Modular graft component junctions

• US 7,226,474 B2
• Filed: 03/04/2002
• Issued: 06/05/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 05/01/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Lifeport Sciences LLC (Acacia Research Corporation)
• Original Assignee: EndoVascular Technologies Incorporated (Boston Scientific Corporation)
• Inventors: Newhauser, Richard, Iancea, Octavian, Escano, Arnold M., Eckert, Robin W., Pollock, David T., Fitz, Matthew J., Perez, Juan I., Hayashi, Reid, Farahani, Shahrokh R., Chuter, Timothy A. M., Tesar, Aleta
• Primary Examiner(s): BUI, VY Q
• Application Number:
  US10/090,472
• Publication Number:
  US 20030176911A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,919 Days
• Field of Search: 623 111- 123, 606/198
• US Class Current: 623/1.13
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/07 Stent-grafts
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/82 Devices providing patency to, or preventing collapsing of, tubular structures of the body, e.g. stents stent-grafts for tubular structures of the body other than blood vessels A61F2/04; stent-grafts for blood vessels A61F2/07; instruments specially adapted for placement or removal of stents or stent-grafts A61F2/95; for closing wounds, or holding wounds closed A61B17/04 - A61B17/115; dilators A61M29/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/856 Single tubular stent with a side portal passage
• 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 2/915 with bands having a meander structure, adjacent bands being connected to each other
• 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 2002/91541 Adjacent bands are arranged out of phase
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/91558 connected peak to peak
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2210/0076 multilayered, e.g. laminated structures
• 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 2220/0033 made by longitudinally pushing a protrusion into a complementary-shaped recess, e.g. held by friction fit
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2220/0041 using additional screws, bolts, dowels or rivets, e.g. connecting screws
• 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 2230/0013 Horseshoe-shaped, e.g. crescent-shaped, C-shaped, U-shaped
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2230/0067 conical

Abstract

The present invention embodies an endovascular graft having an attachment frame connection mechanism that allows placement of the main body component in vasculature in combination with limb components. Various limb component-to-main body component attachment mechanisms are provided which ensure a reliable bond while facilitating a smaller delivery profile.

Claims

1. A modular endovascular graft device for treating vasculature, comprising:

a first graft component having a first wall; and

a second graft component including a graft having a second wall and a frame with a plurality of radially extending components which upon assembling the first and second components, at least one of the plurality of the radially extending components extends through both the first wall and the second wall, and further including a plurality of pre-fabricated holes, at least one pre-fabricated hole being in alignment with one radially extending component.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein the frame is in the form of a self-expanding stent.

3. The device of claim 1, wherein the plurality of radially extending components are in the form of hooks or barbs.

4. The device of claim 3, wherein the hooks or barbs have sharpened points.

5. The device of claim 3, wherein the hooks or barbs are pointed in a caudal direction.

6. The device of claim 1, wherein the radially extending component has a length sufficient to extend through the wall of the first graft component and into a wall of vasculature.

7. The device of claim 1, the first graft component further comprising a superior end and an inferior end, the inferior end including at least one limb support section.

8. The device of claim 1, wherein the first graft component is bifurcated.

9. The device of claim 1, wherein the second graft component has a tubular configuration.

10. The device of claim 1, wherein the second graft has a proximal end and distal end, the distal end including a self-expanding stent.

11. The device of claim 1, further comprising fuzzy tufts of yarn configured at a junction between the first and second components.

12. The device of claim 1, further comprising additional graft components, each having a wall and including a frame with a plurality of radially extending components which, upon assembling each additional component and the previously assembled components, at least one of the plurality of radially extending components extend through both the wall of the additional component and the wall of at least one of the previously assembled components such that a successive chain of assembled components is formed.

13. The device of claim 1, one or more components reinforced with a thin coating of a biocompatible elastomer applied to the graft material.

14. The device of claim 13, the biocompatible elastomer applied to specific areas of the graft material.

15. The device of claim 13, the biocompatible elastomer a polyurethane co-polymer dip-coated onto the surface of the graft material.

16. The device of claim 1, the graft material weave pattern of one or more components altered to provide extra strength.