Endovascular graft system

• US 6,884,260 B2
• Filed: 01/14/2003
• Issued: 04/26/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 12/03/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Cardinal Health Switzerland 515 GmbH (Cardinal Health, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Cordis Corporation (Cardinal Health, Inc.)
• Inventors: Olson, Matthew J., Kugler, Chad J., Keith, Peter T., Drontle, John R., Heiland, Thomas K.
• Primary Examiner(s): WEHNER, CARY ELLEN
• Application Number:
  US10/341,840
• Publication Number:
  US 20030135261A1
• Time in Patent Office: 833 Days
• Field of Search: 623/1.11, 623/1.35, 623/1.12, 623/1.15, 623/1.2, 606/192
• US Class Current: 623/1.15
• 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 2/89 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 2/91 made from perforated sheet material or tubes, e.g. perforated by laser cuts or etched holes
• 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 2002/067 modular
• 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 2230/0054 V-shaped
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2230/008 paraboloidal

Abstract

The invention provides an endovascular graft system for repair of aneurysms. The graft system includes a trunk component and first and second leg components. The graft components include graft material supported by a plurality of stents which are spaced apart and affixed to the graft material in a manner that allows articulation of the graft system without excessive wear of the graft material. The stents are formed by intersecting struts which may be tapered to relieve stress. A stabilizing mechanism is provided to stabilize the position of the legs with respect to the trunk when the graft system is deployed.

Claims

1. A stent for placement in a vessel of a patient'"'"'s vascular system comprising:

a substantially tubular body portion having a plurality of struts, each strut having first and second ends and a midpoint located midway therebetween, each end of the plurality of struts intersecting with an end of at least one adjacent strut to form a plurality of strut intersections, at least one strut being configured to taper between the midpoint and the first and second ends in a manner that is gradual and substantially continuous, wherein the tubular body portion defines a longitudinal axis and has a first end and a second end and wherein a plurality of intersecting struts adjacent the first end form a substantially diamond shape pattern at the first end of the stent and a plurality of intersecting struts adjacent the second end form a substantially zigzag pattern at the second end of the stent, the diamond shape pattern and zigzag pattern being connected by a plurality of longitudinal struts, the longitudinal struts being substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the tubular body, and wherein the at least one strut being configured to taper is a strut adjacent the first end of the stent.

2. The stent of claim 1 wherein the at least one strut being configured to taper includes the plurality of struts adjacent the first end of the stent.

3. The stent of claim 1 wherein the at least one strut configured to taper is configured to taper from a larger dimension at the midpoint to smaller dimensions at the first and second ends.

4. The stem of claim 1 wherein the at least one strut configured to taper is configured to taper from a smaller dimension at the midpoint to larger dimensions at the first and second ends.