STENT GRAFT

• US 20130304188A1
• Filed: 07/16/2013
• Published: 11/14/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 07/15/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Endologix
• Original Assignee: Endologix
• Inventors: Schreck, Stefan G.
• Granted Patent: US 9,757,262 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 623/1.12
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/07 Stent-grafts
• 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 2/966 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 2002/065 Y-shaped blood vessels
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/075 the stent being loosely attached to the graft material, e.g. by stitching
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/825 having longitudinal struts
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/826 more than one stent being applied sequentially

Abstract

Some embodiments are directed to a deployment system for deploying a stent graft within a passageway, comprising a delivery catheter having an outer sheath, a proximal end, and a distal end, a stent having a first end and a second end, a graft having a first end and a second end, and at least one connecting element extending from the second end of the stent to the first end of the graft so as to connect the stent to the graft. In some embodiments, the stent can be supported within the outer sheath at a first axial position in a collapsed state, and the graft can be supported within the outer sheath at a second axial position different than the first axial position in a collapsed state, such that the stent does not overlap or substantially overlap the graft in the collapsed state within the deployment system.

Claims

1. A deployment system for deploying a stent graft within a passageway, comprising:

a delivery catheter comprising an outer sheath, a proximal end, and a distal end;

a stent having a first end and a second end, the stent being supported within the outer sheath at a first axial position in a collapsed state within the deployment system;

a graft having a first end and a second end, the graft being supported within the outer sheath at a second axial position in a collapsed state within the deployment system; and

at least one connecting element extending from the second end of the stent to the first end of the graft so as to connect the second end of the stent to the first end of the graft;

wherein the second axial position is different than the first axial position such that no substantial portion of the stent overlaps any portion of the graft while the stent and graft are in the collapsed state within the deployment system.

2. The deployment system of claim 1, further comprising one or more retraction elements attached to the graft, the one or more retraction elements extending to the proximal end of the delivery catheter.

3. The deployment system of claim 2, wherein the one or more retraction elements are releasably attached to the second end of the graft.

4. The deployment system of claim 1, wherein the at least one connecting element comprises sutures, wires, strands, or metal or plastic struts.

5. The deployment system of claim 1, further comprising a second stent configured to be expandable within the graft.

6. The deployment system of claim 5, further comprising a third stent or stent segment configured to be expandable at least partially within the graft.

7. The deployment system of claim 1, wherein the graft is a bifurcated graft.

8. A deployment system for deploying a stent graft within a passageway, comprising:

a graft supported in a first axial position within a catheter; and

a stent supported in a second axial position within the catheter and configured to be expandable within at least a portion of the graft;

wherein the graft in the first position does not axially overlap the stent in the second position when loaded within the catheter.

9. The deployment system of claim 8, wherein the catheter is configured such that the stent can be moved axially relative to the graft or so that the graft can be moved axially relative to the stent so that at least a portion of the graft overlaps a portion of the stent before the stent is deployed within the passageway.

10. The deployment system of claim 8, wherein the catheter is configured such that the stent can be moved axially relative to the graft or so that the graft can be moved axially relative to the stent so that substantially all of the graft overlaps the stent when the stent graft is fully deployed in the passageway.

11. The deployment system of claim 8, wherein the graft is coaxially positioned relative to the stent.

12. The deployment system of claim 8, wherein at least one of the graft and the stent is tubular.

13. The deployment system of claim 8, wherein the graft comprises a main body, a first branch segment, and a second branch segment.

14. The deployment system of claim 13, further comprising a second stent supported in at least one of the first branch segment and the second branch segment.

15. The deployment system of claim 8, wherein the catheter body further comprises an inner core and an outer sheath, the inner core extending through the outer sheath and being axially moveable with respect to the outer sheath.

16. The deployment system of claim 8, wherein the stent is self-expandable.

17. The deployment system of claim 8, wherein the stent is balloon expandable.