Endotex Interventional Systems, Inc.

Advanced Cardiovascular Systems, Inc.

Technology Development Center

Geoffrey A Orth

Peter S Brown

Scott Clinton Anderson

John J Frantzen

James M Cannon, Jr

John B Simpson

John McIntyre

Scott C Anderson

An apparatus and method for temporarily implanting an intraluminal stent in a body lumen and its subsequent removal. A stent is formed from a thin sheet that has been wound around itself into a generally cylindrical roll. The stent has a deployed configuration with a deployed diameter generally the size of the lumen diameter. The stent has a delivery configuration, formed by winding the stent more tightly than the deployed configuration, with the delivery diameter smaller than the deployed diameter in order to allow low profile delivery into the body lumen. The stent will transform from the delivery configuration to the deployed configuration when exposed to body heat. The stent can be deployed by an intraluminal delivery catheter that secures the stent in its delivery configuration during intraluminal delivery of the stent. The stent can be removed from the body lumen via a removal catheter that coils the stent into a sheath at the end of the removal catheter.

Removable stent and method of deployment

The intravascular multi-anchor stent includes a plurality of cylindrical elements that are independently expandable in the radial direction and that are interconnected so as to be generally aligned on a common longitudinal axis, and a plurality of barbs along the entire circumference of the stent that face outwardly when the stent is in an expanded condition. A plurality of connecting elements are provided for interconnecting only the cylindrical elements that are adjacent to each other so that the stent, when expanded in the radial direction, retains its overall length without appreciable shortening.

Multi-anchor stent

This invention provides a method and graft system for aneurysm repair comprising a prosthetic graft with means to draw a distal extremity of the graft over a portion of an expandable anchoring member. Prior to deployment, the graft and the anchoring member do not overlap to reduce the outer diameter of the delivery system. Preferably, the drawing means comprises pull strands connected to the distal extremity of the graft so that the distal extremity of the graft may be pulled over a proximal portion of the anchoring member. Subsequent expansion of the anchoring member seals the overlapped graft against the vessel wall to minimize blood flow-by and secures the graft in the vessel. Securing means may be advanced up each pull strand to abut the anchoring member and further secure the graft to the anchoring member. The graft may also comprise means to guide a second expandable anchoring member to the proximal end of the graft. Preferably, the guiding means comprise guide strands connected to a proximal extremity of the graft. The anchoring member can then be advanced up the guide strands until the graft overlaps the second anchoring member. Expansion of the second anchoring member secures the proximal end of the graft.

Prosthetic graft and method for aneurysm repair

This invention provides a graft delivery system and methods for its use comprising a prosthetic graft secured to an expandable anchoring member, such as a stent, by a butt-joint attachment means to minimize the system's profile. The delivery system employs a catheter with a relatively small diameter shaft for flexibility and a relatively large diameter delivery base for supporting expansion of the anchoring member. The butt-joint attachment means comprises any means suitable to secure the graft to the anchoring member when deployed within the patient's vasculature and allows the anchoring member and graft to expand during deployment. In a preferred embodiment, the delivery system is configured so that the expansion of the anchoring member pulls the distal end of the graft over the proximal end of the anchoring member and the final expansion of the anchoring member seals the distal end of the graft between the proximal end of the anchoring member and the vessel. One preferred method of use is to deploy a second anchoring member coaxially within the already deployed first anchoring member and graft assembly, overlapping at least the distal end of the graft in order to further secure the graft and minimize flow by.

Delivery catheter and graft for aneurysm repair

A coupler is provided for connecting a stent and a vascular graft for repairing aneurysms. An intravascular stent is connected to a vascular graft by a coupler having a high degree of elasticity so that the stent-coupler-graft assembly can be implanted to repair a body passageway, including aortic aneurysms.

Coupling device and method of use

An intraluminal stent for implanting in a body lumen in which a plurality of connecting members are deformed radially outwardly to form projecting barbs for attaching the stent to a body lumen. The stent has a first, unexpanded low profile diameter for intraluminal delivery, and a second, larger expanded diameter for implanting in a body lumen in which projecting barbs are formed and which penetrate the body lumen to assist in attaching the stent to the walls of the body lumen.

Expandable stent forming projecting barbs and method for deploying

An cutter apparatus for removing obstructive tissue has a distal housing having a window for invaginating tissue. An axially reciprocating and rotating cutting blade makes successive longitudinal cuts while slowly rotating across the open window. An axial guide assembly holds the cutting edge of the blade in a cutting path immediately adjacent to the inner surface of the housing. The shape and motion of the cutting blade pares off a generally uniformly thick slice of tissue from the stenosis and directs it toward the interior of the housing. A spiral parting edge opposed to the rotating cutting edge provides clean separation of the tissue slice from the stenosis. The tissue slice is received in a chamber internal to the housing and is retained by the blade and guide assembly for later removal from the patient.

Growing community of inventors

La Granada, CA, United States of America

Geoffrey A Orth