Endovascular Systems, Inc.

Stentco, Inc.

Teramed, Inc.

Ralph Marin

Michael L Marin

Michael M Marin

Disclosed is a method for excluding a pathological defect such as an aortic aneurysm. By the disclosed method, a grafstent complex is advanced through each branch of the patient's femoral and iliac system. The graftstent complex includes a segment of prosthetic graft material attached at each end to a respective stent. The cephalic stents of each graftstent complex are positioned relative to one other in a common region of normal aortic tissue on one side of the aneurysm and then deployed. The caudal stents are deployed in the iliac arteries. Additional steps can be taken to ensure that the internal iliac artery is not blocked when the caudal stents are deployed.

Method and apparatus concerning bypass grafts

Disclosed is a method for excluding a pathological defect such as an aortic aneurysm. By the disclosed method, a grafstent complex is advanced through each branch of the patient's femoral and iliac system. The graftstent complex includes a segment of graft material attached at each end to a respective stent. The cephalic stents of each graftstent complex are positioned relative to one other in a common region of normal aortic tissue on one side of the aneurysm and then deployed. The caudal stents are deployed in the iliac arteries. Additional steps can be taken to ensure that the internal iliac artery is not blocked when the caudal stents are deployed.

Method for endoluminally excluding an aortic aneurysm

Disclosed is a non-circular stent, as well as a graftstent complex, that may be used for isolating a pathological defect in the vicinity of a branching passageway. Also disclosed is an apparatus for expanding a stent and for aligning same relative to another stent. Further, a method for excluding a pathological defect such as an aortic aneurysm is disclosed.

Method and apparatus for deploying non-circular stents and graftstent

A method for endoluminally isolating a pathological defect in a body passageway. The method includes the steps of advancing a graft through the body passageway and attaching a distal portion of the graft to the interior surface of the body passageway. A proximal portion of the graft is sized within the body passageway. The method sizes the graft by moving an intraluminal cutting device through the body passageway relative to the graft and actuating the cutting device within the body passageway at a predetermined position relative to the graft. The foregoing steps result in a graft being cut to a desired length within the body passageway. Contrast may be injected in the vicinity of the graft to facilitate the method. Graft cutting while the graft is contained in a guide sheath. Also, the graft may be attached to a stent for attaching it within the body passageway. A device for performing the method is also disclosed.

Method for forming custom length grafts after endoluminal insertion

A device for endoluminally cutting a graft is disclosed. The device includes an elongated catheter having an actuator at its proximal end and a cutting element remote from its proximal end. The actuator causes the cutting element to sever the graft endoluminally. The cutting element effects a cut through the wall of the graft to cut the graft, endoluminally, to a desired length. The cutting element includes a portion shaped so that the catheter can be positioned relative to the graft with the graft in close proximity to the cutting element.

Apparatus for forming custom length grafts after endoluminal insertion

A device for delivering and deploying an intraluminal device such as a stent. The device has a guide sheath with a movable tip element, preferably in the form of an inflatable balloon, at its distal end that facilitates insertion of the guide sheath. The intraluminal device is carried on a catheter within the sheath. The sheath may be formed from a very thin flexible material so that a smaller introducer and incision in the patient may be used. The internal pressure of the sheath may be varied to alter pushability and flexibility of the sheath. The tip element thus preferably forms a fluid tight seal with the distal end of the guide sheath. A handle is provided to hold the catheter stationary while the guide sheath is retracted to expose the intraluminal device for deployment. This minimizes the likelihood that movement of the sheath will displace the intraluminal device after it has been properly positioned.

Device for delivering and deploying intraluminal devices

The invention provides an expanded vascular stent having a non-circular cross-section. The expanded stent may have, for example, a 'D' shaped cross-section for collateral deployment within a common body lumen. A curved edge of the stent engages a body lumen while an alignment edge engages a collaterally deployed stent. A segment of graft material having at least one end cut on a bias may be attached to the stent so that the graft material extends substantially between the proximal and distal ends of the stent along its alignment edge, yet only partially along its curved edge to assist in forming a hemostatic seal. The apparatus may also be used for collaterally deploying stents within the common body lumen.

Method and apparatus for forming an endoluminal bifurcated graft

The invention provides a method and apparatus for intraluminal delivery and deployment of an expandable prosthesis at a site within a body lumen. The apparatus for intraluminal delivery and deployment includes a support for supporting the expandable prosthesis while being delivered to the site within the body lumen, and a radially displaceable mechanical linkage connected to the support for radially displacing the support. The linkage is adapted to deploy the expandable prosthesis when it is displaced radially outward. The linkage permits continuous fluid flow within the body lumen while the expandable prosthesis is being deployed. The present invention can also be used without stents for expanding a body lumen. The present method comprises the steps of transmitting a radially, outwardly directed displacement force to the support from a control mechanism, the support being displaced radially outwardly to an expanded stance such that the prosthesis contacts the body passageway, and transmitting a radially, inwardly directed displacement force to the support from a control mechanism, the support being displaced radially inwardly to a recoiled stance less than the diameter of the body passageway while leaving the prosthesis in contact the body passageway. Fluid flow is permitted throughout the delivery and deployment process.

Apparatus and method for deployment of radially expandable stents by a

The invention provides a method for intraluminal delivery and deployment of an expandable prosthesis at a site within a body lumen. The method comprises the steps of placing the prosthesis over a support having at least two movable wings mounted on a catheter, delivering the prosthesis to the desired location by moving the catheter through the body passageway, and moving the wings radially outwardly to thereby deploy the prosthesis within the body passageway.

Method for deployment of radially expandable stents

A method for delivering and deploying an intraluminal device. A guidewire is inserted such that one end extends into the patient at an entrance point and the other end extends out of the patient through an exit point. First and second catheters are then passed over the guidewire. The first and second catheters are connected to each other so that the transluminal device may be positioned within the blood vessel by pushing one catheter and pulling the other catheter.

Method for delivering and deploying intraluminal devices

A method of endoluminally bypassing blood flow through an aneurysm in the vicinity of a branched blood vessel is provided. The method comprises the steps of advancing a graftstent complex through each branch of the branched blood vessel, aligning the cephalic stents of each of the graftstent complexes relative to each other in a common vessel above the aneurysm, and deploying each of the aligned cephalic stents in the common vessel. The invention also provides an expanded vascular stent having a non-circular cross-section and an apparatus for expanding the stent in this manner. Preferably, the expanded stent is generally 'D' shaped for collateral deployment within a common body lumen. A curved edge of the stent engages a body lumen while an alignment edge engages a collaterally deployed stent. A segment of graft material having at least one end cut on a bias may be attached to the stent so that the graft material extends substantially between the proximal and distal ends of the stent along its alignment edge, yet only partially along its curved edge to assist in forming a hemostatic seal. The apparatus may also be used for collaterally deploying stents within the common body lumen. The invention further provides an apparatus for rotationally aligning the stent alignment edges by providing an indication of the relative rotational alignment of the indwelling stents on a portion of the apparatus which remains external to the patient.

A device for delivering and deploying a graft stent complex comprises a flexible guide sheath, the outer diameter of the guide sheath being constant throughout its length and the inner diameter of the guide sheath increasing from the proximal end to the distal end. A hemostatic valve having at least two ports is attached to the proximal end of the guide sheath, one port adapted to permit passage of a catheter into the guide sheath and the other port adapted to permit passage of a fluid into the guide sheath. A lead balloon catheter extends through the first port into the guide sheath, and includes an inflatable lead balloon at its distal end. A portion of the lead balloon extends from the distal end of the guide sheath to provide a tapered leading surface and also to seal the distal end of the guide sheath. Deployment means are provided within the guide sheath, with the stent being mounted on the deployment means. The deployment means includes an elongated shaft having a guide wire lumen disposed in colinear relationship with the guide wire lumen of the lead balloon catheter. Fluid may be applied under pressure to the second port of the hemostatic valve to vary the flexibility of the guide sheath.

An improved stent provides mechanical anchoring of the stent to a blood or other body vessel. The stent has, in a preferred embodiment, barbs which remain within the surface of the stent when the stent is in its unexpanded condition, but which extend from the surface of the stent when the stent is expanded. These barbs are adapted to engage, for example, a graft and/or the inner layers of a blood vessel to mechanically attach the stent to the vessel. Because friction is not solely relied upon to hold the stent in place, the stent may exert less force on the blood vessel which, in turn, means that a thinner stent requiring less force for expansion may be used. In addition, there may be less radial force permanently exerted in an artery after stent deployment which may be less injurious to the vessel.

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New York, NY, United States of America

Ralph Marin