Anchoring device for an endoluminal prosthesis

1. An anchoring device for an endoluminal prosthesis, comprising:

a tubular-shaped body having a plurality of struts, each strut having a proximal end and a distal end, wherein adjacent struts are connected by a connecting portion at one of said proximal end and distal end such that said body comprises a plurality of proximal connecting portions and a plurality of distal connecting portions, the body having a collapsed configuration, defining a collapsed perimeter, and an expanded configuration, defining an expanded perimeter larger than the collapsed perimeter; and

an anchoring member positioned proximate at least one of said connecting portions, the anchoring member comprising an apex formed by the joining of a first arm and a second arm at distal ends thereof, wherein a proximal end of the first arm is attached to a first of said adjacent struts and a proximal end of the second arm is attached to a second of said adjacent struts, the apex and distal ends of the first and second arms directed toward, and forming an angle with respect to, a central axis of the body in the collapsed configuration.

2. The anchoring device according to claim 1 , wherein the apex and distal ends of the first and second arms are directed away from the central axis in the expanded configuration.

3. The anchoring device according to claim 1 , comprising a plurality of anchoring members positioned proximate each of said plurality of proximal connecting portions.

4. The anchoring device according to claim 1 , wherein said anchoring member is made from a material selected from the group consisting of shape memory material, alloys, Nitinol and stainless steel.

5. The anchoring device according to claim 1 , wherein said anchoring member is formed into the tubular-shaped body.

6. An endoluminal prosthesis for implantation into a blood vessel, comprising a prosthesis member and at least one stent member, wherein said stent member is attached to the prosthesis member such that upon deployment of the endoluminal prosthesis within the blood vessel, said stent member prevents migration of the prosthesis member, said stent member comprising:

a tubular-shaped body having a plurality of struts, each strut having a proximal end and a distal end, wherein adjacent struts are connected by a connecting portion at one of said proximal end and distal end such that said body comprises a plurality of proximal connecting portions and a plurality of distal connecting portions, the body having a collapsed configuration, defining a collapsed perimeter, and an expanded configuration, defining an expanded perimeter larger than the collapsed perimeter; and

an anchoring member positioned proximate at least one of said connecting portions, the anchoring member comprising an apex formed by the joining of a first arm and a second arm at distal ends thereof, wherein a proximal end of the first arm is attached to a first of said adjacent struts and a proximal end of the second arm is attached to a second of said adjacent struts, the apex and distal ends of the first and second arms directed toward, and forming an angle with respect to, a central axis of the body in the collapsed configuration.

7. The endoluminal prosthesis according to claim 6 , wherein the apex and distal ends of the first and second arms are directed away from the central axis in the expanded configuration.

8. The endoluminal prosthesis according to claim 6 , comprising a plurality of anchoring members positioned proximate each of said plurality of proximal connecting portions.

9. The endoluminal prosthesis according to claim 6 , wherein said anchoring member is made from a material selected from the group consisting of shape memory material, alloys, Nitinol and stainless steel.

10. The endoluminal prosthesis according to claim 6 , wherein said anchoring member is formed into the tubular-shaped body.

11. The endoluminal prosthesis according to claim 6 , wherein the prosthesis member is configured to be inserted into an abdominal aortic artery, and wherein said at least one stent member comprises a plurality of stent members attached to said prosthesis member.

12. An anchoring device, comprising a tubular-shaped body having a plurality of struts, each strut having a proximal end and a distal end, wherein adjacent struts are connected by a connecting portion at one of said proximal end and distal end such that said body comprises a plurality of proximal connecting portions and a plurality of distal connecting portions, the body having a collapsed configuration, defining a collapsed perimeter, and an expanded configuration, defining an expanded perimeter larger than the collapsed perimeter, wherein each of said plurality of proximal connecting portions comprises an anchoring member having an apex formed by the joining of a first arm and a second arm at distal ends thereof, wherein a proximal end of the first arm is attached to a first of said adjacent struts and a proximal end of the second arm is attached to a second of said adjacent struts, the apex and distal ends of the first and second arms directed toward, and forming an angle with respect to, a central axis of the body in the collapsed configuration.

13. The anchoring device according to claim 12 , wherein the apex and distal ends of the first and second arms are directed away from the central axis in the expanded configuration.

14. The anchoring device according to claim 12 , wherein said anchoring member is made from a material selected from the group consisting of shape memory material, alloys, Nitinol and stainless steel.

15. An anchoring member in combination with an intraluminal stent, comprising:

a first arm having a first end and a second end; and

a second arm having a first end and a second end, the first end of the first arm and the first end of the second arm joined together to form an apex, the second end of the first arm attached to a first stent strut, the second end of the second arm attached to a second stent strut adjacent to the first stent strut, the apex and the first ends of the first and second arms forming an angle with respect to a central axis of the stent in both a collapsed configuration of the stent directed toward the central axis and an expanded configuration of the stent directed away from the central axis.

16. The anchoring member according to claim 15 , wherein the first and second arms include a material selected from the group consisting of shape memory material, alloys, Nitinol and stainless steel.

17. A device deliverable via a catheter, comprising:

a body having a plurality of struts disposed about a central axis to define an outer perimeter, the body having a first outer perimeter in a first configuration and a second outer perimeter larger tan the first outer perimeter in a second configuration; and

an anchor member disposed between first and second struts of the plurality of struts, the anchor member having a first elongate member connected to a second elongate member at first ends thereof to define a tip, the first elongate member having a second end coupled to the first strut and the second elongate member having a second end coupled to the second strut so that in the first configuration, the tip and first ends of the first and second elongate members form an angle with respect to the central axis and are oriented toward the central axis in a first direction, and in the second configuration, the tip and first ends of the first and second elongate members form an angle with respect to the central axis and are oriented away from the central axis in a second direction to define an included angle between the first and second directions of less than 180 degrees.

18. The device according to claim 17 , wherein the first outer perimeter is defined by a first outer diameter and the second outer perimeter is defined by a second outer diameter.

19. The device according to claim 18 , wherein said anchor member is made from a material selected from the group consisting essentially of shape memory material, alloys, Nitinol, or stainless steel and combinations thereof.