Graft with multiple channels

• US 6,592,615 B1
• Filed: 02/05/2001
• Issued: 07/15/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 02/24/1995
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Lifeport Sciences LLC (Acacia Research Corporation)
• Original Assignee: EndoVascular Technologies Incorporated (Boston Scientific Corporation)
• Inventors: Kornahrens, Frederick W., West, Anthony, Marcade, Jean Paul
• Primary Examiner(s): Willse, David H.
• Application Number:
  US09/777,279
• Time in Patent Office: 890 Days
• Field of Search: 623/1.29, 623/1.31, 623/1.16, 623/1.27, 623/1.3, 623/1.35, 623/1.36, 623/1.28, 623/1-2-, 623/1.1, 623/2.36, 623/2.37, 623/2.4, 623/2.41, 623/FOR.100
• US Class Current: 623/1.16
• 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 2/95 Instruments specially adapted for placement or removal of stents or stent-grafts
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/954 for placing stents or stent-grafts in a bifurcation
• 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 2220/0033 made by longitudinally pushing a protrusion into a complementary-shaped recess, e.g. held by friction fit
• 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 2230/0067 conical
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2230/0078 hyperboloidal
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2230/008 paraboloidal
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2250/0037 differing in height or in length
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2250/0039 differing in diameter

Abstract

A bifurcated graft is formed from a series of individual components which are intraluminally delivered apart from one another and then assembled to form a fully supported structure. The modular system includes a base member and one or more grafts connected thereto. The base member preferably includes a portion which gradually increases in diameter. A tubular device for inserting the components of the modular system and a method employing the modular system for repairing an abdominal aortic aneurysm are also disclosed.

Claims

1. A graft device for repairing an aorta, comprising:

a first component sized for implantation within an aorta, the first component having a generally tubular configuration and an indentation joining diametrically opposed surfaces of the first component, the indentation extending longitudinally along at least a portion of the first component and the first component being configured to mate with at least one additional graft component after the first component is placed in the aorta; and

at least one additional graft component configured to mate with the first component.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein the indentation is defined by a stitch line.

3. The device of claim 2, wherein the stitch line defines two tubular channels within the first component.

4. The device of claim 1, wherein the first component includes a superior end, a mid-section, and an inferior end.

5. The device of claim 4, wherein the mid-section has a generally uniform diameter.

6. The device of claim 4, wherein the superior end has an increasing diameter.

7. The device of claim 4, wherein the inferior end has an increasing diameter.

8. The device of claim 1, further comprising a support device attached to the first component.

9. The device of claim 8, further comprising hook-like members attached to the support device.

10. The device of claim 8, wherein the support device is self-expanding.

11. The device of claim 1, further comprising a plurality of radiopaque markers attached to the first component.

12. The device of claim 1, further comprising at least one limb component configured to mate with the first component.

13. The device of claim 1, wherein the first component includes the superior end and an inferior end, the device further including an extender configured to mate with a superior end of the first component.

14. The device of claim 13, further comprising at least one limb component configured to mate with the inferior end of the first component.