Apparatus and method of placement of a graft or graft system

• US 9,149,381 B2
• Filed: 02/04/2014
• Issued: 10/06/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 02/22/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Endologix
• Original Assignee: Endologix
• Inventors: Schreck, Stefan G., Benjamin, Joshua, Mayberry, Kevin
• Primary Examiner(s): STEWART, JASON-DENNIS NEILKEN
• Application Number:
  US14/172,126
• Publication Number:
  US 20140249615A1
• Time in Patent Office: 609 Days
• Field of Search: 623/1.13, 623/1.15, 623/1.35
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/064 with special features to facilitate anastomotic coupling anastomosis of natural blood vessels A61B17/11
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/07 Stent-grafts
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/844 folded prior to deployment
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/852 Two or more distinct overlapping stents
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/90 characterised by a net-like or mesh-like structure
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/954 for placing stents or stent-grafts in a bifurcation
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/958 Inflatable balloons for placing stents or stent-grafts
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/966 with relative longitudinal movement between outer sleeve and prosthesis, e.g. using a push rod
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/061 provided with means for allowing access to secondary lumens
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30308 banana-shaped
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30327 differing in diameter
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30604 modular
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/821 Ostial stents
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/826 more than one stent being applied sequentially
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2220/005 using adhesives
• 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 2230/0063 Three-dimensional shapes
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2250/0039 differing in diameter
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2250/0063 Nested prosthetic parts

Abstract

An endoluminal prosthesis system deployable in a region of a patient'"'"'s vasculature having one or more branch vessels, having a main graft body having a first opening in a wall portion of the main graft body and a pre-loaded guidewire positioned inside the main graft body and advanced through the first opening. One or more branch grafts can be attached to the main graft body to cover one or more openings in the main graft body.

Claims

1. A method of deploying an endoluminal prosthesis comprising a first main graft body comprising a first axial opening, a second axial opening, and a first lumen extending between the first and second axial openings of the first main graft body, a first lateral opening formed laterally through the first main graft body and in communication with the first lumen, in a portion of a patient'"'"'s blood vessel having at least a first branch blood vessel, the method comprising:

positioning the first main graft body in the patient'"'"'s blood vessel so that the first lateral opening is substantially aligned with the first branch blood vessel so that the first main graft body does not substantially cover the first branch blood vessel;

expanding the first main graft body against the patient'"'"'s blood vessel to create a graft system having a lateral opening through the wall thereof that is substantially aligned with the first blood vessels; and

supporting the first main graft body against the patient'"'"'s blood vessel,

wherein a hollow guidewire is placed inside the first lateral openings of the first main graft body before positioning the first main graft body in the patient'"'"'s blood vessel,

wherein the first main graft body further comprises a first branch graft attached to the first main graft body so as to surround the first lateral opening in the first main graft body, and

wherein the first branch graft is expanded within the first branch blood vessel before positioning at least a portion of a second main graft body within the inside of the first main graft body.

2. The method of deploying the endoluminal prosthesis of claim 1, wherein the first main graft body is positioned in the patient'"'"'s blood vessel using one or more guidewires.

3. The method of deploying the endoluminal prosthesis of claim 2, wherein a distal end portion of at least one of the one or more guidewires is configured to be secured to the first branch blood vessel.

4. The method of deploying the endoluminal prosthesis of claim 3, wherein the distal end portion of at least one of the one or more guidewires comprises an inflatable balloon, a hook, or a coil configured to secure at least the end portion of the guidewire within the first branch blood vessel.

5. A method of deploying an endoluminal prosthesis comprising a first main graft body comprising a first axial opening, a second axial opening, and a first lumen extending between the first and second axial openings of the first main graft body, a first lateral opening formed laterally through the first main graft body and in communication with the first lumen, in a portion of a patient'"'"'s blood vessel having at least a first branch blood vessel, the method comprising:

positioning the first main graft body in the patient'"'"'s blood vessel so that the first lateral opening is substantially aligned with the first branch blood vessel so that the first main graft body does not substantially cover the first branch blood vessel;

expanding the first main graft body against the patient'"'"'s blood vessel to create a graft system having a lateral opening through the wall thereof that is substantially aligned with the first blood vessels; and

supporting the first main graft body against the patient'"'"'s blood vessel,

wherein a hollow guidewire is placed inside the first lateral openings of the first main graft body before positioning the first main graft body in the patient'"'"'s blood vessel,

wherein the first main graft body further comprises a first branch graft attached to the first main graft body so as to surround the first lateral opening in the first main graft body, and

wherein the first branch graft is expanded within the first branch blood vessel with a self-expanding stent before positioning at least a portion of a second main graft body within the inside of the first main graft body.

6. The method of deploying the endoluminal prosthesis of claim 5, wherein the first main graft body is positioned in the patient'"'"'s blood vessel using one or more guidewires.

7. The method of deploying the endoluminal prosthesis of claim 6, wherein a distal end portion of at least one of the one or more guidewires is configured to be secured to the first branch blood vessel.

8. The method of deploying the endoluminal prosthesis of claim 7, wherein the distal end portion of at least one of the one or more guidewires comprises an inflatable balloon, a hook, or a coil configured to secure at least the end portion of the guidewire within the first branch blood vessel.