Vascular Prosthesis and Methods of Use

Abstract

An implantable vascular prosthesis is provided for use in a wide range of applications wherein at least first and second helical sections having alternating directions of rotation are coupled to one another. The alternating helical section includes a first and second helical portions each having a flange and having adjacent ends joined directly to one another to define an apex. Each helical portion has a widened flange portion adjacent to the apex, the widened flange portions extending into a space between the helical portions. The prosthesis is configured to conform to a vessel wall without substantially remodeling the vessel, and permits accurate deployment in a vessel without shifting or foreshortening.

Description

RELATED APPLICATIONS[0001]This application is a divisional of U.S. application Ser. No. 11 / 716,472; filed on 9 Mar. 2007 (NOCO 1013-1).FIELD OF THE INVENTION[0002]The present invention relates to an implantable vascular prosthesis configured for use in a wide range of applications, and more specifically, to a prosthesis having an alternating helical section.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0003]Today there are a wide range of intravascular prostheses on the market for use in the treatment of aneurysms, stenoses, and other vascular irregularities. Balloon expandable and self-expanding stents are well known for restoring patency in a stenosed vessel, e.g., after an angioplasty procedure, and the use of coils and stents are known techniques for treating aneurysms.[0004]Previously-known self-expanding stents generally are retained in a contracted delivery configuration using an outer sheath, then self-expand when the sheath is retracted. Such stents commonly have several drawbacks, for examp...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

The invention provides a flexible vascular prosthesis that can conform to the natural shape of a vessel without remodeling it. The prosthesis has a helical section with multiple turns that create a larger surface area than conventional stents, which can be coated with a drug-laden polymer coating or have dimples / through-holes to elute drugs over time. This increased surface area helps with localized drug delivery.

Problems solved by technology

Such stents commonly have several drawbacks, for example, the stents may experience large length changes during expansion (referred to as “foreshortening” or “jumping”) and may shift within the vessel prior to engaging the vessel wall, resulting in improper placement.

Another disadvantage is that after the stent is deployed it can experience longitudinal movement within the vessel (also referred to as “migration”), which can be attributed to repetitive longitudinal loading and unloading of the stent.

Additionally, repetitive loading and unloading of a stent have also been known to cause fatigue induced strut failure, which may contribute to restenosis and subsequent vessel narrowing and / or occlusion.

Additionally, many self-expanding stents have relatively large delivery profiles because the configuration of their struts limits further compression of the stent.

Accordingly, such stents may not be suitable for use in smaller vessels, such as cerebral vessels and coronary arteries.

In addition, once the sheath is fully retracted, the turns may shift within the vessel prior to engaging the vessel wall, resulting in improper placement of the stent.

Moreover, because the distal portion of the stent may provide insufficient engagement with the vessel wall during subsequent retraction of the remainder of the sheath, ambiguity concerning accuracy of the stent placement may arise.

As a result, such a stent is susceptible to strut fracture.

The stent does not allow for longitudinal loading.

Additionally, the stent design may be susceptible to fracture with repetitive loading and unloading.

The rectangular cell design does not allow for longitudinal loading because the cells are not flexible.

Secondly the stent may be susceptible to fracture with repetitive loading and unloading because of the rigid cells.

The quantity of the therapeutic agent provided by the stent generally is limited by the surface area of the struts.

Increasing the surface area of the struts may enhance drug delivery capability, but may compromise the overall delivery profile of the stent.

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