Implantable intraluminal prosthesis

• US 6,355,056 B1
• Filed: 12/21/1998
• Issued: 03/12/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 06/01/1995
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Lifeshield Sciences LLC (Acacia Research Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Meadox Medicals, Inc. (Boston Scientific Corporation)
• Inventors: Pinheiro, Orlando S.
• Primary Examiner(s): Milano, Michael J.
• Application Number:
  US09/217,654
• Time in Patent Office: 1,177 Days
• Field of Search: 602/108, 602/191, 602/194, 602/195, 602/198, 623/1, 623/11, 623/12, 623/1.1, 623/1.13, 623/1.14, 623/1.35, 623/1.36
• US Class Current: 623/1.13
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/07 Stent-grafts
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/848 having means for fixation to the vessel wall, e.g. barbs
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/86 Stents in a form characterised by the wire-like elements; Stents in the form characterised by a net-like or mesh-like structure
• 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 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
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/828 Means for connecting a plurality of stents allowing flexibility of the whole structure
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/8486 provided on at least one of the ends
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2220/0016 with sharp anchoring protrusions, e.g. barbs, pins, spikes
• 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 2230/006 Y-shaped
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2250/006 modular

Abstract

An implantable intraluminal prosthesis assembly is provided for use in repairing or replacing damaged or diseased portions of a blood vessel or other like vessel. The prosthesis includes an expandable stent/graft combination, with a pair of stents at either end of the graft, and further includes a plurality of struts extending between and interconnecting the stents, and radially spaced about the inner surface of the graft. As such, the implantable prosthesis is provided with internal support for the graft when in a compressed state during implantation and is further provided with radial support along the length of the graft after implantation.

Claims

1. An implantable assembly comprising:

an elongate, generally tubular compressible graft having opposed end portions,

a pair of resiliently compressible, generally tubular wire stents of generally zig-zag configuration positioned within said tubular graft at spaced apart locations adjacent said end portions of said graft said stents having radially spaced medial and distal stent joints; and

a plurality of elongate struts extending between and interconnecting said stents at alternating ones of said medial stent joints, said struts being radially spaced about the inner surface of said graft and being secured directly thereto to provide internal support to said graft when in a compressed state and to further provide radial support along the length of said graft after implantation.

2. An implantable assembly of claim 1 further including means for securing said stents in said graft adjacent said ends thereof.

3. An implantable assembly of claim 2 wherein said securing means includes said stent being sutured to said graft.

4. An implantable assembly of claim 1 wherein said graft is a textile graft.

5. An implantable assembly of claim 1 wherein said stents are self-expanding stents.

6. An implantable prosthesis comprising:

an elongate, radially compressible tubular graft having an inner tubular surface, said graft having opposed first and second open end portions; and

a stent assembly supported within said tubular graft, said stent assembly comprising;

a first generally tubular radially self-expanding stent supported within said graft adjacent said first open end portion;

a second generally tubular radially self-expanding stent supported within said graft adjacent said second open end portion; and

a plurality of elongate struts extending between and interconnecting said first and second stents, said struts being radially spaced about said inner tubular surface of said graft, said struts further including at least one strut coil at an intermediate location with said strut, coil being in direct secured contact with said graft for providing internal support to said graft.

7. A prosthesis of claim 6 wherein said plurality of struts includes at least four struts substantially equally radially spread about said inner tubular surface of said graft.

8. A prosthesis of claim 7 wherein said stents and said struts are formed of metallic wire.

9. An implantable prosthesis of claim 6 wherein said at least one strut coil is secured to said graft with strut sutures.

10. An implantable prosthesis of claim 6 wherein each of said struts includes plural spaced apart strut coils.

11. An implantable graft/stent composite prosthesis comprising:

an elongate generally tubular graft having opposed ends;

a plurality of stents positioned within said tubular graft at spaced-apart locations; and

at least one elongate strut interconnecting said stents, said strut including at least one strut coil located intermediate said stent and being sutured to said graft.

12. An implantable graft/stent composite prosthesis of claim 11 wherein said elongate strut is secured to said graft at spaced-apart locations therealong.