US6733523B2 — Implantable vascular graft

Claim 1

Independent Claim 155 words

A tubular wire support for combination with a sheath to produce a bifurcated endoluminal prosthesis, said tubular wire support comprising: a main body support structure having a proximal end, a distal end and a central lumen extending therethrough, the support structure comprising at least a first and second axially adjacent tubular segments, each segment comprising a plurality of wall struts connected by proximal and distal bends; a first branch support structure having a proximal end, a distal end and a central lumen therethrough connected to the main body support structure; a second branch support structure having a proximal end, a distal end and a central lumen extending therethrough, connected to the main body support structure; at least two sliding links in between the first and second segments; and at least one lock on a wall strut between a proximal bend and a distal bend for limiting axial movement of a sliding link along that strut.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 155 words

A tubular wire support for combination with a sheath to produce a bifurcated endoluminal prosthesis, said tubular wire support comprising: a main body support structure having a proximal end, a distal end and a central lumen extending therethrough, the support structure comprising at least a first and second axially adjacent tubular segments, each segment comprising a plurality of wall struts connected by proximal and distal bends; a first branch support structure having a proximal end, a distal end and a central lumen therethrough connected to the main body support structure; a second branch support structure having a proximal end, a distal end and a central lumen extending therethrough, connected to the main body support structure; at least two sliding links in between the first and second segments; and at least one lock on a wall strut between a proximal bend and a distal bend for limiting axial movement of a sliding link along that strut.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 34 words

The tubular wire support of claim 1 , wherein the main body support structure and the first and second branch support structures are self-expandable from a radially collapsed state to a radially expanded state.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 28 words

A tubular wire support as in claim 2 , wherein at least a portion of the tubular wire support has an expansion ratio of at least about 1:4.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 17 words

The tubular wire support of claim 1 , further comprising a tubular sheath on the wire support.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 25 words

The tubular wire support of claim 4 , wherein the sheath comprises a PTFE sleeve surrounding at least a central portion of the wire support.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 36 words

The tubular wire support of claim 1 , wherein each segment comprises wire formed into a series of proximal bends, a series of distal bends, and a series of struts connecting the proximal and distal bends.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 23 words

The tubular wire support of claim 6 , wherein each tubular segment comprises from about 4 proximal bends to about 12 proximal bends.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 25 words

The tubular wire support of claim 1 , wherein the first and second branch support structures are pivotably attached to the main body support structure.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 27 words

The tubular wire support of claim 1 , wherein each of the at least two sliding links comprises a loop formed by a proximal or distal bend.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 21 words

The tubular wire support of claim 1 , wherein the at least one lock comprises a loop on the wall strut.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 144 words

A flexible self expandable graft, comprising: a tubular main body support structure having a proximal end and a distal end, the tubular body comprising at least a first tubular segment attached to a second tubular segment; and a tubular polymeric sleeve surrounding at least a portion of the graft; wherein each of the first and second tubular segments comprise a plurality of proximal bends and distal bends connected by struts surrounding a longitudinal axis such that a first strut is on a first side of the axis and a second strut is on a second side of the axis, opposite to the first side, and in at least one segment the first strut is shorter than the second strut such that when the vascular graft is expanded the first side includes a concave curved portion and the second side includes a convex curved portion.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 144 words

A flexible self expandable graft, comprising: a tubular main body support structure having a proximal end and a distal end, the tubular body comprising at least a first tubular segment attached to a second tubular segment; and a tubular polymeric sleeve surrounding at least a portion of the graft; wherein each of the first and second tubular segments comprise a plurality of proximal bends and distal bends connected by struts surrounding a longitudinal axis such that a first strut is on a first side of the axis and a second strut is on a second side of the axis, opposite to the first side, and in at least one segment the first strut is shorter than the second strut such that when the vascular graft is expanded the first side includes a concave curved portion and the second side includes a convex curved portion.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 27 words

A flexible self expandable graft as in claim 11 , further comprising at least a first a second sliding link between the first and second tubular segments.

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 33 words

A flexible self expandable graft as in claim 12 , wherein the first and second sliding links join opposing proximal and distal bends on the first tubular segment and the second tubular segment.

Claim 16

Dependent Claim 22 words

A flexible self expandable graft as in claim 13 , comprising at least four sliding links between the first and second segments.

Claim 17

Dependent Claim 40 words

A flexible self expandable graft as in claim 13 , comprising a series of struts connecting the proximal bends and distal bends within a segment to a tubular segment wall, wherein at least some of the struts are substantially linear.

Claim 18

Dependent Claim 34 words

A flexible self expandable graft as in claim 15 , wherein the sliding link comprises a proximal bend or distal bend on a first segment slidably engaged with a strut on an adjacent segment.

Claim 19

Dependent Claim 24 words

A flexible self expandable graft as in claim 13 , wherein each segment comprises from about 4 proximal bends to about 12 proximal bends.

Claim 20

Dependent Claim 38 words

A flexible self expandable graft as in claim 13 , having at least a proximal segment, an intermediate segment and a distal segment, wherein the prosthesis is expandable from a reduced cross section to an expanded cross section.

Claim 21

Dependent Claim 37 words

A flexible self expandable graft as in claim 18 , wherein at least a portion of the proximal segment is larger in cross section than the central segment when the prothesis is in the expanded cross section.

Claim 22

Dependent Claim 26 words

A flexible self expandable graft as in claim 13 , wherein the sleeve comprises a tubular PTFE sleeve surrounding at least a portion of the prosthesis.

Claim 23

Dependent Claim 15 words

A flexible self expandable graft as in claim 11 , comprising at least four segments.

Claim 24

Dependent Claim 146 words

An endoluminal prosthesis, comprising at least one elongate flexible wire, formed into a plurality of axially adjacent tubular segments spaced along an axis, each tubular segment comprising a zig-zag section of wire, having a plurality of proximal bends and distal bends, at least one of the plurality of proximal bends and plurality of distal bends having loops thereon, and a tubular polymeric sleeve carried by the prosthesis, wherein the prosthesis is radially compressible into a first, reduced cross sectional configuration for implantation into a body lumen, and self expandable to a second, enlarged cross sectional configuration at a treatment site in a body lumen, and wherein at least a first portion of wire in one tubular segment is positioned on a radially outwardly facing surface of the sleeve and a radially inwardly facing surface of the sleeve is in contact with a second portion of wire.

Claim 25

Dependent Claim 146 words

An endoluminal prosthesis, comprising at least one elongate flexible wire, formed into a plurality of axially adjacent tubular segments spaced along an axis, each tubular segment comprising a zig-zag section of wire, having a plurality of proximal bends and distal bends, at least one of the plurality of proximal bends and plurality of distal bends having loops thereon, and a tubular polymeric sleeve carried by the prosthesis, wherein the prosthesis is radially compressible into a first, reduced cross sectional configuration for implantation into a body lumen, and self expandable to a second, enlarged cross sectional configuration at a treatment site in a body lumen, and wherein at least a first portion of wire in one tubular segment is positioned on a radially outwardly facing surface of the sleeve and a radially inwardly facing surface of the sleeve is in contact with a second portion of wire.

Claim 26

Dependent Claim 17 words

An endoluminal prosthesis as in claim 22 , comprising at least three segments formed from said wire.

Claim 27

Dependent Claim 47 words

An endoluminal prosthesis as in claim 22 , wherein the prosthesis has a proximal end and a distal end, and at least one of the proximal end and distal end are expandable to a larger diameter than a central section of the prosthesis in an unconstrained expansion.

Claim 28

Dependent Claim 20 words

An endoluminal prosthesis as in claim 22 , wherein the prosthesis has an expansion ratio of at least about 1:4.

Claim 29

Dependent Claim 20 words

An endoluminal prosthesis as in claim 25 , wherein the prosthesis has an expansion ratio of at least about 1:5.

Claim 30

Dependent Claim 39 words

An endoluminal prosthesis as in claim 22 , wherein the prosthesis has an expanded diameter of at least about 20 mm in an unconstrained expansion, and the prosthesis is implantable using a catheter no greater than about 20 French.

Claim 31

Dependent Claim 37 words

A prosthesis as in claim 27 , wherein the prosthesis has an expanded diameter of at least about 25 mm, and is implantable on a delivery device having a diameter of no more than about 20 French.

Claim 32

Dependent Claim 54 words

An endoluminal prosthesis as in claim 22 , comprising at least six proximal ends on a distal segment, wherein at least three of the proximal bends reside on the outside of the tubular sleeve and the remainder of the proximal bends on the distal segment are positioned on the inside of the tubular sleeve.

Claim 33

Dependent Claim 28 words

An endoluminal prosthesis as in claim 29 , wherein the proximal bends on the inside of the tubular sleeve are connected to distal bends on a proximal segment.

Claim 34

Dependent Claim 34 words

An endoluminal prosthesis as in claim 22 , wherein the second portion of wire is on a second tubular segment that is axially adjacent to the tubular segment containing the first portion of wire.

Claim 35

Dependent Claim 212 words

A tubular wire support for a bifurcated endoluminal prosthesis, said wire support comprising: a main body support structure having a proximal end, a distal end and a central lumen extending along a longitudinal axis therethrough; a first branch support structure having a proximal end, a distal end and a central lumen therethrough, wherein the distal end of the first branch support structure is connected to the proximal end of the main body support structure; a second branch support structure having a proximal end, a distal end and a central lumen extending therethrough wherein the distal end of the second branch support structure is connected to the proximal end of the main body support structure, wherein the wire in each support structure is formed into a plurality of segments, each segment comprising a series of proximal bends, a series of distal bends, and a series of struts connecting the proximal and distal bends; and a plurality of radially outwardly extending barbs on the main body, said barbs being integrally formed on the wire support by bending a proximal or distal bend radially outwardly at a bend point; wherein the main body support structure and the first and second branch support structure are self-expandable from a radially collapsed state to a radially expanded state.

Claim 36

Dependent Claim 212 words

A tubular wire support for a bifurcated endoluminal prosthesis, said wire support comprising: a main body support structure having a proximal end, a distal end and a central lumen extending along a longitudinal axis therethrough; a first branch support structure having a proximal end, a distal end and a central lumen therethrough, wherein the distal end of the first branch support structure is connected to the proximal end of the main body support structure; a second branch support structure having a proximal end, a distal end and a central lumen extending therethrough wherein the distal end of the second branch support structure is connected to the proximal end of the main body support structure, wherein the wire in each support structure is formed into a plurality of segments, each segment comprising a series of proximal bends, a series of distal bends, and a series of struts connecting the proximal and distal bends; and a plurality of radially outwardly extending barbs on the main body, said barbs being integrally formed on the wire support by bending a proximal or distal bend radially outwardly at a bend point; wherein the main body support structure and the first and second branch support structure are self-expandable from a radially collapsed state to a radially expanded state.

Claim 37

Dependent Claim 17 words

The tubular wire support of claim 32 , further comprising a tubular sheath on the wire support.

Claim 38

Dependent Claim 25 words

The tubular wire support of claim 33 , wherein the sheath comprises a PTFE sleeve surrounding at least a central portion of the wire support.

Claim 39

Dependent Claim 22 words

The tubular wire support of claim 32 wherein each tubular segment comprises from about 4 proximal bends to about 12 proximal bends.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	2007-05-11	2007-11-10	2008-05-11	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	2011-05-11	2011-11-10	2012-05-11	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	2015-05-11	2015-11-10	2016-05-11	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Implantable vascular graft

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