Endovascular graft with sensors design and attachment methods

• US 7,261,733 B1
• Filed: 06/07/2002
• Issued: 08/28/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 06/07/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Lifeshield Sciences LLC (Acacia Research Corporation)
• Original Assignee: EndoVascular Technologies Incorporated (Boston Scientific Corporation)
• Inventors: Brown, Peter S., Barkman, Kimberly, Kovac, Tim, Lemere, Mark T.
• Primary Examiner(s): Snow; Bruce
• Assistant Examiner(s): MILLER, CHERYL L
• Application Number:
  US10/165,763
• Time in Patent Office: 1,908 Days
• Field of Search: 623 115- 135, 623/1.13, 600/300, 600/309, 600/372, 600/386, 600/390, 600/486, 600/488, 604/890.01
• US Class Current: 623/1.34
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2560/0219 of externally powered implanted units
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0028 Body tissue as transmission medium, i.e. transmission systems where the medium is the human body
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0031 Implanted circuitry
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/02007 Evaluating blood vessel condition, e.g. elasticity, compliance
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/02014 Determining aneurysm
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/076 Permanent implantations telemetry using implanted circuitry A61B5/0031; implanted stimulators for therapy A61N1/3605, A61N1/362, A61N1/372
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 7/001 Detecting cranial noise, e.g. caused by aneurism
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/07 Stent-grafts
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/065 Y-shaped blood vessels
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/067 modular
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2250/0002 for data transfer

Abstract

A endovascular graft having sensing devices attached thereto to facilitate measurement of pertinent parameters within the vasculature into which the graft is implanted. Power sources and transmitters may be attached to the graft to facilitate transmission of measurements to a receiving device outside the patient'"'"'s body. The sensing devices, may be electrically passive or integrated devices with measurement and transmission capability. The sensing devices may be attached to specific locations on the graft material or attached to the lumen, thereby providing pertinent parameters from critical points inside the vasculature, or may be dispersed over the surface of the graft material or within the lumen to provide a profile of pertinent parameters. The sensing devices may be attached to the graft material with one suture using a running stitch to minimize graft bulk and may be coated with a material to inhibit or control tissue growth.

Claims

1. An endoluminal prosthesis for repairing vasculature, comprising:

an endovascular graft having one or more sensing devices attached thereto, each sensing device configured to provide information regarding a pertinent parameter inside the vasculature; and

at least one receiving device located outside a patient'"'"'s body, each receiving device configured to receive the information provided by one or more sensing devices;

wherein each sensing device is attached to the endovascular graft by one continuous suture forming a running stitch engaging the sensing device and starting from one location along the sensing device, around the sensing device, and back;

wherein each sensing device comprises suture loops.

2. The prosthesis of claim 1, wherein the ends of the suture are connected together external the endovascular graft by a single knot.

3. The prosthesis of claim 1, wherein each sensing device comprises suture holes.