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 controllable expansion 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, including the step of: utilizing a wire mesh tube as the prosthesis, the wire mesh tube having a first predetermined collapsed diameter which permits the tube to be disposed upon the catheter and inserted into the body passageway.

Claim 6

The method of claim 4, wherein tantalum is utilized for the wire mesh tube.

Claim 7

The method of claim 4, wherein the wire mesh tube is expanded 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 wire mesh tube will not migrate from the desired location within the body passageway and the expansion of the prosthesis does not cause a rupture of the body passageway.

Claim 10

The method of claim 7, further including the steps of: collapsing the portion of the catheter in contact with the intraluminal graft and removing the catheter from the body passageway.

Claim 11

The method of claim 7, including the steps of: utilizing a catheter having an expandable, inflatable portion associated therewith; and the controllable expansion of the intraluminal graft and the portion of the catheter is accomplished by inflating the expandable, inflatable portion of the catheter.

Claim 12

The method of claim 7, including the step of: utilizing a wire mesh tube as the intraluminal graft, the wire mesh tube having a first predetermined, collapsed diameter which permits the tube to be inserted within the body passageway at the desired location.

Claim 13

The method of claim 10, wherein tantalum is utilized for the wire mesh tube.

Claim 14

The method of claim 10, wherein the wire mesh tube is expanded to a second diameter within the body passageway; the second, expanded diameter being variable and determined by the desired expanded internal diameter of the body passageway, whereby the expanded wire mesh tube will not migrate from the desired location within the body passageway and the expansion of the intraluminal graft does not cause a rupture of the body passageway.

Claim 15

An expandable intraluminal vascular graft, comprising: a tubular shaped member having first and second ends and a wall surface disposed between the first and second ends, the wall surface being formed by a plurality of intersecting elongate members, at least some of the elongate members intersecting with one another intermediate the first and second ends of the tubular shaped member; the tubular shaped member having a first diameter which permits intraluminal delivery of the tubular shaped member into a body passageway having a lumen; and the tubular shaped member having a second, expanded diameter, upon the application from the interior of the tubular shaped member of a radially, outwardly extending force, which second diameter is variable and controlled by the amount of force applied to the tubular shaped member, at least some of the elongate members being deformed by the radially, outwardly extending force, to retain the tubular shaped member with the second, expanded diameter, whereby the tubular shaped member may be expanded to expand the lumen of the body passageway and remain therein.

Claim 16

An expandable intraluminal vascular graft, comprising: a tubular shaped member having first and second ends and a wall surface disposed between the first and second ends, the wall surface being formed by a plurality of intersecting elongate members, at least some of the elongate members intersecting with one another intermediate the first and second ends of the tubular shaped member; the tubular shaped member having a first diameter which permits intraluminal delivery of the tubular shaped member into a body passageway having a lumen; and the tubular shaped member having a second, expanded diameter, upon the application from the interior of the tubular shaped member of a radially, outwardly extending force, which second diameter is variable and controlled by the amount of force applied to the tubular shaped member, at least some of the elongate members being deformed by the radially, outwardly extending force, to retain the tubular shaped member with the second, expanded diameter, whereby the tubular shaped member may be expanded to expand the lumen of the body passageway and remain therein.

Claim 17

The expandable intraluminal vascular graft of claim 13, wherein the plurality of elongate members are a plurality of wires, and the wires are fixedly secured to one another where the wires intersect with one another.

Claim 18

The expandable intraluminal vascular graft of claim 14, wherein the plurality of elongate members are a plurality of tantalum wires.

Claim 19

The expandable intraluminal vascular graft of claim 13 wherein the plurality of elongate members are a plurality of thin bars which are fixedly secured to one another where the bars intersect with one another.

Claim 20

The expandable intraluminal vascular graft of claim 16, wherein the plurality of elongate members are a plurality of thin tantalum bars.

Claim 21

An expandable prosthesis for a body passageway, comprising: a tubular shaped member having first and second ends and a wall surface disposed between the first and second ends, the wall surface being formed by a plurality of intersecting elongate members, at least some of the elongate members intersecting with one another intermediate the first and second ends of the tubular shaped member; the tubular shaped member having a first diameter which permits intraluminal delivery of the tubular shaped member into a body passageway having a lumen; and the tubular shaped member having a second, expanded diameter, upon the application from the interior of the tubular shaped member of a radially, outwardly extending force, which second diameter is variable and controlled by the amount of force applied to the tubular shaped member, at least some of the elongate members being deformed by the radially, outwardly extending force, to retain the tubular shaped member with the second, expanded diameter, whereby the tubular shaped member may be expanded to expand the lumen of the body passageway and remain therein.

Claim 22

An expandable prosthesis for a body passageway, comprising: a tubular shaped member having first and second ends and a wall surface disposed between the first and second ends, the wall surface being formed by a plurality of intersecting elongate members, at least some of the elongate members intersecting with one another intermediate the first and second ends of the tubular shaped member; the tubular shaped member having a first diameter which permits intraluminal delivery of the tubular shaped member into a body passageway having a lumen; and the tubular shaped member having a second, expanded diameter, upon the application from the interior of the tubular shaped member of a radially, outwardly extending force, which second diameter is variable and controlled by the amount of force applied to the tubular shaped member, at least some of the elongate members being deformed by the radially, outwardly extending force, to retain the tubular shaped member with the second, expanded diameter, whereby the tubular shaped member may be expanded to expand the lumen of the body passageway and remain therein.

Claim 23

The expandable prosthesis for a body passageway of claim 18, wherein the plurality of elongate members are a plurality of wires and the wires are fixedly secured to one another where the wires intersect with one another.

Claim 24

The expandable prosthesis of claim 19, wherein the plurality of elongate members are a plurality of tantalum wires.

Claim 25

The expandable prosthesis for a body passageway of claim 18, wherein the plurality of elongate members are a plurality of thin bars which are fixedly secured to one another where the bars intersect with one another.

Claim 26

The expandable prosthesis of claim 21, wherein the plurality of elongate members are a plurality of thin tantalum bars.

Claim 29

The apparatus of claim 23, wherein the plurality of intersecting elongate members are a plurality of intersecting elongate, tantalum members.

Claim 30

The apparatus of claim 23, 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 shaped prosthesis.

Claim 33

The apparatus of claim 26, wherein the plurality of intersecting elongate members are a plurality of intersecting elongate, tantalum members.

Claim 34

The apparatus of claim 26, 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.