Expandable stent having removable slat members

Abstract

A medical device having an outer and an inner expandable stent in which the inner expandable stent is coaxially disposed within the outer expandable stent. The medical device further includes three removable slat members carried by the outer stent and three removable slat members carried by the inner expandable stent. The removable slat members provide a substantially continuous cover for the medical device and thus impede the flow of blood through the walls of the medical device. When deployed within a blood vessel, some of the slat members serve to cover an aneurysm and restrict the blood flow into the aneurysm; however, one or more of the slat members may be selectively removed to provide blood flow into a branching blood vessel.

Description

BACKGROUND OF INVENTION [0001] 1. Field of the Invention [0002] The present invention relates to intravascular stents and methods of treating aneurysms, and more particularly, this invention relates to a covered stent which may be modified to treat an aneurysm located adjacent to a bifurcated blood vessel while permitting blood to flow through the bifurcated vessel and method of use thereof. [0003] 2. Description of the Prior Art [0004] Expandable stents are widely used in the treatment of vascular diseases. Typically, a stent is inserted into a stenosed blood vessel after an angioplasty to prevent the restenosis of the blood vessels. Expandable stents are also used as aneurysm covers. When a stent is placed across an aneurysm, the blood flow into the aneurysm is decreased. Decreased blood flow within an aneurysm promotes the formation of a thrombus within the aneurysm which ultimately aids in protecting the aneurysm from further expansion or rupture. [0005] Optimally, a covered ste...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

"The present invention provides a medical device comprising an expandable stent with a thin wall and a plurality of cells formed by interconnected strut members. The stent also includes an elongated removable slat member interwoven between the strut members to provide a cover for a portion of the stent wall and impede the flow of blood through that portion. The slat member can be selectively removed to provide a passage of blood through the stent. The invention also includes a plurality of tethers for selectively removing individual slat members. The medical device can be used to treat blockages in blood vessels and has improved blood flow and reduced risk of complications."

Problems solved by technology

Such covered stents, typically covered with a material such as PTFE provide suitable aneurysm covers; however, these stents have certain limitations.

Thus, a covered stent may not be suitable for treating an aneurysm at or near a bifurcated blood vessel.

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