Endoluminal prosthesis
First Claim
1. An endoluminal prosthesis comprising:
- a tubular graft comprising a graft material, a proximal portion having a proximal opening, and a distal portion having a distal opening, the proximal and distal openings and the graft material forming a lumen for the flow of body fluid therethrough; and
a first annular support member comprising a plurality of spokes coupled by a plurality of apices to form a closed ring, having an axis extending longitudinally therethrough,a second annular support member comprising a plurality of spokes coupled by a plurality of apices to form a closed ring, having an axis extending longitudinally therethrough, said first and second annular support members being attached to said tubular graft, but otherwise unconnected to one another,wherein each of the annular support members are attached to the graft material along the tubular graft to define, for each of the plurality of annular support members, a corresponding circumferential area of the graft material around a corresponding annular support member,wherein at least one of the apices of said first annular support member is attached within the corresponding circumferential area of the graft material of said second annular support member, which is adjacent the first annular support member, so that at least one of the apices of said first annular support member extends axially toward said second support member and axially beyond one of said apices of said second annular support member, andwherein at least one of the apices of the first annular support member extends axially beyond an other of the apices of the first annular support member.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An endoluminal prosthesis is provided that includes a tubular graft and an expandable annular support structure. The annular support structure is coupled to the tubular graft so that the graft and support structure, in combination, provide columnar support while maintaining prosthesis flexibility. The prosthesis has sufficient strength and durability to withstand loads applied during deployment and sufficient flexibility to permit implant in a sealing arrangement within a tortuous body lumen. An embodiment according to the invention provides a plurality of annular structures with staggered, longitudinally overlapping apices of undulating structures. One embodiment relates to tubular grafts for endoluminal placement within a body lumen, including blood vessels, and for the treatment of abdominal and other aneurysms.
-
Citations
17 Claims
-
1. An endoluminal prosthesis comprising:
-
a tubular graft comprising a graft material, a proximal portion having a proximal opening, and a distal portion having a distal opening, the proximal and distal openings and the graft material forming a lumen for the flow of body fluid therethrough; and a first annular support member comprising a plurality of spokes coupled by a plurality of apices to form a closed ring, having an axis extending longitudinally therethrough, a second annular support member comprising a plurality of spokes coupled by a plurality of apices to form a closed ring, having an axis extending longitudinally therethrough, said first and second annular support members being attached to said tubular graft, but otherwise unconnected to one another, wherein each of the annular support members are attached to the graft material along the tubular graft to define, for each of the plurality of annular support members, a corresponding circumferential area of the graft material around a corresponding annular support member, wherein at least one of the apices of said first annular support member is attached within the corresponding circumferential area of the graft material of said second annular support member, which is adjacent the first annular support member, so that at least one of the apices of said first annular support member extends axially toward said second support member and axially beyond one of said apices of said second annular support member, and wherein at least one of the apices of the first annular support member extends axially beyond an other of the apices of the first annular support member. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
-
-
12. An endoluminal prosthesis comprising:
-
a tubular graft comprising a graft material and having a length, a proximal portion having a proximal opening and a proximal end, and a distal portion having a distal opening and a distal end, the proximal and distal openings and the graft material forming a lumen along the length for the flow of body fluid therethrough; and a plurality of annular support structures, each support structure comprising a series of undulating members and defining a circumference and crests extending toward said proximal end and troughs extending toward said distal end, said support structures being attached to said tubular graft, but otherwise being unconnected to one another, wherein at least one undulating member of a support structure lengthwise overlaps an undulating member of an adjacent support structure and is offset from the undulating member of the adjacent support structure about the circumference of the adjacent support structure such that crests from one annular support member are substantially aligned with troughs of an adjacent annular support member. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14)
-
-
15. An endoluminal prosthesis comprising:
-
a tubular graft comprising a graft material, a proximal portion having a proximal opening, and a distal portion having a distal opening, the proximal and distal openings and the graft material forming a lumen for the flow of body fluids therethrough; a first annular support member, comprising a plurality of spokes coupled by a plurality of apices to form a closed ring having an axis extending longitudinally therethrough, the apices comprising alternating crests and troughs, wherein one of the apices extends axially beyond an other of the apices, wherein the first annular support member is attached to the graft material, but otherwise unconnected to another support member, further comprising a second annular support member comprising a plurality of second spokes coupled by a plurality of second apices to form a second ring, wherein the second annular support member is attached to the graft material to define a circumferential area of the graft material around the second annular support member, and wherein the one of the apices extending beyond an other of the apices of the first support member is attached to the graft material within the circumferential area of the second support member, wherein the alternating troughs of the first annular support member comprise a plurality of alternating longer troughs and shorter troughs, and wherein the plurality of second apices of the second annular support member comprise alternating second crests and second troughs and wherein the second crests comprise a plurality of alternating longer crests and shorter crests. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17)
-
Specification