Device for implanting a vascular prosthesis

1. A system to implant a vascular prosthesis ( 110 ) in a blood vessel ( 1 ) comprising:

an implant device; and

an introduction catheter ( 10 ) comprising a proximal end ( 11 ), a distal end ( 12 ), and a distal aperture at the distal end ( 12 ) of the introduction catheter ( 10 ), the implant device being designed to slide from the proximal end ( 11 ) to the distal end ( 12 ) of the introduction catheter ( 10 ),

the implant device comprising

i) a single balloon ( 128 ) and

ii) a dilation catheter ( 120 ) arranged to supply fluid to the balloon ( 128 ),

the dilation catheter ( 120 ) having a proximal end, a distal end ( 124 ), and a distal part designed to be introduced into the vessel ( 1 ),

wherein the distal part of the dilation catheter ( 120 ) comprises a bend ( 123 ) and an upstream portion ( 121 ) and a downstream portion ( 122 ) that are contiguous to the bend ( 123 ), the bend of the dilation catheter ( 120 ) being arranged between the downstream and upstream portions ( 121 , 122 ) of the dilation catheter ( 120 ) and, respectively, the proximal end and the distal end ( 124 ) of the dilation catheter ( 120 ), the balloon ( 128 ) being entirely supported by the downstream portion ( 122 ) of the dilation catheter ( 120 ),

wherein the system is arranged so that when the dilation catheter ( 120 ) is placed in the introduction catheter ( 10 ), the downstream portion ( 122 ) of the dilation catheter ( 120 ) is being substantially folded along the upstream portion ( 121 ) of the dilation catheter ( 120 ) and the bend ( 123 ) of the dilation catheter ( 120 ) is being positioned below the downstream portion ( 122 ) and the upstream portion ( 121 ) of the dilatation catheter ( 120 ), thus facing the distal aperture of the introduction catheter ( 10 ), the configuration allowing thereby to introduce into a blood vessel, through a puncture, first the bend ( 123 ) of the dilatation catheter ( 120 ) and thereafter the balloon ( 128 ) entirely supported by the downstream portion ( 122 ) of the dilation catheter ( 120 ) and the distal end ( 124 ) of the dilatation catheter ( 120 ), and

wherein the system being thereby configured to implant the vascular prosthesis perpendicular to a puncture in a vessel/artery, through which the prosthesis is to be inserted, while running in a direction parallel to the longitudinal axis of the blood vessel.

2. A system to implant a vascular prosthesis ( 110 ) according to claim 1 , wherein the introduction catheter ( 10 ) further comprises a seal and stabilisation unit ( 16 ) positioned to provide a stable sealed connection between the introduction catheter ( 10 ) and the blood vessel ( 1 ).

3. A system to implant a vascular prosthesis ( 110 ) according to claim 2 , wherein the seal and stabilisation unit includes a boss ( 13 ) and a recess ( 14 ) located between the boss ( 13 ) and the distal end ( 12 ) of the introduction catheter ( 10 ).

4. A system to implant a vascular prosthesis ( 110 ) according to claim 2 , wherein the seal and stabilisation unit is ( 16 ) and positioned to match the walls of an approximately circular opening.

5. A system to implant a vascular prosthesis ( 110 ) according to claim 1 , wherein,

the dilation catheter ( 120 ) includes a first lumen between its proximal end and the bend ( 123 ) into which a first wire guide ( 5 ) can be placed, and

the first lumen stretches from the proximal end of the dilation catheter ( 120 ) to an opening ( 126 ) of the dilation catheter ( 120 ), the opening ( 126 ) being located on the bend ( 123 ).

6. A system to implant a vascular prosthesis ( 110 ) according to claim 1 , wherein the dilation catheter ( 120 ) has one of a cone-shaped and a spherical tip ( 125 ) that encases the bend ( 123 ).

7. A system to implant a vascular prosthesis ( 110 ) according to claim 6 , wherein the tip ( 125 ) has a truncated configuration and presents a diameter that narrows beyond the bend ( 123 ) and that flares out from the bend ( 123 ) to the distal end ( 124 ) of the dilation catheter ( 120 ).

8. A system to implant a vascular prosthesis ( 110 ) according to claim 5 , wherein,

the dilation catheter ( 120 ) has a cone-shaped tip ( 125 ) that encases the bend ( 123 ) and

the tip ( 125 ) has a lumen coinciding with the opening ( 126 ) so that the first lumen of the dilation catheter ( 120 ) coincides with the lumen of the tip ( 125 ), allowing thereby the dilation catheter ( 120 ) and the tip ( 125 ) to slide along the first wire guide ( 5 ).

9. A system to implant a vascular prosthesis ( 110 ) according to claim 1 , further comprising:

a bifurcated prosthesis ( 110 ), wherein the prosthesis ( 110 ) comprises a main body ( 111 ) designed to be positioned inside the blood vessel ( 1 ) and at least one leg ( 112 ) having an upper end entering said body ( 111 ) and having a lower end designed to be fluidly connected to a portion of the blood vessel ( 1 ) located downstream the implant area, wherein the downstream portion ( 122 ) of the dilatation catheter ( 10 ) extends through the entire length of said body ( 111 ), the bend ( 123 ) and the distal end ( 124 ) being outside the prosthesis ( 110 ) and wherein the upstream portion passes through the at least one more leg ( 112 ).

10. A system to implant a vascular prosthesis ( 110 ) according to claim 1 , wherein in a dilated configuration, the balloon ( 128 ) marks out a groove ( 129 ), the groove ( 129 ) being conformed to contain the upstream portion ( 121 ) when the balloon ( 128 ) dilates.

11. A system to implant a vascular prosthesis ( 110 ) according to claim 10 , wherein,

the groove ( 129 ) is deep enough such that the upstream portion ( 121 ) does not project beyond an external casing of the balloon when the balloon is dilated, and

the groove ( 129 ) is long enough to hold the entire upstream portion ( 121 ) in contact with the balloon when the balloon is dilated and wherein the groove ( 129 ) is wide enough to ensure that the upstream portion ( 121 ) can be automatically inserted in the groove ( 129 ) when balloon ( 128 ) is dilated.

12. A system to implant a vascular prosthesis ( 110 ) according to claim 10 , wherein the groove ( 129 ) is arranged to free the implant device of any projection that tends to deform the wall of the blood vessel ( 1 ) when the balloon ( 128 ) is dilated.

13. A system to implant a vascular prosthesis ( 110 ) according to claim 1 , wherein the upstream ( 121 ) and downstream ( 122 ) portions form an angle of between 0° and 30° therebetween.

14. A system to implant a vascular prosthesis ( 110 ) according to claim 1 , wherein the bend ( 123 ) is substantially U-shaped.

15. A system to implant a vascular prosthesis ( 110 ) according to claim 1 , wherein the dilation catheter ( 120 ) is elastic at the bend ( 123 ) so that the upstream ( 121 ) and downstream ( 122 ) portions can be moved closer to, and further from, each other.

16. A system to implant a vascular prosthesis ( 110 ) according to claim 1 , wherein the dilation catheter ( 120 ) includes a first lumen between its proximal end and the bend ( 123 ) into which a first wire guide ( 5 ) can be placed.

17. A system to implant a vascular prosthesis ( 110 ) according to claim 1 , further comprising a second lumen between the proximal end and the distal end ( 124 ) of the dilation catheter ( 120 ), the second lumen being shaped and suitable for a second wire guide ( 6 ).

18. A system to implant a vascular prosthesis ( 110 ) according to claim 1 , wherein one of the bend ( 123 ) and the distal end ( 124 ) of the dilation catheter ( 120 ) has a cone-shaped or spherical tip ( 125 ) extending the downstream portion ( 122 ).

19. A system to implant a vascular prosthesis ( 110 ) according to claim 1 , further comprising the vascular prosthesis ( 110 ).

20. A system to implant a vascular prosthesis ( 110 ) in a blood vessel ( 1 ) comprising:

an implant device; and

an introduction catheter ( 10 ) comprising a proximal end ( 11 ), a distal end ( 12 ), and a distal aperture at the distal end ( 12 ) of the introduction catheter ( 10 ), the implant device slideable from the proximal end ( 11 ) to the distal end ( 12 ) of the introduction catheter ( 10 ),

the implant device comprising i) a single balloon ( 128 ) and ii) a dilation catheter ( 120 ) that supplies fluid to the balloon ( 128 ), the dilation catheter ( 120 ) having a proximal end, a distal end ( 124 ), and a distal part introduceable into the blood vessel ( 1 ),

wherein the distal part comprises a bend ( 123 ) and an upstream portion ( 121 ) and a downstream portion ( 122 ) that are contiguous to the bend ( 123 ), the bend being arranged between the downstream and upstream portions ( 121 , 122 ) and, respectively, the proximal end and the distal end ( 124 ), the balloon ( 128 ) being entirely supported by the downstream portion ( 122 ),

wherein the system is arranged so that when the dilation catheter ( 120 ) is placed in the introduction catheter ( 10 ), the downstream portion ( 122 ) is being substantially folded along the upstream portion ( 121 ) and the bend ( 123 ) is being positioned below the downstream portion ( 122 ) and the upstream portion ( 121 ) of the dilatation catheter ( 120 ), thus facing the distal aperture of the introduction catheter ( 10 ), the configuration allowing thereby to introduce into a blood vessel, through a puncture, first the bend ( 123 ) of the dilatation catheter ( 120 ) and thereafter the balloon ( 128 ) entirely supported by the downstream portion ( 122 ) of the dilation catheter ( 120 ) and the distal end ( 124 ) of the dilatation catheter ( 120 ), and

wherein the system thereby with the vascular prosthesis perpendicular to the puncture in the blood vessel, the prosthesis is insertable through the puncture, while running in a direction parallel to a longitudinal axis of the blood vessel.