Expandable intraluminal graft, and method and apparatus for implanting an expandable intraluminal graft

Claim 3

The method of claim 1, further including the steps of: collapsing the portion of the catheter associated with the prosthesis, and removing the catheter from the body passageway.

Claim 4

The method of claim 1, including the steps of: utilizing a catheter having an expandable, inflatable portion associated therewith; and the expansion and deformation of the prosthesis and the portion of the catheter is accomplished by inflating the expandable, inflatable portion of the catheter.

Claim 5

The method of claim 1, wherein the slots are uniformly and circumferentially spaced from adjacent slots and the slots are uniformly spaced from adjacent slots along the longitudinal axis of the tubular member, whereby at least one elongate member is formed between adjacent slots.

Claim 6

The method of claim 4, wherein each slot has first and second ends, and the first and second ends of each slot are disposed intermediate the first and second ends of adjacent slots along the longitudinal axis of the tubular member.

Claim 7

The method of claim 5, wherein the thin-walled tubular member and the elongate members disposed between adjacent slots have a uniform wall thickness.

Claim 8

The method of claim 1, wherein the thin-walled tubular member is expanded and deformed to a second diameter within the body passageway; the second, expanded diameter being variable and determined by the internal diameter of the body passageway, whereby the expanded thin-walled tubular member will not migrate from the desired location within the body passageway and the expansion of the thin-walled tubular member does not cause a rupture of the body passageway.

Claim 9

The method of claim 7, wherein the thin-walled tubular member is uniformly, outwardly expanded and deformed along its length.

Claim 10

The method of claim 1, wherein the thin-walled tubular member is provided with a biologically inert coating on the outer surface of the thin-walled tubular member.

Claim 11

The method of claim 9, wherein the coating is provided with a means for anchoring the prosthesis to the body passageway.

Claim 12

The method of claim 10, wherein the means for anchoring is the coating being provided with a plurality of radially, outwardly extending projections for engagement with the body passageway.

Claim 13

The method of claim 9, wherein the coating is provided with a plurality of openings to allow communication between the body passageway and the interior of the thin-walled tubular member.

Claim 14

An expandable intraluminal vascular graft, comprising: a thin-walled tubular member having first and second ends and a wall surface disposed between the first and second ends, the wall surface having a substantially uniform thickness and a plurality of slots formed therein, the slots being disposed substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the tubular member; the tubular member having a first diameter which permits intraluminal delivery of the tubular member into a body passageway having a lumen; and the tubular member having a second, expanded and deformed diameter, upon the application from the interior of the tubular member of a radially, outwardly extending force, which second diameter is variable and dependent upon the amount of force applied to the tubular member, whereby the tubular member may be expanded and deformed to expand the lumen of the body passageway.

Claim 15

An expandable intraluminal vascular graft, comprising: a thin-walled tubular member having first and second ends and a wall surface disposed between the first and second ends, the wall surface having a substantially uniform thickness and a plurality of slots formed therein, the slots being disposed substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the tubular member; the tubular member having a first diameter which permits intraluminal delivery of the tubular member into a body passageway having a lumen; and the tubular member having a second, expanded and deformed diameter, upon the application from the interior of the tubular member of a radially, outwardly extending force, which second diameter is variable and dependent upon the amount of force applied to the tubular member, whereby the tubular member may be expanded and deformed to expand the lumen of the body passageway.

Claim 16

The expandable intraluminal vascular graft of claim 13, wherein the slots are uniformly and circumferentially spaced from adjacent slots and the slots are uniformly spaced from adjacent slots along the longitudinal axis of the tubular member, whereby at least one elongate member is formed between adjacent slots.

Claim 17

The expandable intraluminal vascular graft of claim 14, wherein each slot has first and second ends, and the first and second ends of each slot are disposed intermediate the first and second ends of adjacent slots along the longitudinal axis of the tubular member.

Claim 18

The expandable intraluminal vascular graft of claim 13, wherein the tubular member does not exert any outward, radial force while the tubular member has the first or second, expanded diameter.

Claim 19

The expandable intraluminal vascular graft of claim 13, wherein the slots have a substantially rectangular configuration when the tubular member has the first diameter; and the slots have a substantially hexagonal configuration when the tubular member has the second, expanded diameter.

Claim 20

The expandable intraluminal vascular graft of claim 13, wherein the slots have a configuration which is substantially a parallelogram after the tubular member has been expanded and deformed into the second expanded diameter.

Claim 21

The expandable intraluminal vascular graft of claim 13, wherein the tubular member has a biologically inert coating on the wall surface.

Claim 22

The expandable intraluminal vascular graft of claim 19, wherein the coating includes a means for anchoring the tubular member to the body passageway.

Claim 23

The expandable intraluminal vascular graft of claim 20, wherein the anchoring means is a plurality of radially, outwardly extending projections formed on the coating.

Claim 24

The expandable intraluminal vascular graft of claim 19, wherein the coating has a plurality of openings therein to allow communication between the body passageway and the interior of the tubular member.

Claim 25

The expandable intraluminal vascular graft of claim 13, wherein the outside of the wall surface of the tubular member is a smooth surface, when the tubular member has the first diameter.

Claim 26

An expandable prosthesis for a body passageway, comprising: a thin-walled tubular member having first and second ends and a wall surface disposed between the first and second ends, the wall surface having a substantially uniform thickness and a plurality of slots formed therein, the slots being disposed substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the tubular member; the tubular member having a first diameter which permits intraluminal delivery of the tubular member into a body passageway having a lumen; and the tubular member having a second, expanded and deformed diameter, upon the application from the interior of the tubular member of radially, outwardly extending force, which second diameter is variable and dependent upon the amount of force applied to the tubular member, whereby the tubular member may be expanded and deformed to expand the lumen of the body passageway.

Claim 27

An expandable prosthesis for a body passageway, comprising: a thin-walled tubular member having first and second ends and a wall surface disposed between the first and second ends, the wall surface having a substantially uniform thickness and a plurality of slots formed therein, the slots being disposed substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the tubular member; the tubular member having a first diameter which permits intraluminal delivery of the tubular member into a body passageway having a lumen; and the tubular member having a second, expanded and deformed diameter, upon the application from the interior of the tubular member of radially, outwardly extending force, which second diameter is variable and dependent upon the amount of force applied to the tubular member, whereby the tubular member may be expanded and deformed to expand the lumen of the body passageway.

Claim 28

The expandable prosthesis for a body passageway of claim 24, wherein the tubular member has a biologically inert coating on the wall surface.

Claim 29

The expandable prosthesis for a body passageway of claim 25, wherein the coating includes a means for anchoring the tubular member to the body passageway.

Claim 30

The expandable prosthesis for a body passageway of claim 26, wherein the anchoring means is a plurality of radially, outwardly extending projections formed on the coating.

Claim 31

The expandable prosthesis for a body passageway of claim 25, wherein the coating has a plurality of openings therein to allow communication between the body passageway and the interior of the tubular member.

Claim 32

The expandable prosthesis of claim 24, wherein the the slots are uniformly and circumferentially spaced from adjacent slots and the slots are uniformly spaced from adjacent slots along the longitudinal axis of the tubular member, whereby at least one elongate member is formed between adjacent slots.

Claim 33

The expandable prosthesis of claim 29, wherein each slot has first and second ends, and the first and second ends of each slot are disposed intermediate the first and second ends of adjacent slots along the longitudinal axis of the tubular member.

Claim 34

The expandable prosthesis of claim 24, wherein the tubular member does not exert any outward, radial force while the tubular member has the first or second, expanded diameter.

Claim 35

The expandable prosthesis of claim 24, wherein the slots have a substantially rectangular configuration when the tubular member has the first diameter; and the slots have a substantially hexagonal configuration when the tubular member has the second, expanded diameter.

Claim 36

The expandable prosthesis of claim 24, wherein the slots have a configuration which is substantially a parallelogram after the tubular member has been expanded and deformed into the second expanded diameter.

Claim 37

The expandable prosthesis of claim 24, wherein the outside of the wall surface, of the tubular member is a smooth surface, when the tubular member has the first diameter.

Claim 40

The apparatus of claim 35, wherein the mounting and retaining means comprises retainer ring members disposed on the catheter adjacent the expandable, inflatable portion and adjacent each end of the expandable, tubular prosthesis.

Claim 43

The apparatus of claim 37, wherein the mounting and retaining means comprises retainer ring members disposed on the catheter adjacent the expandable, inflatable portion and adjacent each end of the expandable intraluminal vascular graft.

Claim 44

The method of claim 1, wherein tantalum is utilized for the tubular member.

Claim 45

The expandable intraluminal vascular graft of claim 13, wherein tantalum is utilized for the tubular member.

Claim 46

The expandable prosthesis of claim 24, wherein tantalum is utilized for the tubular member.

Claim 47

The apparatus of claim 35, wherein tantalum is utilized for the tubular prosthesis.

Claim 48

The apparatus of claim 37, wherein tantalum is utilized for the intraluminal vascular graft.