Bifurcated stent and delivery system
Systems for delivering a bifurcated stent to a bifurcation site comprise catheters and/or bifurcated stents delivered therefrom.
This application claims priority from U.S. provisional applications 60/271,506 filed Feb. 26, 2001; U.S. provisional application 60/271,602 filed Feb. 26, 2001; and U.S. provisional application 60/271,595 filed Feb. 26, 2001; the entire content of each being incorporated herein by reference.
STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCHNot Applicable
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONStents, grafts, stent-grafts, vena cava filters and similar implantable medical devices, collectively referred to hereinafter as stents, are radially expandable endoprostheses which are typically intravascular implants capable of being implanted transluminally and enlarged radially after being introduced percutaneously. Stents may be implanted in a variety of body lumens or vessels such as within the vascular system, urinary tracts, bile ducts, etc. Stents may be used to reinforce body vessels and to prevent restenosis following angioplasty in the vascular system. They may be self-expanding or expanded by an internal radial force, such as when mounted on a balloon.
Stents are generally tubular devices for insertion into body lumens. Balloon expandable stents require mounting over a balloon, positioning, and inflation of the balloon to expand the stent radially outward. Self-expanding stents expand into place when unconstrained, without requiring assistance from a balloon. A self-expanding stent is biased so as to expand upon release from the delivery catheter. Some stents may be characterized as hybrid stents which have some characteristics of both self-expandable and balloon expandable stents.
Stents may be constructed from a variety of materials such as stainless steel, Elgiloy, nitinol, shape memory polymers, etc. Stents may also be formed in a variety of manners as well. For example a stent may be formed by etching or cutting the stent pattern from a tube or section of stent material; a sheet of stent material may be cut or etched according to a desired stent pattern whereupon the sheet may be rolled or otherwise formed into the desired tubular or bifurcated tubular shape of the stent; one or more wires or ribbons of stent material may be braided or otherwise formed into a desired shape and pattern.
A vessel having a stenosis may be viewed as an inwardly protruding arcuate addition of hardened material to a cylindrical vessel wall, where the stenosed region presents a somewhat rigid body attached along, and to, the elastic wall. The stenosis presents resistance to any expansion of the vessel in the region bridged by the stenosis. Stenoses vary in composition, for example, in the degree of calcification, and therefore vary in properties as well.
A stent may be used to provide a prosthetic intraluminal wall e.g. in the case of a stenosis to provide an unobstructed conduit for blood in the area of the stenosis. An endoluminal prosthesis comprises a stent which carries a prosthetic graft layer of fabric and is used. e.g. to treat an aneurysm by removing the pressure on a weakened part of an artery so as to reduce the risk of embolism, or of the natural artery wall bursting. Typically, a stent or endoluminal prosthesis is implanted in a blood vessel at the site of a stenosis or aneurysm by so-called “minimally invasive techniques” in which the stent is compressed radially inwards and is delivered by a catheter to the site where it is required through the patient's skin or by a “cut down” technique in which the blood vessel concerned is exposed by minor surgical means. When the stent is positioned at the correct location, the catheter is withdrawn and the stent is caused or allowed to re-expand to a predetermined diameter in the vessel.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,886,062 discloses a vascular stent which comprises a length of sinuous or “zig-zag” wire formed into a helix; the helix defines a generally cylindrical wall which, in use, constitutes a prosthetic intraluminal wall. The sinuous configuration of the wire permits radial expansion and compression of the stent; U.S. Pat. No. 4,886,062 discloses that the stent can be delivered percutaneously and expanded in situ using a balloon catheter.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,733,665 discloses an expandable intraluminal graft which is constituted by a tubular member formed from a plurality of intersecting elongate members which permit radial expansion and compression of the stent.
EP-A-0556850 discloses an intraluminal stent which is constituted by a sinuous wire formed into a helix; juxtaposed apices of the wire are secured to one another so that each hoop of the helix is supported by its neighboring hoops to increase the overall strength of the stent and to minimize the risk of plaque herniation; in some embodiments the stent of EP-A-0556850 further comprises a tubular graft member to form an endoluminal prosthesis.
The devices cited above are generally satisfactory for the treatment of aneurysms, stenoses and other angeological diseases at sites in continuous unbifurcated portions of arteries or veins.
Within the vasculature however it is not uncommon for stenoses to form at a vessel bifurcation. A bifurcation is an area of the vasculature or other portion of the body where a first (or parent) vessel is bifurcated into two or more branch vessels. Where a stenotic lesion or lesions form at such a bifurcation, the lesion(s) can affect only one of the vessels (i.e., either of the branch vessels or the parent vessel) two of the vessels, or all three vessels. Many prior art stents however are not wholly satisfactory for use where the site of desired application of the stent is juxtaposed or extends across a bifurcation in an artery or vein such, for example, as the bifurcation in the mammalian aortic artery into the common iliac arteries.
In the case of an abdominal aortic aneurysm (“AAA”) in the infiarenal portion of the aorta which extends into one of the common iliac arteries, the use of one of the prior art prosthesis referred to above across the bifurcation into the one iliac artery will result in obstruction of the proximal end of the other common iliac artery; by-pass surgery is therefore required to connect the one iliac artery in juxtaposition with the distal end of the prosthesis to the other blocked iliac artery. It will be appreciated by a person skilled in the art that it is desirable to avoid surgery wherever possible; the requirement for by-pass surgery associated with the use of the prior art prosthesis in juxtaposition with a bifurcation in an artery therefore constitutes a significant disadvantage.
Another example of a vessel bifurcation is the left and right common carotid arteries. These arteries are the principal arteries of the head and neck. Both of the common carotid arteries are quite similar and divide at a carotid bifurcation or bulb into an external carotid artery and an internal carotid artery. In the region of the carotid bulb and the ostium of the internal carotid artery, stenoses present a particular problem for carotid stenting due to the large tapering of the vessel interior from the common carotid artery (both the left and the right) to the internal carotid artery. The region of the carotid bifurcation or bulb happens to be where stenoses most often occur, particularly in the region of the ostium to the internal carotid artery in both of the carotid arteries.
Embodiments of the present invention relate to endoluminal prosthesis (stents) that may be utilized in the region of a bifurcation of vessels. The present invention also embraces stent connecting means for connecting a stent (e.g. a stent which forms part of an endoluminal prosthesis or bifurcated stent) to another stent or portion thereof. Some embodiments of the invention are directed to designs of bifurcated stents and their method of manufacture, as well as apparatuses and methods for introducing prostheses to the vasculature and methods of treating angeological diseases.
All US patents and applications and all other published documents mentioned anywhere in this application are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety.
Without limiting the scope of the invention a brief summary of some of the claimed embodiments of the invention is set forth below. Additional details of the summarized embodiments of the invention and/or additional embodiments of the invention may be found in the Detailed Description of the Invention below.
A brief abstract of the technical disclosure in the specification is provided as well only for the purposes of complying with 37 C.F.R. 1.72. The abstract is not intended to be used for interpreting the scope of the claims.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONThe present invention includes many different embodiments. Various embodiments of the invention are directed to designs of bifurcated stents and/or the methods and apparatuses utilized to deliver a bifurcated stent to a bifurcation site.
In at least one embodiment, the invention is directed to a bifurcated stent delivery system that includes a unique catheter assembly having a primary and secondary guide wire wherein the secondary guide wire diverges away from the primary guide wire through a split in the catheter housing. The split allows the catheter to deliver a bifurcated stent center first.
The bifurcated stent is an embodiment of the invention that comprises a primary stent section and a secondary stent section. When used with the above catheter, the primary section is delivered center first through the split in the catheter housing. The secondary stent section is then delivered into a secondary vessel according to the predelivery placement of the secondary guide wire.
The bifurcated stent may be a one piece design where the primary and secondary sections are engaged to one another prior to delivery or it may be a two-piece design where the primary and secondary sections are separate and distinct stent bodies that may be optionally engaged to one another during delivery. The primary and secondary stent sections are preferably self-expandable but may be either self-expandable or balloon expandable independent of one another.
In another embodiment of the invention a self-expandable bifurcated stent may be delivered by a catheter having a retractable outer sheath or sleeve that retains the bifurcated stent in a collapsed state. When the sheath is retracted the primary stent section is exposed to self-expand. In at least one embodiment the secondary stent section remains in the collapsed state within the expanded primary stent section until a pusher mechanism is actuated to cause the secondary stent section to self-expand.
In at least one embodiment of the invention, a catheter system is employed wherein two guide wires and at least two balloons are employed to deliver a single piece bifurcated stent. In at least one embodiment, the balloons are substantially parallel to one another and the bifurcated stent is placed over both balloons with a single balloon extending into each section of the bifurcated stent. As a result, the stent branches may be independently guided and expanded. Where a portion of the stent is disposed about both balloons, in some embodiments the balloons may be linked together with a restrictive collar or band of material that will limit the expandability of the balloons to prevent the stent from being over expanded, however in other embodiments the collar may be omitted.
In some embodiments of the invention the catheter may also employ two angioplasty balloons that are initially advanced to the bifurcation site prior to stent delivery.
In at least one embodiment of the invention the bifurcated stent to be delivered is a one piece bifurcation stent comprising a primary stent section and a secondary stent section, the secondary stent section is linked to the primary stent section with one or more flexible linkage members. In at least one embodiment at least four linkage members connect the stent sections. Preferably, the flexible members are substantially S-shaped and/or are selectively annealed.
In at least one embodiment, the invention is directed to a single piece bifurcated stent wherein the primary stent section and the secondary stent section are engaged together by a linkage which allows the bifurcated stent to form distinct support structures on either side of the carina of a bifurcation. Preferably, the linkage comprises at least one struts or connecting members that is shared by both stent sections. In at least one embodiment the linkage is constructed from a selectively annealed metal or other material.
In the various embodiments of the invention portions of a given catheter and/or stent may include radiopaque materials to aid in visual inspection and/or placement of the devices such as during fluoroscopy.
Additional details and/or embodiments of the invention are discussed below.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGSA detailed description of the invention is hereafter described with specific reference being made to the drawings.
As indicated above the present invention includes many different embodiments. In some embodiments the invention is directed to various designs of bifurcated stents, their delivery systems and methods of use.
In
In order to accommodate the divergent path of the secondary guide wire 14, the catheter 10 includes a spilt area 30 where the secondary guide wire 14 exits the catheter 10. The spilt area 30 is a gap between two portions of the outer housing 32 of the catheter 10. The housing 32 may be characterized as a sheath, sleeve, sock or any other assembly suitable for retaining a stent in its collapsed state onto a stent receiving region of a catheter. Some examples of such stent retaining devices are described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,950,227 to Savin et al.; U.S. Pat. No. 5,403,341 to Solar; U.S. Pat. No. 5,108,416 to Ryan et al.; U.S. Pat. No. 5,968,069 to Dusbabek et al.; U.S. Pat. No. 6,068,634, to Cornelius et al.; U.S. Pat. No. 5,571,168; U.S. Pat. No. 5,733,267; U.S. Pat. No. 5,772,669; and U.S. Pat. No. 5,534,007 all of which are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety.
In the embodiment shown in
In
In the embodiments shown in
In the embodiment shown in
If the stent section 52 and 54 are not integral to each other or otherwise linked prior to delivery, upon expansion of the primary section 52 the secondary section may be advanced along the secondary guide wire 14 and advanced to an opening 62 in the wall 64 of the primary stent section 52. Opening 62 may be any diameter or shape but preferably is sized to accommodate the outer diameter of the secondary stent section 54 as well as the inner diameter of the secondary vessel 24.
Whether the secondary stent section 54 is engaged to the primary stent section 52 or separate therefrom prior to deployment, when the secondary stent section 54 is in position at opening 62 and the primary section 52 has been expanded, the secondary stent section 54 is then deployed into the secondary vessel 24, such as is shown in
In at least one embodiment, where the secondary stent section 54 is at least partially constructed from a shape memory material, such as nitinol, the secondary stent section 54 will self expand according to a preprogrammed shape memory, such that the section both radially and longitudinally expands into the secondary vessel 24. In some embodiments, catheter 10 may include a pusher assembly 70 that is advanced along the secondary guide wire 14 to trigger expansion of the secondary stent section 54. Pusher assembly 70 may provide a stimulus which causes the section 54 to expand. Such a stimulus may be in the form of a simple mechanical engagement; delivery of an electrical current; or delivery of a predetermined temperature and/or a predetermined pH, such as by the release of a heated saline bolus. In some embodiments, a separate balloon catheter or other inflation device may be advanced along the secondary guide wire 14 to fully expand and/or seat the secondary stent section 54.
When both stent sections 52 and 54 are fully deployed, such as is shown in
In an alternative embodiment of the invention, such as is shown in
In the embodiment shown in
In the embodiment shown in
In order to ensure that the bifurcated stent will provide adequate support to the vessels 22 and 24 of the bifurcation site, and particularly to the area of the carina 26, the catheter 10 may include a radiopaque marker 90. Marker 90 allows a practitioner to advance the catheter 10 to the bifurcation site 20 and visually determine through fluoroscopy or other means that the balloons 80 and 82 and stent sections 52 and 54 are properly positioned about the carina 26.
Marker 90 may be constructed from any radiopaque material and is preferably part of the bifurcated stent 50.
Once it is determined that the stent 50 is in proper position at the bifurcation site 20, the primary balloon 80 is inflated to expand the primary stent section 52 as shown in
In some embodiments it may be preferable to first deflate the primary balloon 80 before inflating the secondary balloon 82. In some embodiments where balloon 80 is deflated prior to inflation of balloon 82, balloon 80 may be subsequently inflated after inflation of balloon 82 to fully expand the stent and seat it in place within the bifurcation such as is shown in
Once both stent sections 52 and 54 are fully expanded, the balloons 80 and 82 are deflated and with drawn from the bifurcation site 20, such as is depicted in
Because some bifurcated stents may be subject to distortion or damage when over expanded or subjected to high radially outward acting pressure, in some embodiments, such as shown in
In some applications, it may be beneficial or necessary to conduct an angioplasty procedure prior to insertion of the bifurcated stent 50. As a result, in at least one embodiment of the invention, an example of which is shown in
In the embodiments shown in
In embodiments where the stent 50 is a one-piece design, the stent sections may be engaged together by one or more linkage member 102 such as are shown in
In at least one embodiment, the linkage members 102 are provided with a curvilinear or S-shaped configuration such as is best shown in
In at least one embodiment, shown in
In at least one embodiment of the invention shown in
In addition to being directed to the specific combinations of features claimed below, the invention is also directed to embodiments having other combinations of the dependent features claimed below and other combinations of the features described above.
The above disclosure is intended to be illustrative and not exhaustive. This description will suggest many variations and alternatives to one of ordinary skill in this art. All these alternatives and variations are intended to be included within the scope of the claims where the term “comprising” means “including, but not limited to”. Those familiar with the art may recognize other equivalents to the specific embodiments described herein which equivalents are also intended to be encompassed by the claims.
Further, the particular features presented in the dependent claims can be combined with each other in other manners within the scope of the invention such that the invention should be recognized as also specifically directed to other embodiments having any other possible combination of the features of the dependent claims. For instance, for purposes of claim publication, any dependent claim which follows should be taken as alternatively written in a multiple dependent form from all prior claims which possess all antecedents referenced in such dependent claim if such multiple dependent format is an accepted format within the jurisdiction (e.g. each claim depending directly from claim 1 should be alternatively taken as depending from all previous claims). In jurisdictions where multiple dependent claim formats are restricted, the following dependent claims should each be also taken as alternatively written in each singly dependent claim format which creates a dependency from a prior antecedent-possessing claim other than the specific claim listed in such dependent claim below.
Claims
1-42. (canceled)
43. A bifurcated catheter system comprising:
- a catheter, the catheter comprising a first balloon and a second balloon, each balloon having an unexpanded state and an expanded state wherein in the expanded state each balloon has a diameter greater than the diameter in the unexpanded state, a region of each balloon being immediately adjacent one another in both the unexpanded state and the expanded state to define a trunk region; and
- a retaining band, the retaining band disposed about the trunk region of the balloons, the retaining band constructed and arranged to limit expansion of the trunk region relative to portions of the balloons adjacent to the trunk region.
44. The system of claim 43 further comprising a bifurcated stent, the stent being expandable from an unexpanded configuration to an expanded configuration, the stent being in the expanded configuration when the balloons are in the expanded state, the bifurcated stent comprising a trunk, a first branch and a second branch, at least a portion of the trunk disposed about the retaining band, the first branch disposed about a portion of the first balloon distally adjacent to the trunk region of the balloons and the second branch disposed about a portion of the second balloon distally adjacent to the trunk region of the balloons.
45. The system of claim 44 wherein in the expanded configuration the trunk of the stent has a diameter substantially equal to that of the first branch.
46. A bifurcated catheter system comprising:
- a catheter, the catheter comprising a first balloon and a second balloon, each balloon being expandable from an unexpanded state to an expanded state, wherein in the expanded state each balloon has a diameter greater than the diameter in the unexpanded state, each balloon having a proximal region and a distal region; and
- a retaining band, the retaining band disposed about at least a portion of the proximal region of the first balloon and at least a portion of the proximal region of the second balloon, the retaining band constructed and arranged to restrict expansion of the at least a portion of the proximal region of the first balloon and the at least a portion of the proximal region of the second balloon, such that in the expanded state the sum of the diameters of the proximal region of the first balloon and the proximal region of the second balloon is substantially equal to the diameter of the distal region of first balloon.
47. The system of claim 46 further comprising a bifurcated stent, the bifurcated stent comprising a trunk, a first branch and a second branch, the trunk being disposed about a proximal region of the first balloon and the second balloon, the first branch being disposed about at least a portion of the distal region of the first balloon, the second branch being disposed about at least a portion of the distal region of the second balloon,
- the bifurcated stent being expandable from an unexpanded configuration to an expanded configuration when the balloons are expanded, in the expanded configuration the trunk has a diameter substantially equal to the diameter of the distal region of first balloon.
Type: Application
Filed: Jan 3, 2005
Publication Date: Jun 2, 2005
Inventors: Gregory Brucker (Minneapolis, MN), Enrique Malaret (Minneapolis, MN), Todd Hall (Minneapolis, MN), David Byrd (Louisville, KY), Gerald Hubbs (Louisville, KY), Gregory Furnish (Louisville, MN), Josh Barber (Louisville, KY), Indaka Gunasekara (Louisville, KY), Benjamin Morris (Louisville, KY), Valerie Futral (Louisville, KY), Sava Chernomordik (Louisville, KY), William MersKelly (Chestwood, KY), William Reuss (Louisville, KY), Simon Furnish (New York City, NY), Michael Wilson (LaGrage, KY), Hacene Bouadi (Palo Alto, CA), John Muskivitch (Cupertino, CA), Mathew Pease (Mountain View, CA), David Rahdert (San Francisco, CA), Travis Rowe (Fremont, CA), Gregory Ruhf (Cupertino, CA), Brandon Walsh (Livermore, CA), Thomas Banks (Santa Barbara, CA), Russ Redmonds (Goleta, CA), Claude Vidal (Santa Barbara, CA)
Application Number: 11/028,754