BIFURCATION STENT AND METHOD OF POSITIONING IN A BODY LUMEN

• US 20080046072A1
• Filed: 04/19/2007
• Published: 02/21/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 06/06/1996
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Biosensors International Group, Ltd.
• Original Assignee: DEVAX, Inc. (Biosensors International Group, Ltd.)
• Inventors: Seguin, Jacques, Laborde, Jean-Claude, Trauthen, Brett, Elicker, Robert
• Granted Patent: US 7,686,846 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 623/1.34
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/856 Single tubular stent with a side portal passage
• 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 2/91 made from perforated sheet material or tubes, e.g. perforated by laser cuts or etched holes
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/915 with bands having a meander structure, adjacent bands being connected to each other
• 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 2002/065 Y-shaped blood vessels
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/067 modular
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/825 having longitudinal struts
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/91541 Adjacent bands are arranged out of phase
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/91558 connected peak to peak
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/91575 connected peak to trough
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/9583 Means for holding the stent on the balloon, e.g. using protrusions, adhesives or an outer sleeve
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2230/0008 elliptical or oval
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2230/0039 H-shaped
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2230/0054 V-shaped
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2250/0032 differing in radiographic density
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2250/0039 differing in diameter
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2250/0096 Markers and sensors for detecting a position or changes of a position of an implant, e.g. RF sensors, ultrasound markers
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2250/0098 radio-opaque, e.g. radio-opaque markers

Abstract

A method of deploying a bifurcation stent at a vascular bifurcation of a main vessel into first and second branch vessels includes: positioning a bifurcation stent at a vascular bifurcation, the bifurcation stent expandable from a reduced diameter to an expanded diameter, the bifurcation stent comprising a first end, a second end, and a marker near the first end, wherein the first end diameter is larger than the second end diameter when the bifurcation stent is expanded, and wherein the bifurcation stent is positioned such that the marker is approximately aligned with a carinal plane at the vascular bifurcation; partially expanding the first end of the bifurcation stent; adjusting the position of the bifurcation stent such that the marker is positioned past the carinal plane and towards the first branch vessel; and deploying the bifurcation stent at the bifurcation. Devices are also disclosed.

Claims

1. A method of deploying a bifurcation stent at a vascular bifurcation of a main vessel into first and second branch vessels, comprising:

positioning a bifurcation stent at a vascular bifurcation, the bifurcation stent expandable from a reduced diameter to an expanded diameter, the bifurcation stent comprising a first end, a second end, and a marker near the first end, wherein the first end diameter is larger than the second end diameter when the bifurcation stent is expanded, and wherein the bifurcation stent is positioned such that the marker is approximately aligned with a carinal plane at the vascular bifurcation;

partially expanding the first end of the bifurcation stent;

adjusting the position of the bifurcation stent such that the marker is positioned past the carinal plane and towards the first branch vessel; and

deploying the bifurcation stent at the bifurcation.

2. The method of deploying a bifurcation stent as in claim 1, wherein the stent is self expandable.

3. The method of deploying a bifurcation stent as in claim 1, further comprising dilating the vascular bifurcation with a dilation balloon prior to said positioning step.

4. The method of deploying a bifurcation stent as in claim 1, further comprising expanding the first end of the bifurcation stent with a dilation balloon after said deploying step.

5. The method of deploying a bifurcation stent as in claim 1, further comprising delivering a branch stent to the first branch vessel.

6. The method of deploying a bifurcation stent as in claim 5, further comprising delivering a second branch stent to the second branch vessel.

7. The method of deploying a bifurcation stent as in claim 5, wherein the branch stent is deployed such that it partially overlaps a portion of the bifurcation stent.

8. The method of deploying a bifurcation stent as in claim 1, wherein the vascular bifurcation is selected from the group consisting of one or more of a coronary artery, a carotid artery, a femoral artery, an iliac artery, a popliteal artery, and a renal artery.

9. The method of deploying a bifurcation stent as in claim 1, wherein said partially expanding the first end comprises partially retracting a sheath that surrounds the bifurcation stent.

10. The method of deploying a bifurcation stent as in claim 9, wherein the sheath comprises one or more retaining bands.

11. A method of deploying a stent at a bifurcation of a main vessel to two branch vessels, the two branch vessels forming a carina at the bifurcation, comprising:

partially deploying a stent at the bifurcation;

advancing the stent towards the branch vessels so the stent at least partially straddles the carina; and

deploying the stent at the bifurcation.

12. The method of deploying a stent as in claim 11, further comprising expanding a balloon at the bifurcation.

13. A bifurcation stent, comprising:

a plurality of segments extending coaxially end to end along a longitudinal axis of the bifurcation stent from a first end to a second end of the bifurcation stent, each segment having a plurality of struts extending in a zig-zag pattern extending around the circumference of the bifurcation stent, wherein the bifurcation stent is expandable from reduced diameter to an expanded diameter, the first end of the bifurcation stent having a larger diameter than the second end when expanded; and

an eyelet integrally formed with the segment positioned adjacent the first end, and configured to receive a radiopaque marker therein.

14. The bifurcation stent of claim 13, further comprising a radiopaque marker.

15. The bifurcation stent of claim 14, wherein the radiopaque marker is mushroom-shaped.

16. The bifurcation stent of claim 14, wherein the radiopaque marker is press-fit into the eyelet.

17. The bifurcation stent of claim 14, wherein the radiopaque marker comprises gold.

18. The bifurcation stent of claim 14, wherein the radiopaque marker comprises tantalum.

19. The bifurcation stent of claim 14, wherein the radiopaque marker is selected to have an electromotive force to match the stent.

20. The bifurcation stent of claim 13, further comprising a second eyelet integrally formed with the cell positioned adjacent the second end and configured to receive a second radiopaque marker therein.

21. The bifurcation stent of claim 13, comprising at least two eyelets for receiving a radiopaque marker, on the first end of the stent.

22. The bifurcation stent of claim 21, comprising at least three eyelets for receiving radiopaque markers on the first end.

23. The bifurcation stent of claim 21, further comprising at least two eyelets on the second end of the stent, for receiving radiopaque markers.

24. The bifurcation stent of claim 13, comprising four segments extending coaxially end to end between a first end and a second end of the bifurcation stent, further comprising three eyelets integrally formed on a first end of the stent and one eyelet integrally formed on a second end of the stent.

25. A stent, having a tubular body with a first end and a second end, the stent expandable from a first, reduced diameter to a second, enlarged diameter, the stent further comprising at least a first radiopaque marker positioned beyond the first end of the stent, and at least a second and a third radiopaque markers positioned beyond the second end of the stent.