US6015422A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Collapsible low-profile vascular graft implantation instrument and method for use thereof
Assignee: Montefiore Hospital and Medical Center Inc
•
Filing: 1998-02-18
•
Granted: 2000-01-18
•
Expires: 2018-02-18
Abstract
Abstract An instrument is provided for supporting a tubular vascular graft during endovascular implantation and methods for use thereof. In one embodiment, the instrument is formed from two flexible guidewires bent to each define a loop and two straight portions. In a second embodiment, the instrument is formed from two flexible guidewires bent to define outwardly-biased tines, wherein, threads are sewn to portions of the vascular graft and connected to the tines. The instrument is collapsible due to the flexibility of the guidewires used to form the instrument. In an uncollapsed state, with a length of graft material being mounted to the instrument, the loops or tines may bias the graft into a semi-expanded state with a passage being defined through the graft. An unexpanded stent is introduced into the passage of the semi-expanded graft to both further expand the graft and provide reinforcement. A distensible device is also used with the preferred method of using the invention to accomplish full circumferential expansion of the graft and stent assembly and to facilitate removal of the instrument.
Inventors
- 👤 Andrew Kerr
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 14:05
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61F; A61F2/00; A61F2/95; A61F2002/9505; A61F2002/9511
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 18
Claim 1
Independent Claim
144 words
A device for treating blood vessel anomalies, said device comprising a tubular vascular graft, the vascular graft being formed about a longitudinal axis with an inner surface extending the length of the vascular graft about the longitudinal axis, and a first flexible guidewire formed to define a collapsible loop and a segment, said loop being resiliently formed with memory to self-expand from a collapsed state to a natural, non-collapsed state, said loop encircling the longitudinal axis of the vascular graft and supporting portions of the inner surface of the vascular graft, wherein a first portion of said segment is integrally connected to said loop and extends therefrom in a direction continuously angular to the longitudinal axis of the graft, a second portion of said segment is integrally connected to and extends from said first portion through at least a portion of the vascular graft.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
144 words
A device for treating blood vessel anomalies, said device comprising a tubular vascular graft, the vascular graft being formed about a longitudinal axis with an inner surface extending the length of the vascular graft about the longitudinal axis, and a first flexible guidewire formed to define a collapsible loop and a segment, said loop being resiliently formed with memory to self-expand from a collapsed state to a natural, non-collapsed state, said loop encircling the longitudinal axis of the vascular graft and supporting portions of the inner surface of the vascular graft, wherein a first portion of said segment is integrally connected to said loop and extends therefrom in a direction continuously angular to the longitudinal axis of the graft, a second portion of said segment is integrally connected to and extends from said first portion through at least a portion of the vascular graft.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
38 words
A device as in claim 1, said loop being formed to bias said supported portions of the vascular graft into a spaced relationship such that an open passage extends through at least a portion of the vascular graft.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
66 words
A device as in claim 1, wherein the vascular graft is formed with opposing ends spaced along the longitudinal axis, wherein said first portion of said segment extends from said loop in a direction generally towards one end of the vascular graft and said second portion of said segment extends from said first portion in a direction generally towards the opposing end of the vascular graft.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
119 words
A device as in claim 1 further comprising a second flexible guidewire, said second guidewire formed to define a collapsible loop and a segment, said loop of said second guidewire encircling the longitudinal axis of the vascular graft and supportingly engaging portions of the inner surface of the vascular graft, wherein, a first portion of said segment of said second guidewire is integrally connected to said loop of said second guidewire and extends therefrom in a direction continuously angular to the longitudinal axis of the graft, a second portion of said segment of said second guidewire is integrally connected to and extends from said first portion of said second guidewire through at least a portion of the vascular graft.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
47 words
A device as in claim 4, wherein, said loops being resiliently formed with memory to collectively bias said engaged portions of the inner surface of the vascular graft into a spaced relationship such that an open passage extends through at least a portion of the vascular graft.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
22 words
A device as in claim 4, wherein said second portion of said first guidewire extends through said loop of said second guidewire.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
22 words
A device as in claim 6, wherein said second portion of said first guidewire extends through said loop of said first guidewire.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
22 words
A device as in claim 7, wherein said second portion of said second guidewire extends through said loop of said second guidewire.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
22 words
A device as in claim 8, wherein said second portion of said second guidewire extends through said loop of said first guidewire.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
20 words
A device as in claim 4, wherein said loops are spaced apart along the longitudinal axis of the vascular graft.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
43 words
A device as in claim 1, wherein said loop is defined by a predetermined length of said guidewire extending from a first end thereof, said first end being frangibly connected to the connection of said loop and said first portion of said guidewire.
Claim 13
Independent Claim
93 words
A device for treating blood vessel anomalies, said device comprising a tubular vascular graft formed with an inner surface, and a first flexible guidewire formed to define a tine and a segment, said tine having first and second ends, wherein said first end of said tine being hingedly connected to said segment with said tine being selectively pivotable relative to said segment, the hinged connection generating a bias which urges said second end of said tine radially away from said segment to support a portion of the inner surface of the vascular graft.
Claim 14
Independent Claim
93 words
A device for treating blood vessel anomalies, said device comprising a tubular vascular graft formed with an inner surface, and a first flexible guidewire formed to define a tine and a segment, said tine having first and second ends, wherein said first end of said tine being hingedly connected to said segment with said tine being selectively pivotable relative to said segment, the hinged connection generating a bias which urges said second end of said tine radially away from said segment to support a portion of the inner surface of the vascular graft.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
84 words
A device as in claim 12 further comprising a second flexible guidewire, said second guidewire formed to define a tine and a segment, said tine of said second guidewire having first and second ends, said first end of said tine of said second guidewire being hingedly connected to said segment of said second guidewire, said second end of said tine of second guidewire being spaced from said segment of said second guidewire and supportingly engaging a portion of the inner surface of the graft.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
17 words
A device as in claim 13, wherein said segments are joined to define a single unitary shaft.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
30 words
A device as in claim 14, wherein said second ends of said tines are spaced from said shaft in diammetrically opposed directions, said directions being both normal to said shaft.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
36 words
A device as in claim 13, wherein said tine of said first guidewire defines a first length, said tine of said second guidewire defines a second length, said first length being greater than said second length.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US4140126A
Cited
US4562596A
Cited
US5104399A
Cited
US4938740A
Cited
US5116318A
Cited
US5207695A
Cited
US5258020A
Cited
US5219355A
Cited
US5151105A
Cited
US5290305A
Cited
US5554182A
Cited
US5562725A
Cited
US5628782A
Cited
US5643309A
Cited
US5464449A
Cited
US5667522A
Cited
US5507770A
Cited
US5676696A
Cited
US5713948A
Cited
US5776186A
Cited
US5591195A
Cited
US5617878A
Cited
US5824055A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2003-01-17 | 2003-07-19 | 2004-01-18 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2007-01-17 | 2007-07-19 | 2008-01-18 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2011-01-17 | 2011-07-19 | 2012-01-18 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |