Noncylindrical stent deployment for treating vascular bifurcations

• US 7,125,419 B2
• Filed: 10/28/2002
• Issued: 10/24/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 05/30/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Biosensors International Group, Ltd.
• Original Assignee: DEVAX, Inc. (Biosensors International Group, Ltd.)
• Inventors: Elicker, Robert John, Laborde, Jean-Claude, Sequin, Jacques
• Primary Examiner(s): BARRETT, THOMAS C
• Application Number:
  US10/282,957
• Publication Number:
  US 20030125791A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,457 Days
• Field of Search: 623 111- 154
• US Class Current: 623/1.35
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/856 Single tubular stent with a side portal passage
• 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 2/9517 handle assemblies therefor
• 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 2/966 with relative longitudinal movement between outer sleeve and prosthesis, e.g. using a push rod
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/9661 the proximal portion of the stent or stent-graft is released first
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/067 modular
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/91541 Adjacent bands are arranged out of phase
• 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 2220/0058 soldered or brazed or welded

Abstract

A device and method for treating pathological narrowing of fluid-carrying conduits of the human body (such as blood vessels) in an area of a bifurcation is disclosed. In particular, a stent system carries a self expandable noncylindrical stent, which is particularly suited for treating a widened portion of a blood vessel immediately proximal to a bifurcation. A stent delivery system is also disclosed, for delivering the stent such that a larger expanded diameter end of the stent faces the bifurcation, and a smaller expanded diameter end of the stent faces proximally in the main vessel.

Claims

1. A method of treating a vascular bifurcation of a proximal main vessel into a first and a second distal branch vessels, comprising the steps of:

providing a delivery catheter having a first stent thereon, the first stent having a proximal, upstream end and a distal, downstream end and being self expandable to a configuration having a single central lumen in which the proximal, upstream end has a smaller diameter than the distal, downstream end;

positioning the delivery catheter such that the first stent is at a treatment site within the proximal main vessel with the distal, downstream end adjacent the vascular bifurcation; and

deploying the first stent in the proximal main vessel such that the first stent self expands to a configuration in which the proximal, upstream end of the first stent has a smaller diameter than the distal, downstream end of the first stent, and in which the distal, downstream end communicates with both the first and the second distal branch vessels.

2. A method of treating a vascular bifurcation of a proximal main vessel into a first and a second distal branch vessels as in claim 1, wherein the deploying step comprises removing a restraint from the first stent and permitting the first stent to self expand.

3. A method of treating a vascular bifurcation of a proximal main vessel into a first and a second distal branch vessels as in claim 1, further comprising the step of deploying a second stent in one of the first and the second distal branch vessels.

4. A method of treating a vascular bifurcation of a main vessel into first and second branch vessels, comprising the steps of:

deploying a substantially cylindrical stent in a first branch vessel which is distal to the bifurcation; and

deploying a tapered stent in the main vessel, proximal to the bifurcation;

wherein the tapered stent has a single central lumen and tapers in a distal direction from a smaller proximal diameter to a larger distal diameter which faces the bifurcation.

5. A method of treating a vascular bifurcation as in claim 4, wherein at least one of the substantially cylindrical stern and the tapered stent is deployed from a delivery catheter by proximally retracting an outer sheath on the delivery catheter.