Modular stent graft assembly and use thereof

Abstract

A modular stent graft assembly (10) for repairing a ruptured abdominal aorta aneurysm (90) and having an aortic section tubular graft (12) and an iliac section tubular graft (14). The aortic section graft has a proximal attachment stent (32) thereon for suprarenal attachment of the assembly (10) to the aorta. A proximal end portion (50) of the iliac section graft (14) underlies the distal end portion (28) of the aortic graft (12) and presses outwardly thereagainst forming a friction fit, at a telescoping region (64). The assembly (10) can be selected from an inventory (300) containing a set of delivery systems (100) of four size aortic section grafts (12) and a set of delivery systems (200) of four size iliac section grafts (14), that together accommodate a large majority of aneurysm sizes, and delivery systems (250) containing four standard sizes of occluders (80).

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS [0001] This is a continuation of application Ser. No. 10 / 104,672, filed Mar. 22, 2002, which claims priority of provisional application Ser. No. 60 / 279,329, filed Mar. 28, 2001, both of which are incorporated by reference.TECHNICAL FIELD [0002] The present invention relates to medical devices and more particularly to modular endovascular stent grafts. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0003] In recent years treatment of aneurysms has been performed prior to aneurysm rupture and has included the use of stent grafts that are implanted within the vascular system with minimally invasive surgical procedures and that include one or more stents affixed to graft material. The stent grafts are secured at a treatment site by endovascular insertion utilizing introducers and catheters, whereafter they are enlarged radially and remain in place by self-attachment to the vessel wall. In particular, stent grafts are known for use in treating descending thoracic and...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

The modular stent graft assembly facilitates immediate and safe treatment of ruptured aneurysms by bypassing blood flow to iliac arteries, reducing mortality and morbidity, and allowing for post-procedure adjustments, thus addressing the limitations of conventional surgical methods.

Problems solved by technology

Because of life threatening time constraints, such conventional stent grafts are not practical to be utilized with ruptured aneurysms, which presently must be treated, if at all, by open surgery.

Despite the multitude of advances in surgical management and intensive care, the devastating physiological effects of emergency aortic surgery for either ruptured abdominal aortic aneurysms (RAAA) or symptomatic abdominal aortic aneurysms (SAAA), carry an unacceptably high morbidity and mortality rate.

The acuity of an RAAA precludes complex radiographic evaluation, does not allow for adequate preoperative planning, and is compounded by the relative unavailability of endovascular stent grafts.

Additionally, because of the rapid blood loss from the patient, any substantial surgical delay cannot be tolerated.

Another complication stems from the statistical fact that most patients who suffer RAAA or SAAA are elderly and have factors that preclude repair of the rupture by open surgery, with the result that patient mortality from RAAA is very high.

Conventional surgical repair of ruptured and symptomatic aneurysms is itself associated with significant complications.

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