Implantable medical devices constructed of shape memory material

• US 9,526,638 B2
• Filed: 02/02/2012
• Issued: 12/27/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 02/03/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Japan Lifeline Co., Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Endospan Ltd.
• Inventors: Shalev, Alon, Benary, Raphael
• Primary Examiner(s): PELLEGRINO, BRIAN E
• Application Number:
  US13/807,880
• Publication Number:
  US 20130131783A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,790 Days
• Field of Search: 623/1.12, 623/1.15, 623/1.11, 623/1.13
• US Class Current: 1/1
• 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 2/95 Instruments specially adapted for placement or removal of stents or stent-grafts
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/97 the outer sleeve being splittable
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/9511 the retaining means being filaments or wires

Abstract

Medical apparatus (100) is provided for insertion into a mammalian body. The apparatus (100) includes structural stent elements (110), at least a portion of which are shaped so as to define (a) at least one generally circumferential band (112), and (b) a plurality of engagement members (114) that are joined to and extend radially inwardly from the band (112). The apparatus (100) further includes an elongated latch member (118) which is threaded through the engagement members (114), thereby physically latching the engagement members (114). The band (112) and the engagement members (114) are configured such that (a) when the latch member (118) is threaded through and thus physically latches the engagement members (114), the engagement members (114) retain the band (112) in a radially-compressed state, and (b) when the latch member (118) is removed from the engagement members (114), the band (112) assumes a radially-expanded state. Other embodiments are also described.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

providing (a) structural stent elements, at least a portion of which are shaped so as to define (i) a generally circumferential band, and (ii) a plurality of engagement members that (x) are joined to and extend radially inwardly from the band, and (y) have respective curved portions, wherein the curved portion of each of the engagement members joins respective ends of two stent element portions of the engagement member, and (b) an elongated latch member which is threaded through the engagement members, thereby physically latching the engagement members;

transvascularly introducing the band into a blood vessel of a mammalian subject while the band is positioned in a hollow, elongated delivery shaft, with the latch member threaded through and thus physically latching the engagement members, such that the curved portions pass around the latch member, the latch member holds the curved portions radially centered within the band at a central longitudinal axis of the band, and the engagement members retain the band in a radially-compressed state; and

thereafter, transitioning the band to a radially-expanded state by removing the latch member from the engagement members,

wherein transvascularly introducing comprises advancing the delivery shaft to a target site in the blood vessel, and thereafter sliding the band through at least a portion of the delivery shaft while the band is retained by the latch member in the radially-compressed state.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein providing the latch member comprises providing a latch member that includes an element selected from the group consisting of:

a wire and a hollow tube.

3. The method according to claim 1,

wherein the structural stent elements, including the at least a portion that defines the band, are shaped so as to define a generally tubular structure, and

further comprising providing a main stent-graft that includes the structural stent elements and an implantable-grade fabric securely attached to and at least partially covering the generally tubular structure, wherein the main stent-graft module has side-branch fenestrations, and

wherein the method further comprises positioning the fenestrations relative to anatomical side branches of the blood vessel.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein providing the structural stent elements comprises providing structural stent elements that comprise a shape memory alloy.

5. The method according to claim 1, wherein the generally circumferential band includes a plurality of generally circumferential bands, and wherein respective sets of the plurality of engagement members are joined to respective ones of the bands.