Bifurcated stent graft with hemodynamic blood flow dividing wall
A bifurcated stent graft includes a stent graft body that defines exactly one main body opening and at least two exit openings. The stent graft body includes at least one stent attached to a graft fabric material, and includes a dividing wall that divides a combined flow path, into a first flow path and a second flow path that each terminate at one of the respective exit openings. The dividing wall includes a thickness profile that terminates at a leading edge radius that extends across a width of the combined flow path.
1. A bifurcated stent graft comprising:
a stent graft body defining exactly one main body opening and at least two exit openings;
the stent graft body includes at least one stent attached to a graft fabric material, a bifurcation and a dividing wall that divides a combined flow path into a first flow path and a second flow path that each terminate at one of the respective exit openings; and
the dividing wall includes a thickness profile that terminates at a leading edge radius that extends across a width of the combined flow path.
2. The bifurcated stent graft of claim 1 wherein the thickness profile of the dividing wall includes a tapered segment that begins as a tangent to the leading edge radius.
3. The bifurcated stent graft of claim 2 wherein the tapered segment has a length greater than double the leading edge radius.
4. The bifurcated stent graft of claim 3 wherein a taper angle of the tapered segment is a function of the leading edge radius and the length of the tapered segment.
5. The bifurcated stent graft of claim 2 wherein the tapered segment thins toward the leading edge radius.
6. The bifurcated stent graft of claim 2 wherein the tapered segment thickens toward the leading edge radius.
7. The bifurcated stent graft of claim 1 wherein one of the two exit openings is further from the bifurcation than an other one of the two exit openings.
8. The bifurcated stent graft of claim 1 wherein the leading edge radius is further from the bifurcation than the main body opening.
9. The bifurcated stent graft of claim 1 wherein the leading edge radius is less than one eight of a radius of the main body opening.
10. The bifurcated stent graft of claim 1 wherein the leading edge radius defines a curved line across the width.
11. The bifurcated stent graft of claim 1 wherein the leading edge radius defines a straight line across the width.
12. The bifurcated stent graft of claim 1 wherein the leading edge radius at a center of the width is further from the main body opening than each side of the width.
13. The bifurcated stent graft of claim 1 wherein the dividing wall has a height that extends from the bifurcation to the leading edge radius;
the height is a majority of a distance from the main body opening to the bifurcation.
14. The bifurcated stent graft of claim 1 wherein the dividing wall has a height that extends from the bifurcation to the leading edge radius;
the height is a minority of a distance from the main body opening to the bifurcation.
15. The bifurcated stent graft of claim 1 wherein the dividing wall has a height that extends from the bifurcation to the leading edge radius;
the stent graft body has a first leg that extends from the bifurcation to one of the exit openings, and a second leg that extends from the bifurcation to an other one of the exit openings;
the height is longer than the first leg and the second leg.
16. The bifurcated stent graft of claim 1 wherein the dividing wall has a height that extends from an bifurcation to the leading edge radius;
the stent graft body has a first leg that extends from the bifurcation to one of the exit openings, and a second leg that extends from the bifurcation to an other one of the exit openings;
the height is shorter than the first leg and the second leg.
17. The bifurcated stent graft of claim 1 wherein the dividing wall has a height that extends from the bifurcation to the leading edge radius;
the stent graft body has a first leg that extends from the bifurcation to one of the exit openings, and a second leg that extends from the bifurcation to an other one of the exit openings;
the height is about a same length as at least one of the first leg and the second leg.
18. A bifurcated stent graft comprising:
a stent graft body defining exactly one main body opening and at least two exit openings;
the stent graft body includes at least one stent attached to a graft fabric material, a bifurcation and a dividing wall that divides a combined flow path into a first flow path and a second flow path that each terminate at one of the respective exit openings;
the dividing wall includes a thickness profile that terminates at a leading edge radius that extends across a width of the combined flow path; and
wherein the dividing wall has a height that extends from a bifurcation to the leading edge radius in a direction of the main body opening.
19. A bifurcated stent graft comprising:
a stent graft body defining exactly one main body opening and at least two exit openings;
the stent graft body includes at least one stent attached to a graft fabric material, a bifurcation and a dividing wall that divides a combined flow path into a first flow path and a second flow path that each terminate at one of the respective exit openings; and
the dividing wall includes a thickness profile that terminates at a leading edge radius that extends across a width of the combined flow path;
wherein flow entering the stent graft at the main body opening is split and destined for one of the two exit openings at the leading edge radius rather than at a bifurcation of the bifurcated stent graft.