Composite intraluminal graft

Claim 2

An assembly for insertion into a body passageway comprising: a. a cylindrical-shaped member having first and second ends, a longitudinal axis between said ends, one or more structural members between said ends defining a peripheral wall, and a longitudinal passage along said longitudinal axis between said ends, said cylindrical-shaped member having a first diameter which permits intraluminal delivery of said cylindrical-shaped member into a body passageway having a lumen, and second diameter greater than said first diameter, whereby said cylindrical-shaped member is expandable to contact or to expand the lumen of the body passageway; b. a blood vessel within said longitudinal passage of said cylindrical-shaped member, said blood vessel being at least as long as said axial extent of said longitudinal passage and having a radial extent corresponding to the radial extent of said peripheral wall when said cylindrical-shaped member is in an expanded condition; and c. securing means for securing said blood vessel within said cylindrical-shaped member to cause said blood vessel to move with said cylindrical-shaped member to and from said first diameter and said second diameter.

Claim 3

The assembly according to claim 1 wherein said blood vessel has a length longer than said longitudinal passage of said cylindrical-shaped member and said blood vessel extends beyond at least one of said first and second ends of said cylindrical-shaped member.

Claim 4

The assembly according to claim 2 wherein said blood vessel is folded over a respective edge of said end and overlies at least a portion of the external surface of said peripheral wall of said end.

Claim 5

An assembly for insertion into a body passageway comprising: a. a cylindrical-shaped member having first and second ends, a longitudinal axis between said ends, one or more structural members between said ends defining a peripheral wall, and a longitudinal passage along said longitudinal axis between said ends, said cylindrical-shaped member having a first diameter which permits intraluminal delivery of said cylindrical-shaped member into a body passageway having a lumen, and second diameter greater than said first diameter, whereby said cylindrical-shaped member is expandable to contact or to expand the lumen of the body passageway; b. a blood vessel within said longitudinal passage of said cylindrical-shaped member, said blood vessel having a length longer than said longitudinal passage and having a radial extent corresponding to the radial extent of said peripheral wall when said cylindrical-shaped member is in an expanded condition, wherein said blood vessel extends beyond both of said ends and is folded over respective edges at both of said ends; and c. securing means for securing said blood vessel within said cylindrical-shaped member to cause said blood vessel to move with said cylindrical-shaped member to and from said first diameter and said second diameter.

Claim 6

An assembly for insertion into a body passageway comprising: a. a cylindrical-shaped member having first and second ends, a longitudinal axis between said ends, one or more structural members between said ends defining a peripheral wall, and a longitudinal passage along said longitudinal axis between said ends, said cylindrical-shaped member having a first diameter which permits intraluminal delivery of said cylindrical-shaped member into a body passageway having a lumen, and second diameter greater than said first diameter, whereby said cylindrical-shaped member is expandable to contact or to expand the lumen of the body passageway; b. a blood vessel within said longitudinal passage of said cylindrical-shaped member, said blood vessel having a length longer than said longitudinal passage and having a radial extent corresponding to the radial extent of said peripheral wall when said cylindrical-shaped member is in an expanded condition, wherein said blood vessel extends beyond both of said ends and is folded over respective edges at both of said ends; and c. securing means for securing said blood vessel within said cylindrical-shaped member to cause said blood vessel to move with said cylindrical-shaped member to and from said first diameter and said second diameter.

Claim 7

The assembly according to claim 1 or 4 wherein said structural member is in the form of a wire formed into a serpentine configuration including a plurality of loops with cusps of adjacent loops in opposing orientation forming an overlap region which adjusts to provide said first and second diameters.

Claim 8

The assembly according to claim 1 or 4 wherein said cylindrical-shaped member is a thin walled tubular member, and said one or more structural members define openings in the form of slots being disposed substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the tubular member, said slots being deformable to a fixed shape forming a fixed framework to support said blood vessel.

Claim 9

The assembly according to claim 1 or 4 wherein said one or more structural members have a substantially uniform thickness which is maintained during adjustment between first and second positions defining said first and second diameters which are outer diameters of said cylindrical-shaped member.

Claim 10

The assembly according to claim 1 or 4 wherein said securing means comprises glue.

Claim 11

The assembly according to claim 1 or 4 wherein said securing means comprises welds.

Claim 12

The assembly according to claim 1 or 4 wherein said securing means comprises stitches.

Claim 13

An assembly for insertion into a body passageway comprising: a. a cylindrical-shaped member having first and second ends, longitudinal axis between said ends, one or more structurally members between said ends defining a peripheral wall, and longitudinal passage along said longitudinal axis between said ends, said cylindrical-shaped member having a first diameter which permits intraluminal delivery of said cylindrical-shaped member into a body passageway having a lumen, and second diameter greater than said first diameter, whereby said cylindrical-shaped member is expandable to contact or to expand the lumen of the body passageway; b. a blood vessel within said longitudinal passage of said cylindrical-shaped member, said blood vessel having a length longer than said axial extent of said longitudinal passage and having a radial extent corresponding to the radial extent of said peripheral wall when said cylindrical-shaped member is in an expanded condition, and wherein said blood vessel extends beyond at least one of said first and second ends of said cylindrical-shaped member, said blood vessel is folded over a respective edge of said end and overlies at portion of the external surface of said peripheral wall of said end, and wherein said blood vessel encompasses the entire external surface of said cylindrical-shaped member; and c. securing means for securing said blood vessel within said cylindrical-shaped member to cause said blood vessel to move with said cylindrical-shaped member to and from said first diameter and said second diameter.

Claim 14

An assembly for insertion into a body passageway comprising: a. a cylindrical-shaped member having first and second ends, longitudinal axis between said ends, one or more structurally members between said ends defining a peripheral wall, and longitudinal passage along said longitudinal axis between said ends, said cylindrical-shaped member having a first diameter which permits intraluminal delivery of said cylindrical-shaped member into a body passageway having a lumen, and second diameter greater than said first diameter, whereby said cylindrical-shaped member is expandable to contact or to expand the lumen of the body passageway; b. a blood vessel within said longitudinal passage of said cylindrical-shaped member, said blood vessel having a length longer than said axial extent of said longitudinal passage and having a radial extent corresponding to the radial extent of said peripheral wall when said cylindrical-shaped member is in an expanded condition, and wherein said blood vessel extends beyond at least one of said first and second ends of said cylindrical-shaped member, said blood vessel is folded over a respective edge of said end and overlies at portion of the external surface of said peripheral wall of said end, and wherein said blood vessel encompasses the entire external surface of said cylindrical-shaped member; and c. securing means for securing said blood vessel within said cylindrical-shaped member to cause said blood vessel to move with said cylindrical-shaped member to and from said first diameter and said second diameter.

Claim 15

An assembly for insertion into a body passageway comprising: a. a cylindrical-shaped member having first and second ends, a longitudinal axis between said ends, one or more structural members between said ends defining a peripheral wall, and a longitudinal passage along said longitudinal axis between said ends, said cylindrical-shaped member having a first diameter which permits intraluminal delivery of said cylindrical-shaped member into a body passageway having a lumen, and second diameter greater than said first diameter, whereby said cylindrical-shaped member is expandable to contact or to expand the lumen of the body passageway; b. a blood vessel within said longitudinal passage of said cylindrical-shaped member, said blood vessel being at least as long as said axial extent of said longitudinal passage and having a radial extent corresponding to the radial extent of said peripheral wall when said cylindrical-shaped member is in an expanded condition; c. securing means for securing said blood vessel within said cylindrical-shaped member to cause said blood vessel to move with said cylindrical-shaped member to and from said first diameter and said second diameter; and d. a delivery sheath which encompasses said cylindrical-shaped member and said blood vessel.

Claim 16

An assembly for insertion into a body passageway comprising: a. a cylindrical-shaped member having first and second ends, a longitudinal axis between said ends, one or more structural members between said ends defining a peripheral wall, and a longitudinal passage along said longitudinal axis between said ends, said cylindrical-shaped member having a first diameter which permits intraluminal delivery of said cylindrical-shaped member into a body passageway having a lumen, and second diameter greater than said first diameter, whereby said cylindrical-shaped member is expandable to contact or to expand the lumen of the body passageway; b. a blood vessel within said longitudinal passage of said cylindrical-shaped member, said blood vessel being at least as long as said axial extent of said longitudinal passage and having a radial extent corresponding to the radial extent of said peripheral wall when said cylindrical-shaped member is in an expanded condition; c. securing means for securing said blood vessel within said cylindrical-shaped member to cause said blood vessel to move with said cylindrical-shaped member to and from said first diameter and said second diameter; and d. a delivery sheath which encompasses said cylindrical-shaped member and said blood vessel.

Claim 17

A assembly for insertion into a body passageway comprising: a. a cylindrical-shaped member having first and second ends, longitudinal axis between said ends, one or more structural members between said ends defining a peripheral wall, and a longitudinal passage along said longitudinal axis between said ends, said cylindrical-shaped member having a first diameter which permits intraluminal delivery of said cylindrical-shaped member into a body passageway having a lumen, and second diameter greater than said first diameter, whereby said cylindrical-shaped member is expandable to contact or to expand the lumen of the body passageway; b. a blood vessel within said longitudinal passage of said cylindrical-shaped member, said blood vessel being at least as long as said axial extent of said longitudinal passage and having a radial extent corresponding to the radial extent of said peripheral wall when said cylindrical-shaped member is in an expanded condition; c. securing means for securing said blood vessel within said cylindrical-shaped member to cause said blood vessel to move with said cylindrical-shaped member to and from said first diameter and said second diameter; and d. expansion means within said cylindrical-shaped member for radially expanding said cylindrical-shaped member within a body passageway.

Claim 18

A assembly for insertion into a body passageway comprising: a. a cylindrical-shaped member having first and second ends, longitudinal axis between said ends, one or more structural members between said ends defining a peripheral wall, and a longitudinal passage along said longitudinal axis between said ends, said cylindrical-shaped member having a first diameter which permits intraluminal delivery of said cylindrical-shaped member into a body passageway having a lumen, and second diameter greater than said first diameter, whereby said cylindrical-shaped member is expandable to contact or to expand the lumen of the body passageway; b. a blood vessel within said longitudinal passage of said cylindrical-shaped member, said blood vessel being at least as long as said axial extent of said longitudinal passage and having a radial extent corresponding to the radial extent of said peripheral wall when said cylindrical-shaped member is in an expanded condition; c. securing means for securing said blood vessel within said cylindrical-shaped member to cause said blood vessel to move with said cylindrical-shaped member to and from said first diameter and said second diameter; and d. expansion means within said cylindrical-shaped member for radially expanding said cylindrical-shaped member within a body passageway.

Claim 19

The assembly according to claim 13 wherein said means for radially expanding is a balloon catheter, said balloon catheter being received within said longitudinal passage and extending along said longitudinal axis, whereby as said balloon catheter is inflated, said balloon contacts said blood vessel and said cylindrical-shaped member to radially expand said blood vessel and said cylindrical-shaped member.

Claim 20

An assembly for insertion into a body passageway comprising: a. a cylindrical-shaped member having first and second ends, a longitudinal axis between said ends, one or more structural members between said ends defining a peripheral wall, and a longitudinal passage along said longitudinal axis between said ends, said cylindrical-shaped member having a first diameter which permits intraluminal delivery of said cylindrical-shaped member into a body passageway having a lumen, and second diameter greater than said first diameter, whereby said cylindrical-shaped member is expandable to contact or to expand the lumen of the body passageway and wherein said one or more structural members are adjustable to said second diameter by deformation, by stress relief, by hinges between said structural members, or by increasing the thickness of said structural members; b. a blood vessel within said longitudinal passage of said cylindrical-shaped member, said blood vessel being at least as long as said axial extent of said longitudinal passage and having a radial extent corresponding to the radial extent of said peripheral wall when said cylindrical shaped member is in an expanded condition; and c. securing means for securing said blood vessel within said cylindrical-shaped member to cause said blood vessel to move with said cylindrical-shaped member to and from said first diameter and said second diameter.

Claim 21

An assembly for insertion into a body passageway comprising: a. a cylindrical-shaped member having first and second ends, a longitudinal axis between said ends, one or more structural members between said ends defining a peripheral wall, and a longitudinal passage along said longitudinal axis between said ends, said cylindrical-shaped member having a first diameter which permits intraluminal delivery of said cylindrical-shaped member into a body passageway having a lumen, and second diameter greater than said first diameter, whereby said cylindrical-shaped member is expandable to contact or to expand the lumen of the body passageway and wherein said one or more structural members are adjustable to said second diameter by deformation, by stress relief, by hinges between said structural members, or by increasing the thickness of said structural members; b. a blood vessel within said longitudinal passage of said cylindrical-shaped member, said blood vessel being at least as long as said axial extent of said longitudinal passage and having a radial extent corresponding to the radial extent of said peripheral wall when said cylindrical shaped member is in an expanded condition; and c. securing means for securing said blood vessel within said cylindrical-shaped member to cause said blood vessel to move with said cylindrical-shaped member to and from said first diameter and said second diameter.

Claim 22

The assembly according to claim 1, 3, 4, 11, 12, 13, or 15 wherein said blood vessel is a vein.

Claim 23

The assembly according to claim 1, 3, 12, 13, or 15 wherein said blood vessel has a length about as long as said longitudinal passage of said cylindrical-shaped member.

Claim 26

The method according to claim 18 wherein the expanding of said prosthesis causes enlargement of the lumen of the body passageway.

Claim 29

The method according to claim 20 wherein step (c) is conducted so that the blood vessel protrudes from both of said ends and step (d) is conducted at both of said ends.