balloons for treatment of obesity A61F5/0003; oesophagal tubes A61J15/00

Abstract

An apparatus and method is provided for stenting bifurcated vessels. A proximal angled stent is configured for implanting in a side-branch vessel wherein the proximal angled stent has an angulated portion that corresponds to the angle formed by the intersection of the side-branch vessel and the main vessel so that all portions of the side-branch vessel at the bifurcation are covered by the proximal angled stent. A main-vessel stent is provided for implanting in the main vessel, wherein the main-vessel stent has an aperture or stent cell that aligns with the opening to the side-branch vessel to permit unobstructed blood flow between the main vessel and the side-branch vessel. Side-branch and main-vessel catheter assemblies are advanced over a pair of guide wires for delivering, appropriately orienting, and implanting the proximal angled stent and the apertured stent.

Claims

1. An apparatus for treating a bifurcated region of a body lumen, comprising:

a catheter having a proximal end and a distal end;

a first guide wire extending from near said distal end of said catheter; and

a second guide wire extending from near said distal end of said catheter and releasably linked to said first guide wire.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said first guide wire extends through a first expandable member.

3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein said second guide wire extends through said first expandable member.

4. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein said expandable member is Y-shaped.

5. The apparatus of claim 4, further comprising a Y-shaped stent fitted about said Y-shaped expandable member.

6. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein said second guide wire extends through a second expandable member.

7. The apparatus of claim 6, further comprising a Y-shaped stent fitted about said first and second expandable members.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said second guide wire is longitudinally shiftable relative to said first guide wire while being linked thereto.

9. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said guide wires are releasably linked to one another by a structure defining two lumens, each configured to receive one of said guide wires.

10. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein at least one of said guide wires is slidably received within said two lumen structure.

11. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said catheter is configured to allow for the rapid exchange of one of said guide wires.

12. An apparatus for treating a bifurcated region of a body lumen, comprising:

a catheter having a proximal end and a distal end;

a first expandable member disposed near the distal end of said catheter;

a second expandable member disposed near the distal end of said catheter;

a first guide wire lumen associated with said first expandable member;

a second guide wire lumen associated with said second expandable member and having a distal end;

a section of a third guide wire lumen associated with said first guide wire lumen and having a proximal end distal to said distal end of said second guide wire lumen; and

a guide wire extending through said second guide wire lumen and into said section of said third guide wire lumen.

13. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein said guide wire is longitudinally shiftable within said section of said third guide wire lumen and is retractable therefrom.

14. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein said first and second expandable members are biased away from one another and wherein said guide wire serves to overcome such bias while extending into said section of said third guide wire lumen.

15. The apparatus of claim 12, further comprising a stent fitted about said expandable members.

16. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein said stent is Y-shaped.

17. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein said catheter is configured to allow for the rapid exchange of a guide wire extending through one of said guide wire lumens.