CA2257663C - Bifurcated multicapsule intraluminal grafting system and method - Google Patents

Abstract

An intraluminal grafting system having a balloon catheter assembly, a capsule catheter assembly and capsule jacket assembly is used for deploying in the vessel of an animal body a bifurcated graft having a plurality of attachment systems. The deployment catheters contain an ipsilateral capsule assembly, a contralateral capsule assembly and a distal capsule assembly, wherein the attachment systems of the bifurcated graft are disposed within the three capsule assemblies. A removable sheath of the capsule jacket assembly covers the bifurcated graft and capsule assemblies to provide a smooth transition along the length of the deployment catheters. The bifurcated graft is comprised of a main tubular member and two tubular legs, having attachment systems with wall engaging members secured to the superior end of the main tubular member and the inferior ends of the tubular legs. An inflatable membrane configured on the balloon catheter is used to firmly implant the attachment systems within the vessel. The bifurcated graft and attachment systems are configured to remain in the vessel after the deployment catheters are withdrawn. The method of use of the present intraluminal grafting system is also disclosed, for example, for deploying a bifurcated graft proximate the abdominal aortic bifurcation.

Claims (11)

THE EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION IN WHICH AN EXCLUSIVE
PROPERTY OR PRIVILEGE IS CLAIMED ARE DEFINED AS FOLLOWS:

1. A prothesis having a bifurcation for repairing an aortic aneurysm close to or involving the aortic bifurcation having an arterial wall and comprising the aorta and the first and second iliac arteries extending therefrom and in fluid communication therewith in a patient, the prosthesis comprising:
a main tubular body;
first and second tubular legs joined to said main tubular body in a bifurcation, said main tubular body and said first and second tubular legs being formed of a flexible surgically implantable material, said main tubular body and said first and second tubular legs having respectively first, second and third openings therein in fluid communication with each other;
first expandable attachment means for anchoring said main tubular body, said first attachment means being secured to said main tubular body adjacent the first opening;
second expandable attachment means for anchoring said first tubular leg, said second attachment means being secured to said first tubular leg adjacent the second opening; and third expandable attachment means for anchoring said second tubular leg, said third attachment means being secured to said second tubular leg adjacent the third opening, wherein said prosthesis is capable of intraluminal implantation by a catheter into the aortic bifurcation through the first iliac artery such that said main tubular body can be anchored by said first attachment means in the aorta, said first tubular leg can be anchored by said second attachment means in the first iliac artery, and said second tubular leg can be anchored by said third attachment means in the second iliac artery.

2. The prosthesis of claim 1, wherein said first, second and third attachment means are each in the form of a self-expanding attachment system having outwardly disposed wall engaging members.

3. The prosthesis of claim 1, wherein said main tubular body includes a plurality of radiopaque markers spaced longitudinally along said main tubular body, such that twisting of the main tubular body may be detected by viewing the radiopaque markers by fluoroscopy.

4. The prosthesis of claim 1, further comprising a plurality of longitudinally spaced apart radiopaque markers carried by each of said first and second tubular legs, wherein twisting of said tubular legs may be detected by viewing said radiopaque markers by fluoroscopy.

5. The intraluminal graft for permanent implantation in a patient's vasculature for repairing the vasculature proximate to a bifurcation in the vasculature, the intraluminal graft being intraluminally deployed into the vasculature using a catheter, the intraluminal graft comprising:
a main tubular body having a superior end and configured to reside proximate a bifurcation in a vasculature of a patient, the bifurcation forming a first vessel and a second vessel;
a first tubular member having an inferior end and joined to and in fluid communication with said main tubular body, said first tubular member configured to extend into the first vessel;
a second tubular member having an inferior end and joined to and in fluid communication with said main tubular body, said second tubular member configured to extend distally into the second vessel;
a first attachment system secured to the superior end of said main tubular body;
a second attachment system secured to the inferior end of said first tubular member; and a third attachment system secured to the inferior end of said second tubular member.

6. The intraluminal graft of claim 5, further comprising a plurality of crimps configured in the first tubular member and in the second tubular member.

7. The intraluminal graft of claim 5, wherein said first attachment system, said second attachment system and said third attachment system each include a plurality of support members and a plurality of wall engaging members, each support member having two legs joined to form an apex, each leg being joined to the legs of adjacent support members to form a circular arrangement of support members about a central axis and operable between a first collapsed position and a second expanded position.

8. The intraluminal graft of claim 7, wherein the support members of said attachment systems further include a first helical spring and a second helical spring.

9. The intraluminal graft of claim 5, wherein the support members of said attachment systems are formed from a non-round wire.

10. The intraluminal graft of claim 5, further comprising means for reducing blood leakage near the superior end of the main tubular body.

11. The intraluminal graft of claim 10, wherein said means for reducing blood leakage near the superior end of the main tubular body is formed from a segment of biocompatible fiber.