Granted Patent B2

US 8,709,065 · App. 12/491,336 · Granted Apr 29, 2014

Abstract

Claims (34)

1. An endovascular graft, comprising:

a tubular graft body section;

a radially expandable stent extending from and affixed to the graft body section, said stent having a proximal end, a distal end and a serpentine ring configuration having a plurality of struts and apices; and

at least one barb integrally formed as an extension of each strut extending distally from a position on the strut that is distal of an adjacent proximal apex;

wherein said at least one integrally formed barb is formed as said extension of said each strut with no joint nor other connection thereat; wherein said extension with no joint lacks a welded or brazed joint thereat; and wherein said other connection lacks a mechanical connection thereat;

wherein the at least one barb has an elevation angle with respect to a longitudinal axis of a strut from which the barb extends of about 10 degrees to about 45 degrees;

wherein the at least one barb has a length of about 1 mm to about 5 mm;

wherein the radially expandable stent comprises a self expanding stent; and

wherein the self-expanding stent comprises a NiTi superelastic alloy.

2. The graft of claim 1 wherein the at least one integrally formed barb is configured to extend distally in a deployed state generally parallel to an axis of a lumen in which they are deployed, partially penetrate a body passageway in which the graft is deployed and prevent axial migration of the graft due to distally oriented blood flow.

3. A radially expandable stent, comprising:

a proximal end, a distal end, a serpentine ring configuration having a plurality of struts and apices; and

a barb integrally formed as an extension of each strut extending distally from a position on the strut that is distal of an adjacent proximal apex;

wherein said integrally formed barb is formed as said extension of said each strut with no joint nor other connection thereat; wherein said extension with no joint lacks a welded or brazed joint thereat; and wherein said other connection lacks a mechanical connection thereat;

wherein the barb has an elevation angle with respect to a longitudinal axis of a strut from which the barb extends of about 10 degrees to about 45 degrees;

wherein the barb has a length of about 1 mm to about 5 mm;

wherein the radially expandable stent comprises a self expanding stent; and

wherein the self-expanding stent comprises a NiTi superelastic alloy.

4. The graft of claim 1 wherein the at least one barb has a kick angle with respect to a longitudinal axis of a strut from which the barb extends of about 5 degrees to about 70 degrees.

5. The graft of claim 1 further comprising a connector member affixed to the graft body section, having a serpentine ring structure and being connected to the stent.

6. The graft of claim 1 wherein the tubular graft body section further comprises at least one inflatable channel.

7. The graft of claim 1 wherein the tubular graft body section further comprises at least one inflatable cuff.

8. The graft of claim 1 wherein the graft body section comprises ePTFE.

9. The graft of claim 1 wherein the at least one distally oriented barb has a sharp point for tissue penetration.

10. The graft of claim 1 wherein the graft body section comprises a bifurcated graft body section.

11. The graft of claim 1 wherein the entire stent and the at least one integrally formed barb are formed from a monolithic piece of NiTi material.

12. The stent of claim 3 wherein the at least one barb has a kick angle with respect to a longitudinal axis of a strut from which the barb extends of about 5 degrees to about 70 degrees.

13. A method of treating a patient's vasculature, comprising

providing the endovascular graft of claim 1 ;

delivering the graft to a treatment site within a patient's body; and

deploying the graft at the treatment site such that the integrally formed barbs extend distally generally parallel to an axis of a lumen in which they are deployed, partially penetrate a body passageway in which the graft is deployed and prevent axial migration of the graft due to distally oriented blood flow.

14. The graft of claim 1 , wherein, when said radially expandable stent is in a reduced diameter delivery configuration, said at least one barb is disposed behind an adjacent strut so to prevent said at least one barb from contacting an inside surface of a delivery sheath or catheter.

15. The graft of claim 1 , wherein, when said radially expandable stent is released from a reduced diameter delivery configuration, said at least one barb completes its deployment to a fully expanded state before said radially expandable stent is fully expanded.

16. The stent of claim 3 wherein the entire stent and the integrally formed barb are formed from a monolithic piece of NiTi material.

Assignments (10)