Method for joining grafts in a common body passageway

• US 6,478,813 B1
• Filed: 12/29/1999
• Issued: 11/12/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 08/01/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Cardinal Health Switzerland 515 GmbH (Cardinal Health, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Peter T. Keith, Thomas V. Ressemann
• Inventors: Ressemann, Thomas V., Keith, Peter T.
• Primary Examiner(s): Prebilic, Paul B.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Matthews, William H
• Application Number:
  US09/474,989
• Time in Patent Office: 1,049 Days
• Field of Search: 623/1.11, 623/1.13, 623/1.18, 623/1.12, 623/1.16, 623/1.23, 623/1.35, 623/1.36, 606/198, 606/108
• US Class Current: 623/1.11
• 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 2/91 made from perforated sheet material or tubes, e.g. perforated by laser cuts or etched holes
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/954 for placing stents or stent-grafts in a bifurcation
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/065 Y-shaped blood vessels
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/067 modular
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/075 the stent being loosely attached to the graft material, e.g. by stitching
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/9511 the retaining means being filaments or wires
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2230/0034 D-shaped
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2230/005 Rosette-shaped, e.g. star-shaped
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2230/0054 V-shaped
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2230/0067 conical

Abstract

A method for endoluminally treating a pathological defect is disclosed using grafts having a shape memory alloy disposed along their length. The method comprises the steps of introducing first and second grafts through respective first and second access sites on a first side of a pathological defect; advancing the grafts within delivery sheaths until each extends across the defect and is positioned within a common body passageway on a second side of the pathological defect; releasing the grafts from their respective delivery sheaths with the grafts opening in response to action of the shape memory alloy; and joining or attaching the grafts together within the common body passageway.

Claims

1. A method for endoluminally treating a pathological defect within or part of a body passageway of a patient, there being healthy tissue on a first side and on a second side of the pathological defect and the pathological defect being positioned in the vicinity of a branching passageway within a patient, comprising the steps of:

a) introducing first and second grafts through respective first and second access sites within respective delivery sheaths, each of the first and second grafts having a length and a shape memory alloy extending along the entire length thereof, the first and second access sites being on the first side of the pathological defect;

b) advancing the first and second grafts within the respective delivery sheaths until each extends across the pathological defect and is positioned in a common body passageway and on the second side of the pathological defect;

c) releasing the first and second grafts from the respective delivery sheaths with the first and second grafts opening in response to action of the shape memory alloy;

each of the first and second grafts to each define a respective patent lumen free of kinks; and

d) joining the first and second grafts together within the common body passageway.

2. The method as in claim 1, wherein each of the first and second grafts is folded within the respective delivery sheath.

3. The method as in claim 1, wherein the shape memory alloy comprises a first element and a second element disposed along the length of the graft, the spacing between the first element and second element being less than 1 cm.

4. The method as in claim 1, wherein the shape memory alloy is nitinol.

5. The method as in claim 1, wherein the shape memory alloy disposed along the length of the first and second grafts comprises serially spaced hoops.

6. The method as in claim 1, wherein the first and second grafts are made of a material having the shape memory alloy included in the weave thereof.

7. The method as in claim 1, wherein the shape memory alloy comprises resiliently deformable hoops.

8. The method as in claim 1, wherein the joining step comprises endoluminally tying the first and second grafts together.

9. The method as in claim 1, including the additional step of affixing one end of an anchor line to the first graft prior to the step of introducing the first graft through the first access site.

10. The method as in claim 9, including the additional step of drawing a second end of the anchor line through the second access site.

11. The method as in claim 10, including the additional step of threadedly coupling the second graft to the anchor line prior to the step of introducing the second graft through second access site.

12. The method as in claim 11, wherein the step of joining the first and second grafts includes the step of advancing one of a knot and an anchor bead over the second end of the anchor line to the second side of the pathological defect.

13. The method as in claim 12, including the additional step of rotationally aligning the first and second grafts by reducing the length of anchor line extending between the first and second grafts at the second side of the pathological defect.

14. The method as in claim 9, wherein there are plural anchor lines each having one end and a second end and wherein the affixing step includes affixing the one end of the plural anchor lines to the first graft, and wherein the second end of the plural anchor lines are drawn through the second access site.

15. The method as in claim 14, including the additional step of threadedly coupling the second ends of each of the plural anchor lines to the second graft prior to the step of introducing the second graft through the second access site.

16. The method as in claim 15, wherein the step of joining the first and second grafts includes the step of advancing one of a knot and an anchor bead over each of the second ends of the plural anchor lines to the second side of the pathological defect.

17. The method as in claim 1, wherein the shape memory alloy of the first and second grafts include preset bows which substantially mate upon joining the first and second grafts on the second side of the pathological defect.

18. The method as in claim 1, wherein the joining step comprises drawing a cephalic portion of the two grafts together.

19. The method as in claim 1, including the additional step of affixing the first and second grafts within the common body passageway on the second side of the pathological defect whereby the pathological defect is excluded.

20. A method for endoluminally treating a pathological defect within or part of a body passageway of a patient, there being healthy tissue on a first side and on a second side of the pathological defect and the pathological defect being positioned in the vicinity of a branching passageway within a patient, comprising the steps of:

a) introducing first and second grafts through respective first and second access sites within respective delivery sheaths, each of the first and second grafts having a length and a shape memory alloy extending along the entire length thereof, the first and second access sites being on the first side of the pathological defect;

b) advancing the first and second grafts within the respective delivery sheaths until each extends across the pathological defect and is positioned in a common body passageway and on the second side of the pathological defect;

c) releasing the first and second grafts from the respective delivery sheaths with the first and second grafts opening in response to action of the shape memory alloy;

each of the first and second grafts to each define a respective patent lumen free of kinks; and

d) attaching the first and second grafts together within the common body passageway.