Prosthesis for endovascular repair of abdominal aortic aneurysms

• US 6,669,720 B1
• Filed: 11/21/2000
• Issued: 12/30/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 01/28/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: George E. Pierce
• Original Assignee: George E. Pierce
• Inventors: Pierce, George E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Willse, David H.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Blanco, Javier G.
• Application Number:
  US09/717,532
• Time in Patent Office: 1,134 Days
• Field of Search: 623/1.13, 623/1.36, 623/1.16
• US Class Current: 623/1.13
• 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 2002/061 provided with means for allowing access to secondary lumens
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/075 the stent being loosely attached to the graft material, e.g. by stitching
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2220/0025 Connections or couplings between prosthetic parts, e.g. between modular parts; Connecting elements
• 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 2230/005 Rosette-shaped, e.g. star-shaped
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2230/0078 hyperboloidal

Abstract

An apparatus for endovascular repair of aortic aneurysms is disclosed. In one form, the apparatus includes a tube and an anchoring unit that includes a plurality of thin lines. The tube serves as a conduit for blood flow in an aneurysm of an aorta. A first end of the plurality of lines is connected to a first end of the tube. A second end of the plurality of lines is separated by a distance from the first end of the tube for anchoring the apparatus at a location away from the aneurysm.

Claims

1. An apparatus for repairing an aneurysm of an aorta, the aorta including a region from which celiac, mesenteric and renal arteries originate, the aneurysm being located along a section of the aorta positioned between the renal and iliac arteries, the apparatus including:

a) a tube to serve as a conduit for blood flow in the aneurysm of the aorta, the tube being dimensioned in length to at least extend a length of the aneurysm and to terminate below the renal arteries;

b) an anchor, separated by a distance from the tube, to secure the apparatus within the aorta; and

c) a plurality of thin lines interconnecting the anchor and the tube, the lines being dimensioned to a length greater than a length of the region of the aorta from which the celiac, mesenteric and renal arteries originate, each of the lines being sufficiently thin so as to not obstruct blood flow to the celiac, mesenteric and renal arteries, the plurality of thin lines including more than 2 thin lines.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein tile plurality of lines art flexible metal wires.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the plurality of lines are flexible monofilament.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the plurality of lines are evenly distributed about the circumference of the tube.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the plurality of lines curve radially outward at a first end of the tube to which the lines are connected, to push the fir end of the tube against an aortic wall.

6. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the first end of the tube is circumferentially stretchable, so that the end of the tube can conform to the shape of an aortic wall.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the tube includes a collar of compressible, elastic material at a first end of the tube to which the plurality of lines are attached wherein the collar expands radially to conform to an aortic wall.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the anchor is an expandable metal stent.

9. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the apparatus includes 6-10 thin lines.

10. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the apparatus includes at least 6 thin lines.

11. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the apparatus can be implanted without regard to the rotational orientation of the apparatus about a longitudinal axis of the aorta.

12. A method for repairing an aneurysm of an aorta, the aorta including a region from which celiac, mesenteric and renal arteries originate, the aneurysm being located along a section of the aorta positioned between the renal and iliac arteries, the method comprising:

A) providing an apparatus including;

a) a tube to serve as a conduit for blood flow in the aneurysm of the aorta, the tube being dimensioned in length to at least extend a length of the aneurysm;

b) an anchor, separated by a distance from the tube, to secure the apparatus within the aorta; and

c) a plurality of thin lines interconnecting the anchor and the tube, the lines being dimensioned to a length greater than a length of the region of the aorta from which the celiac, mesenteric and renal arteries originate, each of the lines being sufficiently thin so as to not obstruct blood flow to the celiac, mesenteric and renal arteries, the plurality of thin lines including more than 2 thin lines; and

B) implanting the apparatus in the aorta with an uppermost portion of the tube terminating below the renal arteries and the anchor secured above the celiac artery.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the apparatus can be implanted without regard to the rotational orientation of the apparatus about a longitudinal axis of the aorta.