US5632772A — Expandable supportive branched endoluminal grafts

Claim 1

Independent Claim 167 words

A multiple-component branching expandable supportive endoluminal graft comprising: a plurality of expandable supportive endoluminal components which are deployed individually at a selected location within a body vessel, each said supportive endoluminal graft component being radially compressible for endoluminal insertion and radially expandable for deployment at a desired location within a body vessel; one of said expandable supportive endoluminal components is a trunk component, said trunk component being generally tubular and having a first portion with a given diameter and a second portion including a longitudinally disposed indent generally defining at least two leg portions, each with a diameter less than said given diameter, and each said leg portion has a leg opening; at least one other of said expandable supportive endoluminal components is a generally cylindrical supportive leg component; and said generally cylindrical supportive leg component and one of said leg portions of the trunk component, when said leg component and trunk component are deployed within the body vessel, are telescopically positioned with respect to each other.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 167 words

A multiple-component branching expandable supportive endoluminal graft comprising: a plurality of expandable supportive endoluminal components which are deployed individually at a selected location within a body vessel, each said supportive endoluminal graft component being radially compressible for endoluminal insertion and radially expandable for deployment at a desired location within a body vessel; one of said expandable supportive endoluminal components is a trunk component, said trunk component being generally tubular and having a first portion with a given diameter and a second portion including a longitudinally disposed indent generally defining at least two leg portions, each with a diameter less than said given diameter, and each said leg portion has a leg opening; at least one other of said expandable supportive endoluminal components is a generally cylindrical supportive leg component; and said generally cylindrical supportive leg component and one of said leg portions of the trunk component, when said leg component and trunk component are deployed within the body vessel, are telescopically positioned with respect to each other.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 33 words

The supportive endoluminal graft in accordance with claim 1, wherein said generally cylindrical supportive leg component has an end portion which, when deployed, is positioned within said leg opening of the trunk component.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 19 words

The supportive endoluminal graft in accordance with claim 1, wherein said plurality of expandable supportive endoluminal components are self-expanding.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 24 words

The supportive endoluminal graft in accordance with claim 1, wherein said plurality of expandable supportive endoluminal components are deployed by a radially expandable device.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 28 words

The supportive endoluminal graft in accordance with claim 1, wherein said generally cylindrical supportive component includes a generally cylindrical supporting member and a generally cylindrical liner secured therealong.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 53 words

The supportive endoluminal graft in accordance with claim 1, wherein said trunk component has a trunk liner which includes a compliant wall of essentially inert biocompatible material, said trunk liner being attached to the internal surface of the trunk component, said compliant wall having a diameter size that expands with said trunk component.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 50 words

The supportive endoluminal graft in accordance with claim 5, wherein said liner of the generally cylindrical supportive leg component is a compliant wall of essentially inert biocompatible material, said compliant wall being applied onto at least the internal surface of the generally cylindrical tubular supporting member of the leg component.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 42 words

The supportive endoluminal graft in accordance with claim 1, wherein said trunk component includes a third portion having a diameter approximating said given diameter of the first portion, and said second portion is positioned between said first portion and said third portion.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 21 words

The supportive endoluminal graft in accordance with claim 8, wherein said first portion and said third portion are each generally cylindrical.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 32 words

The supportive endoluminal graft in accordance with claim 1, wherein said generally cylindrical supportive leg component, when deployed, is telescopically slidably positioned within one of said leg portions of the trunk component.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 42 words

The supportive endoluminal graft in accordance with claim 5, wherein said liner of the leg component is a compliant wall made from a porous material that provides a structure which allows normal cellular invasion thereinto from the body vessel when implanted therewithin.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 21 words

The supportive endoluminal graft in accordance with claim 6, wherein said porous material of said compliant wall is an elastomeric polymer.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 21 words

The supportive endoluminal graft in accordance with claim 6, wherein said porous material of said compliant wall is a polycarbonate urethane.

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 22 words

The supportive endoluminal graft in accordance with claim 6, wherein said porous material is coated with a thin layer of silicone rubber.

Claim 16

Dependent Claim 30 words

The supportive endoluminal graft in accordance with claim 6, wherein said trunk liner includes an interior liner and an intermediate liner between said interior liner and said tubular supporting member.

Claim 17

Dependent Claim 28 words

The supportive endoluminal graft in accordance with claim 1, wherein said trunk component includes a plurality of wire strands with open areas therebetween to form a braided mesh.

Claim 18

Dependent Claim 40 words

The supportive endoluminal graft in accordance with claim 16, wherein said wire strands of the tubular supporting component include a plurality of individual strands which are longitudinally adjacent to and in contact with each other in a braided, crossing configuration.

Claim 19

Dependent Claim 40 words

The supportive endoluminal graft in accordance with claim 1, wherein said generally cylindrical tubular supportive components include wire strands shaped as intersecting elongated lengths integral with each other and defining openings therebetween to form a braided mesh-shaped tubular supporting member.

Claim 20

Dependent Claim 23 words

The supportive endoluminal graft in accordance with claim 1, wherein the endoluminal graft is subjected to surface treatment with a compliant adhesive-like polymer.

Claim 21

Dependent Claim 17 words

The supportive endoluminal graft in accordance with claim 19, wherein compliant adhesive-like polymer is a polycarbonate urethane.

Claim 22

Dependent Claim 44 words

The supportive endoluminal graft in accordance with claim 21, wherein said trunk component has a plurality of said indents, each indent having a longitudinal internal surface, and said longitudinal internal surfaces engage each other to thereby define said leg portion to be generally cylindrical.

Claim 23

Dependent Claim 23 words

The supportive branching expandable endoluminal graft in accordance with claim 21, wherein said longitudinal internal surfaces are longitudinal edges that are secured together.

Claim 24

Dependent Claim 94 words

A branching expandable supportive endoluminal graft comprising: an expandable supportive endoluminal graft component which is deployed individually at a selected location within a body vessel, said supportive endoluminal graft component being radially compressible and radially expansible; and said expandable supportive endoluminal graft component is a trunk component which is generally tubular and has a first portion with a given diameter and a second portion including a longitudinally disposed indent generally defining at least two leg portions, each with a diameter less than said given diameter, and each said leg portion has a leg opening.

Claim 25

Dependent Claim 94 words

A branching expandable supportive endoluminal graft comprising: an expandable supportive endoluminal graft component which is deployed individually at a selected location within a body vessel, said supportive endoluminal graft component being radially compressible and radially expansible; and said expandable supportive endoluminal graft component is a trunk component which is generally tubular and has a first portion with a given diameter and a second portion including a longitudinally disposed indent generally defining at least two leg portions, each with a diameter less than said given diameter, and each said leg portion has a leg opening.

Claim 26

Dependent Claim 45 words

The branching expandable supportive graft in accordance with claim 23, wherein said trunk component has a plurality of said indents, each indent having a longitudinal internal surface, and said longitudinal internal surfaces engage each other to thereby define said leg portion to be generally cylindrical.

Claim 27

Dependent Claim 22 words

The branching expandable supportive graft in accordance with claim 24, wherein said longitudinal internal surfaces are longitudinal edges that are secured together.

Claim 28

Dependent Claim 59 words

The branching expandable supportive graft in accordance with claim 23, wherein said trunk component has a polymeric porous wall of essentially inert biocompatible material, said compliant porous wall being applied onto at least said internal surface of the tubular supporting component, and said polymeric wall has a longitudinally disposed crease which lies along said indent of the trunk component.

Claim 29

Dependent Claim 43 words

The branching expandable supportive graft in accordance with claim 23, wherein said trunk component includes a third portion having a diameter approximating said given diameter of the first portion, and said second portion is positioned between said first portion and said third portion.

Claim 30

Dependent Claim 22 words

The branching expandable supportive graft in accordance with claim 27, wherein said first portion and said third portion are each generally cylindrical.

Claim 31

Dependent Claim 22 words

The branching expandable supportive graft in accordance with claim 26, wherein said porous material of said compliant wall is an elastomeric polymer.

Claim 32

Dependent Claim 22 words

The branching expandable supportive graft in accordance with claim 26, wherein said porous material of said compliant wall is a polycarbonate urethane.

Claim 33

Dependent Claim 31 words

The branching expandable supportive graft in accordance with claim 26, wherein said trunk liner includes in interior liner and an intermediate liner between said interior liner and said tubular supporting member.

Claim 34

Dependent Claim 29 words

The branching expandable supportive graft in accordance with claim 23, wherein said trunk component includes a plurality of wire strands with open areas therebetween to form a braided mesh.

Claim 35

Dependent Claim 24 words

The branching expandable supportive graft in accordance with claim 23, wherein the endoluminal graft is subjected to surface treatment with a compliant adhesive-like polymer.

Claim 36

Independent Claim 233 words

A method for implanting a multi-component branching expandable supportive endoluminal graft, comprising the steps of: providing a generally tubular supporting trunk component having a first portion with a given diameter and a second portion including a longitudinally disposed indent generally defining at least two leg portions, each leg portion defining a leg opening having a diameter less than the given diameter of the first portion; inserting the trunk component generally at a branching site within a body vessel, and expanding the trunk component to engage a main vessel path of the vessel body; providing a generally cylindrical supportive leg component which includes a tubular supporting member; inserting the generally cylindrical supportive leg component into the body vessel at a location between a leg portion of the trunk component and a branched pathway associated with a main pathway of the body vessel, and expanding the leg component so as to be deployed at said location; providing another generally cylindrical supporting leg component having a tubular supporting member; and inserting the another generally cylindrical supportive leg component into the body vessel at a location between the other leg portion of the trunk component and another branched pathway associated with the main pathway of the body vessel, and expanding the component so as to be deployed at said location in order to form a bifurcated supportive endoluminal graft at a bifurcation site within the body vessel.

Claim 37

Independent Claim 233 words

A method for implanting a multi-component branching expandable supportive endoluminal graft, comprising the steps of: providing a generally tubular supporting trunk component having a first portion with a given diameter and a second portion including a longitudinally disposed indent generally defining at least two leg portions, each leg portion defining a leg opening having a diameter less than the given diameter of the first portion; inserting the trunk component generally at a branching site within a body vessel, and expanding the trunk component to engage a main vessel path of the vessel body; providing a generally cylindrical supportive leg component which includes a tubular supporting member; inserting the generally cylindrical supportive leg component into the body vessel at a location between a leg portion of the trunk component and a branched pathway associated with a main pathway of the body vessel, and expanding the leg component so as to be deployed at said location; providing another generally cylindrical supporting leg component having a tubular supporting member; and inserting the another generally cylindrical supportive leg component into the body vessel at a location between the other leg portion of the trunk component and another branched pathway associated with the main pathway of the body vessel, and expanding the component so as to be deployed at said location in order to form a bifurcated supportive endoluminal graft at a bifurcation site within the body vessel.

Claim 38

Dependent Claim 76 words

The method in accordance with claim 34, wherein said step of providing the trunk component includes lining the trunk supporting component, each step of providing the leg component provides a leg component which includes a liner and a tubular supporting member, and each such leg component is deployed inside of a respective one of the leg portions of the trunk component, each of which is generally coextensive with the tubular supporting member of the trunk component.

Claim 39

Independent Claim 130 words

A method for manufacturing a branched expandable supportive endoluminal graft, comprising the steps of: forming a cylindrical braided mesh tube by braiding metal strands into a cylindrical member; crimping longitudinal portions of the cylindrical braided mesh tube to form at least one longitudinally disposed indent therein to provide a crimped braided mesh tube; attaching an adhesive layer to the inside surface of the crimped braided mesh tube; inserting a cylindrical polymeric compliant tube within the crimped braided mesh tube into engagement with the adhesive layer; and applying pressure to secure the polymeric compliant tube onto the inside surface of the crimped braided mesh tube and simultaneously form a crease in the polymeric compliant tube that generally conforms in shape and size to the indent of the crimped braided mesh tube.

Claim 40

Independent Claim 130 words

A method for manufacturing a branched expandable supportive endoluminal graft, comprising the steps of: forming a cylindrical braided mesh tube by braiding metal strands into a cylindrical member; crimping longitudinal portions of the cylindrical braided mesh tube to form at least one longitudinally disposed indent therein to provide a crimped braided mesh tube; attaching an adhesive layer to the inside surface of the crimped braided mesh tube; inserting a cylindrical polymeric compliant tube within the crimped braided mesh tube into engagement with the adhesive layer; and applying pressure to secure the polymeric compliant tube onto the inside surface of the crimped braided mesh tube and simultaneously form a crease in the polymeric compliant tube that generally conforms in shape and size to the indent of the crimped braided mesh tube.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	2000-05-26	2000-11-25	2001-05-27	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	2004-05-26	2004-11-25	2005-05-27	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	2008-05-26	2008-11-25	2009-05-27	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Expandable supportive branched endoluminal grafts

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