Universal length sizing and dock for modular bifurcated endovascular graft

• US 7,122,051 B1
• Filed: 07/12/2002
• Issued: 10/17/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 07/12/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Lifeshield Sciences LLC (Acacia Research Corporation)
• Original Assignee: EndoVascular Technologies Incorporated (Boston Scientific Corporation)
• Inventors: Gladdish, Bennie, Dallara, Mark, Pazienza, John, Concemi, Alfred
• Primary Examiner(s): Barrett, Thomas C.
• Application Number:
  US10/194,426
• Time in Patent Office: 1,558 Days
• Field of Search: 623/1.35, 623/1.15
• 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 2002/067 modular
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/072 Encapsulated stents, e.g. wire or whole stent embedded in lining
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/075 the stent being loosely attached to the graft material, e.g. by stitching
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2250/0007 for adjusting length

Abstract

A bifurcated graft having a trunk portion and two limb portions, each defined by a docking end and a non-docking end, that is assembled in-situ. The trunk and limb portions are supported by a combination of full and partial stent structures that are connected by longitudinal stent struts to form a continuous stent lattice. The diameters of the docking sections may be standardized such that any limb portion may be inserted into any trunk portion, providing the same degree of mechanical interference for trunk and limb portions having non-docking ends of various diameters.

Claims

1. A bifurcated graft for repairing vasculature capable of being assembled in-situ, comprising:

a trunk portion having a graft component with a proximal end and a distal end, the graft component supported by a self-expanding stent structure comprising at least one longitudinal strut that provides longitudinal support substantially the length from the proximal end to the distal end and a plurality of said stent structure extending circumferentially less than 360°

around the circumference of the distal end;

at least one limb portion, each limb portion having a graft component with a proximal end and a distal end, the graft component supported by a self-expanding stent structure comprising at least one longitudinal strut that provides longitudinal support substantially the length from the proximal end to the distal end and a plurality of stent cells along the longitudinal strut that provides at least partial radial support at the proximal and distal ends;

wherein the graft is assembled by inserting each limb portion proximal end into the trunk portion distal end such that the limb portion proximal end and trunk portion distal end overlap a variable distance between a minimum and maximum amount.

2. The bifurcated graft of claim 1, comprising at least two limb portions.

3. The graft of claim 1, wherein the minimum amount is 10 millimeters.

4. The graft of claim 1, wherein the difference between the minimum amount and maximum amount is 60 millimeters.

5. The graft of claim 1, wherein the trunk portion stent structure further comprises sealing stent cells at the proximal end.

6. The graft of claim 5, wherein the sealing stent cells comprise a number of full cells extending circumferentially 360°

around the proximal end.

7. The graft of claim 6, wherein there is an even number of full cells.

8. The graft of claim 1, wherein each limb portion stent structure further comprises sealing stent cells at the distal end.

9. The graft of claim 8, wherein the sealing stent cells comprise a number of full cells extending circumferentially 360°

around the distal end.

10. The graft of claim 9, wherein there is an even number of full cells.

11. The graft of claim 1, wherein the trunk portion comprises two or more rows of stent cells extending longitudinally at the distal end.

12. The graft of claim 11, wherein the longitudinal rows comprise full stent cells.

13. The graft of claim 11, wherein the longitudinal rows comprise half stent cells.

14. The graft of claim 11, wherein the longitudinal rows comprise quarter stent cells.

15. The graft of claim 11, wherein the longitudinal rows of stent cells lie in different planes.

16. The graft of claim 11, wherein the stent cells extend circumferentially less than 360°

around the circumference of the distal end.

17. The graft of claim 11, wherein the stent cells comprise a number of full cells extending 360°

around the circumference of the distal end.

18. The graft of claim 17, wherein there is an even number of full cells.

19. The graft of claim 1, wherein each limb portion stent structure further comprises one or more rows of stent cells extending longitudinally at the proximal end.

20. The graft of claim 19, wherein the longitudinal rows comprise full stent cells.

21. The graft of claim 19, wherein the longitudinal rows comprise half stent cells.

22. The graft of claim 19, wherein the longitudinal rows comprise quarter stent cells.

23. The graft of claim 19 wherein the stent cells extend less than 360°

about the circumference of the proximal end.

24. The graft of claim 19 wherein the longitudinal rows comprise a number of full cells extending 360°

around the proximal end.

25. The graft of claim 24, wherein there is an even number of full cells.

26. The graft of claim 1, wherein each limb portion stent structure further comprises one or more rows of stent cells extending longitudinally between the proximal and distal ends.

27. The graft of claim 26 wherein the longitudinal rows comprise full stent cells.

28. The graft of claim 26 wherein the longitudinal rows comprise half stent cells.

29. The graft of claim 26 wherein the longitudinal rows comprise quarter stent cells.

30. The graft of claim 26 wherein the stent cells extend less than 360°

about the circumference of the stent structure.

31. The graft of claim 26 wherein the longitudinal rows comprise a number of full cells extending 360°

around the stent structure.

32. The graft of claim 31, wherein there is an even number of full cells.

33. The graft of claim 1, wherein the graft component of the trunk portion is internal the stent structure.

34. The graft of claim 1, wherein the graft component of the trunk portion is external the stent structure.

35. The graft of claim 1, wherein the graft component of each limb portion is external the stent structure.

36. The graft of claim 1, wherein the graft component of each limb portion is internal the stent structure.

37. The graft of claim 1, wherein the fully expanded diameter of the trunk portion distal end is less than the fully expanded diameter of the limb portion proximal end.