Bifurcated intraluminal prostheses construction and methods

• US 6,843,803 B2
• Filed: 04/28/2003
• Issued: 01/18/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 12/01/1995
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Medtronic Vascular, Inc. (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Medtronic Vascular, Inc. (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:
  US10/423,905
• Publication Number:
  US 20030195614A1
• Time in Patent Office: 631 Days
• Field of Search: 623/1.35, 623/1.27, 623/1.15, 623/1.16
• 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. A branching endoluminal prosthesis comprising:

a radially expandable support having a proximal portion and a distal portion, the proximal portion including a main lumen, and the distal portion including a first branch having a first lumen, and a second branch having a second lumen, the first and second branch lumens being in communication with the main lumen and extending through the distal portion to define a bifurcation therein,

wherein the distal portion has a peanut-shaved cross-section and includes at least one expandable circumferential portion defining a first lobe supporting the first branch, at least one expandable circumferential portion defining a second lobe supporting the second branch, and opposed indentations to support and separate the first and second branches,

wherein the branching endoluminal prosthesis has an uninterrupted cross-section over its entire length, and

wherein the radially expandable support is formed of independent ring members that are attached to each other by stitching.

2. The branching endoluminal prosthesis of claim 1, wherein the ring members are self-expanding.

3. The branching endoluminal prosthesis of claim 1, wherein the ring members are formed of Nitinol.

4. The branching endoluminal prosthesis of claim 1, wherein the ring members are formed of stainless steel.

5. An endoluminal support device comprising:

a radially-expandable, bifurcated support, including

a first support portion, and

a second support portion with a peanut-shaped cross-section and 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 support portion;

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

wherein the radially-expandable, bifurcated support is formed of independent ring members that are attached to each other by stitching.

6. The device of claim 5, wherein the ring members are self-expanding.

7. 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 peanut-shaped cross-section and,

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

wherein the ring members are self-expanding, and attached to each other by stitching.

8. A branching endovascular prosthesis comprising:

a radially expandable support, the support including

a first expandable circumferential support portion, and

a second support portion with a peanut-shaped cross-section and including a first lobe and a second lobe separated from the first lobe by an isthmus,

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

wherein the radially expandable support is formed of a plurality of independent ring members that are attached to each other by stitching.

9. The branching endovascular prosthesis of claim 8, wherein the ring members are formed of stainless steel.

10. A branching endovascular prosthesis comprising:

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

a proximal support portion coupled to the distal support portion,

the proximal support portion having a peanut-shaped cross-section and including a first radially expandable lobe and a second radially expandable lobe separated from the first lobe by an isthmus,

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

wherein the branching endovascular prosthesis is formed of a plurality of independent, self-expanding ring members, and

wherein the ring members are attached to each other by stitching.

11. An endoluminal support device comprising:

a plurality of independent ring members forming an expandable bifurcated vascular support structure having a peanut-shaped cross-section at one end,

each ring member having a circumferentially repeating diamond pattern, and

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

wherein the ring members are self-expanding and attached to each other by stitching.