Collapsible low-profile vascular graft implantation instrument and method for use thereof
First Claim
1. A device for treating blood vessel anomalies, said device comprising a tubular vascular graft, the vascular graft being formed about a longitudinal axis with an inner surface extending the length of the vascular graft about the longitudinal axis, and a first flexible guidewire formed to define a collapsible loop and a segment, said loop being resiliently formed with memory to self-expand from a collapsed state to a natural, non-collapsed state, said loop encircling the longitudinal axis of the vascular graft and supporting portions of the inner surface of the vascular graft, wherein a first portion of said segment is integrally connected to said loop and extends therefrom in a direction continuously angular to the longitudinal axis of the graft, a second portion of said segment is integrally connected to and extends from said first portion through at least a portion of the vascular graft.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An instrument is provided for supporting a tubular vascular graft during endovascular implantation and methods for use thereof. In one embodiment, the instrument is formed from two flexible guidewires bent to each define a loop and two straight portions. In a second embodiment, the instrument is formed from two flexible guidewires bent to define outwardly-biased tines, wherein, threads are sewn to portions of the vascular graft and connected to the tines. The instrument is collapsible due to the flexibility of the guidewires used to form the instrument. In an uncollapsed state, with a length of graft material being mounted to the instrument, the loops or tines may bias the graft into a semi-expanded state with a passage being defined through the graft. An unexpanded stent is introduced into the passage of the semi-expanded graft to both further expand the graft and provide reinforcement. A distensible device is also used with the preferred method of using the invention to accomplish full circumferential expansion of the graft and stent assembly and to facilitate removal of the instrument.
61 Citations
16 Claims
- 1. A device for treating blood vessel anomalies, said device comprising a tubular vascular graft, the vascular graft being formed about a longitudinal axis with an inner surface extending the length of the vascular graft about the longitudinal axis, and a first flexible guidewire formed to define a collapsible loop and a segment, said loop being resiliently formed with memory to self-expand from a collapsed state to a natural, non-collapsed state, said loop encircling the longitudinal axis of the vascular graft and supporting portions of the inner surface of the vascular graft, wherein a first portion of said segment is integrally connected to said loop and extends therefrom in a direction continuously angular to the longitudinal axis of the graft, a second portion of said segment is integrally connected to and extends from said first portion through at least a portion of the vascular graft.
- 12. A device for treating blood vessel anomalies, said device comprising a tubular vascular graft formed with an inner surface, and a first flexible guidewire formed to define a tine and a segment, said tine having first and second ends, wherein said first end of said tine being hingedly connected to said segment with said tine being selectively pivotable relative to said segment, the hinged connection generating a bias which urges said second end of said tine radially away from said segment to support a portion of the inner surface of the vascular graft.
Specification