Vessel implant for the treatment of an aneurysm

Abstract

The invention relates to a vessel implant for the treatment of an aneurysm, i.e. a dilatation of the cross-sectional area of a blood vessel, comprising an elongate body which has an inlet opening, an outlet opening and a passage connecting the inlet opening to the outlet opening for blood flowing through the blood vessel, with the passage being bounded in the peripheral direction by a blood-impermeable wall, and with the inlet opening having a larger cross-sectional area than the outlet opening.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS[0001]This application claims priority to German Patent Application Number 10 2007 019 058.3, filed Apr. 23, 2007, which is hereby incorporated by reference as if set forth herein.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0002]1. Field of the Invention[0003]The present invention relates to a vessel implant for the treatment of an aneurysm, comprising an elongate body which has an inlet opening, an outlet opening as well as a passage connecting the inlet opening with the outlet opening for blood flowing through the blood vessel, with the passage being bounded in the peripheral direction by a blood-impermeable wall.[0004]An aneurysm is a pathological, spatially restricted dilatation, swelling or expansion of a flood vessel, in particular of an artery. Aneurysms can occur at any section of an artery. Abdominal aortic aneurysms or aneurysms at the popliteal artery occur particularly frequently. Dilated blood vessels are subject to a high risk of rupture so that ...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0011]In accordance with the continuity law for non-compressible fluids, the same blood volume exits the outlet opening of the body that has flown into the body at the inlet opening of the body, i.e. the volume flow or the volume moving through a cross-section of the body within a unit of time is the same at the inlet opening and at the outlet opening. It results from this that the blood flowing through the blood vessel and thus through the body passes through the outlet opening at a higher speed than through the inlet opening. An underpressure by which the blood located in an aneurysm is sucked out arises at the end of the body having the outlet opening—as with a water jet pump—due to the higher speed. In this way, a corresponding underpressure also arises inside the aneurysm so that the dilated vessel wall is relieved.

[0012]This effect even occurs when the vessel implant is not completely sealed at the inlet opening side. The risk of a rupture of the vessel wall of the aneurysm can thus be effectively reduced using the vessel implant made in accordance with the invention.

[0016]To achieve a particularly good fixation of the vessel implant in the blood vessel, it can be advantageous for the section of the body adjoining the inlet opening to be cylindrical. The body can thus be adapted to the internal diameter of the blood vessel over a larger region.

[0020]The fixing means can be made to keep the body spaced apart from the vessel wall of the blood vessel in the region of the outlet opening. It is hereby ensured that the end of the body having the outlet opening does not contact the vessel wall of the blood vessel so that the previously explained water jet pump effect can occur over the full peripheral area around the outlet opening. The fixing means can in particular be made such that the outlet opening or the end of the body having the outlet opening is held in centered form inside the blood vessel.

Problems solved by technology

There is, however, the problem with these solutions that small leaks can frequently occur, due to insufficient adaptation to the vessel, between the stent and that region of the vessel wall of the blood vessel at which the stent is fixed.

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