Stent-graft with improved flexibility

Abstract

A flexible stent-graft has polymeric, non-textile graft layers with a stent disposed between or among the graft layers while allowing for movement of the stent between or among the layers. The stent includes an undulating wire stent disposed within pockets of non-secured graft portions between graft layers. The stent may be a ribbon stent having a ribbon or ribbons of graft layers.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS[0001]This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 62 / 159,415, filed May 11, 2015, the content of which is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.FIELD OF THE INVENTION[0002]The present technology is directed to stent-grafts. In particular, the present technology is directed to flexible stent-grafts having polymeric, non-textile graft layers with a stent disposed between or among the graft layers while allowing for movement of the stent between or among the layers.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0003]A stent-graft may include a stent associated with one or more textile graft layers. As used herein a textile graft layer refers to a layer formed by typical textile processes, such as weaving, knitting, braiding and the like. The stent is typically secured to the graft layer(s) through the use of sutures. A disadvantage of such textile-containing stent-grafts is high profile, i.e., relatively thick textile layers, e...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

The present invention provides a flexible stent-graft with non-textile graft layers and a stent between them. The non-textile layers can be made more flexible by processing them. The stent-graft can also have areas where the inner and outer layers are not laminated to each other, allowing the stent to move or float among the graft materials. In some embodiments, significant portion of the stent may be free-floating between graft layers. Other methods and embodiments allow the stent to be free-floating in various degrees.

Problems solved by technology

A disadvantage of such textile-containing stent-grafts is high profile, i.e., relatively thick textile layers, especially where the stent-graft is to be fluid tight, for example to limit, prevent or otherwise control blood flow through some or all of the textile walls of a graft layer or layer.

However, shear forces often exist in certain stent-grafts that limit the amount of flexibility when they are manufactured in a purely cylindrical form.

Images