Lock modular graft component junctions

• US 7,666,221 B2
• Filed: 08/16/2002
• Issued: 02/23/2010
• 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: Escano, Arnold M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Bui; Vy Q
• Application Number:
  US10/222,728
• Publication Number:
  US 20030229389A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,748 Days
• Field of Search: 623 111- 136, 623/1.37, 623/1.38, 623/1.39, 606/191, 606/194, 606/198
• US Class Current: 623/1.36
• 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 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 2002/30322 differing in surface structures
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/8483 Barbs
• 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 2220/0041 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 2230/0067 conical
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2250/0026 differing in surface structures

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 with proximal and distal ends, the proximal end configured to be implanted and embedded within vasculature, the distal end having a plurality of pre-fabricated holes; and

a second graft component having a longitudinal axis and a second wall with proximal and distal ends, the proximal end having a frame with a plurality of radially extending components positioned on a side of the second wall opposite from an inside region defined by the second wall and said plurality of radially extending components extend beyond the second wall to enable attachment of the second component to the first implanted and embedded component, at least one of the plurality of radially extending components is configured to extend outwardly away from the longitudinal axis of the second component to penetrate through at least one of said pre-fabricated holes and embed in the distal end of the first wall.

2. The device of claim 1, the first component further comprising a frame with a plurality of radially extending components at the proximal end.

3. The device of claim 1, the second component further comprising a frame with a plurality of radially extending components at the distal end.

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

5. The device of claim 1, wherein the frame is external the graft component.

6. The device of claim 1, wherein the frame is internal the graft component.

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

8. The device of claim 7, wherein the hooks or barbs have sharpened points.

9. The device of claim 7, wherein the hooks or barbs are pointed in a caudal direction.

10. The device of claim 1, the first graft component further comprising at least one limb support section at the distal end.

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

12. The device of claim 1, wherein the first graft component is trifurcated.

13. The device of claim 1, wherein at least one of the first and second graft components has a generally tubular configuration.

14. The device of claim 1, wherein at least one of the first and second graft components has a flared configuration.

15. The device of claim 1, wherein at least one of the first and second graft components has a tapered configuration.

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

17. The device of claim 1, the first component further comprising radiopaque markers.

18. The device of claim 1, the second component further comprising radiopaque markers.

19. The device of claim 1, the first component further comprising at least one support frame at the distal end.

20. 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 the wall of at least one of the previously assembled components such that a successive chain of assembled components is formed.

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

a first graft component having a longitudinal axis, a first wall with proximal and distal ends, the proximal end configured to be implanted and embedded within vasculature and the distal end having a frame with a plurality of radially extending components positioned on a side of the first wall opposite from an inside region defined by the first wall and that extend beyond the first wall; and

a second graft component having a second wall with proximal and distal ends, the proximal end having a plurality of pre-fabricated holes configured to be disposed over at least a portion of the distal end of the first component, to enable attachment of the second component to the first partially-implanted and embedded first component, at least one of the plurality of radially extending components of the first component is configured to extend outwardly away from the longitudinal axis of the first component to penetrate through at least one of said pre-fabricated holes and embed in the second wall of the second component.

22. The device of claim 21, the first component further comprising a frame with a plurality of radially extending components at the proximal end.

23. The device of claim 21, the first component further comprising a support frame at the distal end.

24. The device of claim 21, the second component further comprising a frame with a plurality of radially extending components at the distal end.

25. The device of claim 21, wherein the frame is in the form of a self-expanding stent.

26. The device of claim 21, wherein the frame is external the graft component.

27. The device of claim 21, wherein the frame is internal the graft component.

28. The device of claim 21, the second component further comprising a support frame at the proximal end.

29. The device of claim 21, wherein the plurality of radially extending components are in the form of hooks or barbs.

30. The device of claim 29, wherein the hooks or barbs have sharpened points.

31. The device of claim 30, wherein the hooks or barbs are pointed in a caudal direction.

32. The device of claim 21, wherein the first graft component is bifurcated.

33. The device of claim 21, wherein the first graft component is trifurcated.

34. The device of claim 21, wherein the second graft component has a generally tubular configuration.

35. The device of claim 21, wherein the second graft component has a flared configuration.

36. The device of claim 21, wherein the second graft component has a tapered configuration.

37. The device of claim 21, further comprising fuzzy tufts of yarn configured at a junction between the first and second components.

38. The device of claim 21, the first component further comprising radiopaque markers.

39. The device of claim 21, the second component further comprising radiopaque markers.