A wire stent assembly that has a first ring defining one end of the stent assembly, a second ring defining the second end of the stent assembly. Each ring is formed of wire. The wire of each ring also has a second section that extends parallel to the longitudinal axis of the wire stent assembly and perpendicular to the rings. Each of the rings has a loop that is parallel to the longitudinal axis and parallel to the rings. The stent assembly may form the support structure for a stent graft.
1. A wire stent assembly comprising:
a first end having a periphery,
a second end having a periphery,
a longitudinal axis,
a first resilient wire portion having a terminal end, a first section and a second section, the first section comprising a first planar ring disposed perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the wire stent assembly and defining the periphery of the first end of the wire stent assembly, the first section having a first loop of wire at its terminal end that is perpendicular to the first planar ring and parallel to the longitudinal axis, the second section of wire of the first resilient wire portion comprising a length of the first resilient wire portion extending from the first loop of wire of the first section to the second end of the wire stent assembly and a second loop of wire adjacent the second end that is perpendicular to the first planar ring and parallel to the longitudinal axis,
a second resilient wire portion having a terminal end, a first section and a second section, the first section comprising a second planar ring disposed perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the wire stent assembly and defining the periphery of the second end of the wire stent assembly, the first section of wire of the second resilient wire portion having a first loop of wire at its terminal end that is perpendicular to the second planar ring and parallel to the longitudinal axis, the second section of wire of the second resilient wire portion comprising a length of the second resilient wire portion extending from the first loop of the first section of the second resilient wire portion toward the first end of the stent and a second loop of wire adjacent the first end of the wire stent assembly that is perpendicular to the second planar ring and parallel to the longitudinal axis, and
wherein each of the first and second planar rings comprises at least one full turn of wire.
2. The wire stent assembly of claim 1 , wherein the first loop of the first section of the first resilient wire portion abuts the second planar ring.
3. The wire stent assembly of claim 1 , wherein the length of the second section of each of the first and resilient wire portions extend from the first end periphery to the second end periphery.
4. The wire stent assembly of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the second sections of the first and second wire portions are parallel to the longitudinal axis.
5. The wire stent assembly of claim 1 , wherein the second section of the first resilient wire portion is spaced radially away from the second section of the second resilient wire.
6. A wire stent assembly comprising:
a first end having a periphery,
a second end having a periphery,
a longitudinal axis,
a first resilient wire portion having a terminal end, a first section and a second section, the first section comprising a first planar ring disposed perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the wire stent assembly and defining the periphery of the first end of the wire stent assembly, the first section having a first loop of wire at its terminal end that is perpendicular to the first planar ring and parallel to the longitudinal axis, the second section of wire of the first resilient wire portion comprising a length of the first resilient wire portion extending from the first loop of wire of the first section to the second end of the wire stent assembly and a second loop of wire adjacent the second end that is perpendicular to the first planar ring and parallel to the longitudinal axis,
a second resilient wire portion having a terminal end, a first section and a second section, the first section comprising a second planar ring disposed perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the wire stent assembly and defining the periphery of the second end of the wire stent assembly, the first section of wire of the second resilient wire portion having a first loop of wire at its terminal end that is perpendicular to the second planar ring and parallel to the longitudinal axis, the second section of wire of the second resilient wire portion comprising a length of the second resilient wire portion extending from the first loop of the first section of the second resilient wire portion toward the first end of the stent and a second loop of wire adjacent the first end of the wire stent assembly that is perpendicular to the second planar ring and parallel to the longitudinal axis.
7. The wire stent assembly of claim 6 , wherein the length of the second section of each of the first and resilient wire portions extend from the first end periphery to the second end periphery.
8. The wire stent assembly of claim 6 , wherein each ring comprises at least one full turn of wire.
9. The wire stent assembly of claim 6 , wherein the second section of the first resilient wire portion is spaced radially away from the second section of the second resilient wire portion.
10. The wire stent assembly of claim 6 , wherein at least one of the second sections of the first and second wire assembly are parallel to the longitudinal axis.
11. The wire stent assembly of claim 6 wherein each of the terminal ends of the first and second resilient wire portions lie within its loop.
12. A stent graft comprising:
a tube of graft material having a first end, a second end, a first opening at the first end having a periphery, a second opening at the second end having a periphery, and a longitudinal axis from the first end to the second end,
a wire stent assembly attached to the tube of graft material, the wire stent assembly comprising:
a first end,
a second end,
a longitudinal axis,
a first resilient wire portion having a terminal end, a first section and a second section, the first section comprising a first planar ring disposed perpendicular to the longitudinal axes of the wire stent assembly and the tube of graft material and defining the periphery of the first end of the tube of graft material, the first section having a first loop of wire at its terminal end that is perpendicular to the first planar ring and parallel to the longitudinal axis, the second section of wire of the first resilient wire portion comprising a length of the first resilient wire portion extending from the first loop of wire of the first section to the second end of the wire stent assembly and a second loop of wire adjacent the second end of the wire stent assembly that is perpendicular to the first planar ring and parallel to the longitudinal axes of the tube of graft material and the wire stent assembly,
a second resilient wire portion having a terminal end, a first section and a second section, the first section comprising a second planar ring disposed perpendicular to the longitudinal axes of the wire stent assembly and the tube of graft material and defining the periphery of the second end of the tube of graft material, the first section of wire of the second resilient wire portion having a first loop of wire at its terminal end that is perpendicular to the second planar ring and parallel to the longitudinal axes of the tube of graft material and the wire stent assembly, the second section of wire of the second resilient wire portion comprising a length of the second resilient wire portion extending from the first loop of the first section of the second resilient wire portion toward the first end of the wire stent assembly and a second loop of wire adjacent the first end of the wire stent assembly that is perpendicular to the second planar ring and parallel to the longitudinal axes of the tube of graft material and the wire stent assembly,
wherein the first and second resilient wire portions are attached to the tube of graft material at the peripheries of the tube of graft material and at least partially along the lengths of the second sections of the first and second resilient wire portion to provide support for the tube of graft material.
13. The wire stent assembly of claim 12 , wherein the length of the second section of each of the first and resilient wire portions extend from the first end periphery to the second end periphery.
14. The wire stent assembly of claim 12 , wherein each ring comprises at least one full turn of wire.
15. The wire stent assembly of claim 12 , wherein the second section of the first resilient wire portion is spaced radially away from the second section of the second resilient wire portion.
16. The wire stent assembly of claim 12 , wherein at least one of the second sections of the first and second wire assembly are parallel to the longitudinal axis.
17. The wire stent assembly of claim 12 , wherein each of the terminal ends of the first and second resilient wire portions lie within a respective loop.
18. The stent graft of claim 12 , wherein the first ring is stitched about the periphery of the first open end and the second ring is stitched about the periphery of the second open end.
19. The stent graft of claim 12 , wherein the first loop of wire of the first resilient wire portion and the first loop of wire of the second resilient wire portion are closed loops.
20. The stent graft of claim 12 , wherein at least one of the second loops is configured to abut a ring.