Endoluminal prostheses and therapies for highly variable body lumens

Abstract

The present invention provides a branching endoluminal prosthesis for use in branching body lumen systems which includes a trunk lumen and first and second branch lumens. The prostheses comprises a radially expandable tubular trunk portion having a prosthetic trunk lumen, and radially expandable tubular first and second branch portions with first and second prosthetic branch lumens, respectively. A radially expandable tubular Y-connector portion provides fluid communication between the prosthetic trunk lumen and the first and second prosthetic branch lumens. Although it is often considered desirable to maximize the column strength of endoluminal prostheses, and although the trunk portion will generally have a larger cross-section than much of the remainder of a branching endoluminal prostheses, the expanded trunk portion is more axially flexible than the expanded Y-connector portion, as insufficient flexibility along the trunk portion may result in leakage between the prosthesis and the trunk lumen of the body lumen system. In contrast, the Y-connector portion benefits form a less axially flexible structure to avoid distortion of the flow balance between the luminal branches.

Description

[0001] This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 08 / 615,697, filed Mar. 13, 1996, which is a continuation-in-part of provisional U.S. patent application Ser. No. 60 / 008,254 (Attorney Docket No. 16380-003400), filed Dec. 1, 1995, the full disclosure of which is incorporate herein by reference.[0002] 1. Field of the Invention[0003] The present invention relates generally to tubular prostheses, such as grafts, stents, stent-grafts, and the like. More particularly, the present invention provides radially expandable tubular prosthetic structures which are deployable within tortuous body lumens, particularly within branching blood vessels for the treatment of abdominal and other aneurysms.[0004] Vascular aneurysms are the result of abnormal dilation of a blood vessel, usually resulting from disease and / or genetic predisposition, which can weaken the arterial wall and allow it to expand. While aneurysms can occur in any blood vessel, most occur in the aorta and...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0019] Although it is often considered desirable to maximize the column strength of endoluminal prostheses, and although the trunk portion will generally have a larger cross-section than much of the remainder of a branching endoluminal prostheses, in connection with the present invention it has been found that insufficient flexibility along the trunk portion may result in leakage between a bifurcated prosthesis and the trunk lumen of the body lumen system. Specifically, leaks will be produced between known uniform bifurcated prostheses and the dorsal bend which is typically found immediately downstream of the renal arteries along the abdominal aorta. On the other hand, the lumen separation portion benefits from a less axially flexible structure to avoid distortion of the flow balance between the luminal branches when conforming the prosthetic geometry to a torturous body lumen system. The present invention therefore provides non-uniform prosthetic structures which are locally optimized to meet these contradictory requirements.

[0020] Preferably, a trunk sealing cuff is provided opposite the Y-connector to seal between the prosthetic trunk lumen and the trunk lumen of the body lumen system. Similarly, the first and second branch portions are also more axially flexible than the lumen separation portion, and ideally include branch sealing cuffs opposite the lumen separation. These sealing cuffs may also benefit from relatively stiff structures, particularly where they help to anchor the prosthesis within the body lumen. The resulting prosthetic structure separates the luminal sealing, the axial conforming, and the flow separating functions of the branching prostheses to distinct axial portions of the prosthetic structure, allowing these portions to be still further independently optimized.

Problems solved by technology

Although it is often considered desirable to maximize the column strength of endoluminal prostheses, and although the trunk portion will generally have a larger cross-section than much of the remainder of a branching endoluminal prostheses, in connection with the present invention it has been found that insufficient flexibility along the trunk portion may result in leakage between a bifurcated prosthesis and the trunk lumen of the body lumen system.

Specifically, leaks will be produced between known uniform bifurcated prostheses and the dorsal bend which is typically found immediately downstream of the renal arteries along the abdominal aorta.

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