Advanced Cardiovascular Systems, Inc.

Gore Enterprise Holdings, Inc.

W. L. Gore & Associates, Inc.

Sharon S Lam

Lilip Lau

Troy L Thornton

William M Hartigan

Charles T Maroney

Gerald Ray Martin

Scott N Stonebrook

Farhad Khosravi

John J Frantzen

A stent-graft including a stent member having an inner surface and an outer surface, a generally tubular graft member and a coupling member that couples the stent member to the graft member. The coupling member, which is the preferred embodiment is in the form of a ribbon, covers only a portion of the inner or outer surface of the stent member and secures the stent member and graft member to one another. Alternatively, the coupling member can be described as interconnecting less than entirely the inner or outer surface of the graft member to the stent member. With this construction, regions of the stent member do not interfere with the coupling member. Shear stresses between the stent member and the coupling member and the risk of tearing the graft or coupling member or delamination therebetween may be reduced as compared to a fully enveloped stent member. This construction also provides improved flexibility and kink resistance.

Kink resistant stent-graft

Procedures for introducing stents and stent-grafts

A stent-graft including a stent member having an inner surface and an outer surface, a generally tubular graft member and a coupling member that couples the stent member to the graft member. The coupling member, which is the preferred embodiment is in the form of a ribbon, covers only a portion of the inner or outer surface of the stent member and secures the stent member and graft member to one another. Alternatively, the coupling member can be to described as interconnecting less than entirely the inner or outer surface of the graft member to the stent member. With this construction, regions of the stent member do not interfere with the coupling member. Shear stresses between the stent member and the coupling member and the risk of tearing the graft or coupling member or delamination therebetween may be reduced as compared to a fully enveloped stent member. This construction also provides improved flexibility and kink resistance.

Method of making a kink resistant stent-graft

A stent-graft including a stent member having an inner surface and an outer surface, a generally tubular graft member and a coupling member that couples the stent member to the graft member. The coupling member, which in the preferred embodiment is in the form of a ribbon, covers only a portion of the inner or outer surface of the stent member and secures the stent member and graft member to one another. Alternatively, the coupling member can be described as interconnecting less than entirely the inner or outer surface of the graft member to the stent member. With this construction, regions of the stent member do not interfere with the coupling member. Shear stresses between the stent member and the coupling member and the risk of tearing the graft or coupling member or delamination therebetween may be reduced as compared to a fully enveloped stent member. This construction also provides improved flexibility and kink resistance.

This invention is a medical device and a method of using it. The device is a foldable stent or stent-graft which may be percutaneously delivered with (or on) a catheter, typically an endovascular catheter, to a body cavity or lumen and then expanded. It may also be delivered or via surgical (or other) techniques. The expandable stent structure utilizes torsional members which distribute bending and folding loads in such a way that the stent is not plastically deformed. The stent's configuration allows it to be folded or otherwise compressed to a very small diameter prior to deployment without changing the length of the stent. The graft component cooperating with the stent is tubular and preferably is blood-compatible material which may, if desired, be reinforced with fibers. The stent is able to provide collapsible support for otherwise frangible graft material. The invention also involves procedures for folding stents and for deploying stents or stent-grafts which have been folded, bound, or otherwise collapsed to significantly smaller diameters for insertion into a human or animal body. When used with super-elastic alloys, the stent may be collapsed at a convenient temperature either above or, preferably, below the transition temperature of the alloy.

The present invention relates to a process for deploying a folded stent or stent-graft in a lumen. The stent or stent graft is maintained in the folded configuration by a slip line that is attached to the folded stent or stent-graft, along a longitudinal fold edge. The folded stent or stent-graft is inserted into a lumen and the slip line is axially moved along a longitudinal line to allow the folded stent or stent-graft to expand to its enlarged, deployed configuration.

The invention is directed to an expandable stent for implantation in a body lumen, such as an artery. The stent consists of a plurality of radially expandable cylindrical elements generally aligned on a common longitudinal stent axis and interconnected by one or more interconnecting members placed so as to limit longitudinal contraction during radial expansion. The individual radially expandable cylindrical elements are formed in an irregular serpentine pattern designed to expand evenly under radial stress, and maximize the overall radial expansion ratio.

Expandable stents and method for making same

This invention is a method of using a medical device. The device is a foldable stent or stent-graft which may be percutaneously delivered with (or on) a catheter, typically an endovascular catheter, to a body cavity or lumen and then expanded. The expandable stent structure utilizes torsional members which distribute bending and folding loads in such a way that the stent is not plastically deformed. The stent's configuration allows it to be folded or otherwise compressed to a very small diameter prior to deployment without changing the length of the stent. The graft component cooperating with the stent is tubular and preferably is blood-compatible material which may, if desired, be reinforced with fibers. The stent is able to provide collapsible support for otherwise frangible graft material. When used with super-elastic alloys, the stent may be collapsed at a convenient temperature either above or, preferably, below the transition temperature of the alloy. The deployment procedures may involve the use of an outer sleeve to maintain the stent or stent-graft at a reduced diameter or may involve one or more external or internal 'slip-lines' or 'tether wires' to hold and then to release the device.

A method and apparatus for repairing a vessel at a bifurcation without obstructing blood flow through the bifurcation, wherein an expandable ostial stent comprises a tubular body and a deformable flaring portion. Repair of a bifurcated vessel is accomplished by positioning the expandable ostial stent within a diseased portion of the bifurcation so that the flaring portion caps the ostium and the tubular body is seated within a side branch to the bifurcation, thereby completely repairing the vessel at the bifurcation without occluding blood flow.

Method for repairing a bifurcated vessel

An intravascular stent comprising a cylindrical body capable of expansion having end assemblies capable of locking in an expanded state. The end assemblies may have a series of tabs and apertures that interlock and rotate as the stent ends expand to an open position to support a section of vasculature or other body lumen. The stent is bio-compatible, may be bio-erodible, and capable of localized drug delivery.

Coiled stent with locking ends

A radiopaque marker associated with a stent which is adapted to be implanted into a patient's body lumen to maintain the patency thereof and a convenient and accurate method for affixing the radiopaque marker to the stent. The radiopaque marker defining an acceptable profile and capable of facilitating, under fluoroscopy, the identification of the position, diameter and length of a stent without obscuring the lesion being repaired and without impeding the deformation of an expandable stent.

Radiopaque stent

Ostial stent for bifurcations

The invention is directed to an expandable stent for implantation in a body lumen, such as an artery. The stent consists of a plurality of radially expandable cylindrical elements generally aligned on a common longitudinal stent axis and interconnected by one or more interconnecting members placed so as to limit longitudinal contraction during radial expansion. The individual radially expandable cylindrical elements are formed in general serpentine pattern designed to expand evenly under radial stress, and maximize the overall radial expansion ratio.

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San Jose, CA, United States of America

Sharon S Lam