BALLOON-EXPANDABLE, SELF-EXPANDING, VASCULAR PROSTHESIS

CONNECTING STENT

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a vascular balloon-expandable and/or self- expanding stent that can be used as a connecting/attaching mechanism for various kinds of vascular grafts or other prostheses in the vascular system of the human body

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is a primary object of the present invention to provide a vascular balloon- expandable and/or self-expanding stent to facilitate efficient execution of simple and more complex vascular and cardiac procedures by less invasive and/or percutaneous techniques.

This and other objects of the present invention are achieved by an expandable vascular stent comprising an m X n array of ovals formed into a cylinder having a diameter, a circumference, an axis, and a length in the direction of the axis, where m is the number of columns of ovals in the circumferential direction and n is the number of rows of ovals in the axial direction. Connecting means located at rows 1 and n of the m x n array connect the cylinder to a surrounding body. The array of ovals can be of any size and number in a given stent.

The ovals have a short axis and a long axis, the short axis of the ovals extending in the circumferential direction and the long axis of the ovals extending in the axial direction. The cylinder is expandable from an initial diameter to a predetermined final diameter, wherein an increase in the diameter of the stent results in a substantial decrease in the length of the stent to bring the prongs together to produce a connection to the body surrounding the stent.

The connecting means comprise a plurality of prongs extending inwardly from the outer ends of respective ovals in rows 1 and n of the m x n array. The prongs are arranged in facing pairs extending from ovals that are in alignment in the axial direction, and are approximately collinear in ovals having a common long axis, and approximately parallel in ovals having a common short axis.

Prior to expansion of the cylinder, the prongs substantially conform to the shape of the cylinder. As the stent expands, the distance between the prongs decreases and the prongs extend outwardly from the cylinder to engage the surrounding tissue.

Circumferential connectors connect adjacent ovals to each other in the circumferential direction and axial connectors connecting adjacent ovals to each other in the axial direction. The circumferential connectors and the axial connectors are positioned between the ovals coincident with the common short and long axes of the ovals, respectively.

The tube and the prongs can be made of surgical stainless steel, the tube being expandable using an angioplasty balloon; or the tube and the prongs can be made of a memory metal and the tube is self-expanding.

Other objects, features, and advantages of the present invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art upon a reading of this specification including the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention is better understood by reading the following Detailed Description of the Preferred Embodiments with reference to the accompanying drawing figures, in which like reference numerals refer to like elements throughout, and in which:

FIGURE 1 shows a first embodiment of a stent form stamped from a piece of metal.

FIGURE 2 shows the stent form of FIGURE 1 stretched width- wise.

FIGURE 3 shows the stent form of FIGURE 1 rolled into a stent. FIGURES 4A-4C show the progression of deformation of the stent of

FIGURE 3 as it is stretched radially along its diameter.

FIGURES 5A-5Q show the steps in the expansion of the stent of FIGURE 3 in an artery or other body cavity.

FIGURE 6A is a perspective view, partially cut away, of a collapsed prosthetic heart valve loaded in an undeployed stent in accordance with the present invention.

FIGURE 6B is a perspective view, partially cut away, of the prosthetic heart valve and stent of FIGURE 6A in their expanded conditions.

FIGURES 7A-7C show the progression of deformation of a second embodiment of the stent as it is stretched radially along its diameter.

FIGURE 8 A is a side elevational view of a third embodiment of the stent.

FIGURE 8B is a perspective view of the stent of FIGURE 8 A

FIGURE 8C is a side elevational view of the stent of FIGURE 8A in a deformed state after being stretched radially along its diameter. FIGURE 8D is an enlarged view of a prong of the stent of FIGURE 8 A.

FIGURE 8E is a plan view of the stent form of FIGURE 8 A

FIGURES 9A-9G show the steps in the expansion of the stent of FIGURE 8A in an artery or other body cavity.

FIGURE 1OA is a perspective view of a fourth embodiment of the stent. FIGURE 1 OB is a plan view of the stent form of FIGURE 1 OA.

FIGURE 1OC is an enlarged view of the prong of the stent of FIGURE 1OA.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

In describing preferred embodiments of the present invention illustrated in the drawings, specific terminology is employed for the sake of clarity. However, the invention is not intended to be limited to the specific terminology so selected, and it is to be understood that each specific element includes all technical equivalents that operate in a similar manner to accomplish a similar purpose.

As shown in FIGURES 3 and 4A-4C, a first embodiment of the device is a balloon expandable stainless steel stent 100 that can be expanded from an initial diameter (shown in FIGURE 4A) to a pre-determined final diameter (shown in FIGURE 4C) depending on the set dimensions of the balloon used to expand it. The configuration of the stent 100 is such that, with reference to FIGURE 3, an increase in the diameter (D) of the stent will result in a substantial decrease in the length (L) of the stent.

To achieve this change in the shape and dimension of the stent 100, an m x n array 100a of ovals 105 is formed as shown in FIGURE 1, where m is the number of columns of ovals in the circumferential direction C and n is the number of rows of ovals in the axial, or lengthwise, direction A, and where the short axis of the ovals 105 extends in the circumferential direction C and the long axis of the ovals 105 extends in the axial direction A. The array 100a shown in FIGURE 1 is a 2 x 5 array. However, the array 100a can be any size greater than 1 x 1, depending on the desired size of the circumference and the length of the stent.

With reference to FIGURES 1 and 2, the array 100a of ovals 105 can be formed by stamping or electrical discharge machining from a sheet or tube of metal, preferably stainless steel. Adjacent ovals 105 are connected to each other in the circumferential direction C by connectors 115a and in the axial direction A by connectors 115b positioned between the ovals coincident with their common short and long axes, respectively.

At least some of the ovals 105 at the ends of the stent 100 (that is, the ovals 105 in rows 1 and n in the axial direction) have a prong 120 extending inwardly from their outer ends in approximate alignment with their longitudinal axes. The prongs 120 are placed in facing pairs extending from ovals 105 that are in alignment in the axial direction A. Thus, for ovals 105 having a common long axis, the prongs 120 are approximately collinear; while for ovals 105 having a common short axis, the prongs 120 are approximately parallel.

There may be intervening "blank" ovals 105 without any prongs 120, and which serve merely as spacers. The blank ovals 105 are utilized in some situations where more space is required between the connecting prongs 120.

If the array 100a of ovals 105 is formed from a sheet of metal, then the array 100a is rolled into a cylinder. The rolled cylinder and the stamped or machined tube have the general configuration of a stent 100, as shown in FIGURE 4 A, with the longitudinal axis of the cylinder being parallel to the long axes of the ovals 105.

In this embodiment, the prongs 120 are pre-bent. That is, at the time the stent

100 is formed, the prongs 120 are bent outwardly relative to the longitudinal axis of the cylinder, adjacent their attached ends, and also are bent inwardly relative to the longitudinal axis of the cylinder at a point offset from their free ends, in a reverse curve, so as to have a hook configuration.

An angioplasty balloon 130 is used to expand the undeployed stent 100 and to post the expanded stent 100 in the wall of an artery or other body cavity. When the balloon 130 is inflated, the ovals 105 expand in the direction of their short axes and contract along the direction of their long axes, deforming the ovals 105 into diamonds and causing a reduction in the length of the stent 100, as shown in FIGURES 4B and 4C. As also shown in FIGURES 4B and 4C, the deformation of the ovals 105 also causes the approximately collinear prongs 120 to draw closer together to engage the surrounding tissue and the approximately parallel prongs 120 to spread farther apart.

This deformation of the ovals 105 and movement of the prongs 120 provide the connecting mechanism of the stent 100.

The angioplasty balloon 130 is the correct size and shape to expand the stent 100 to the desired size and shape. The undeployed stent 100 is loaded over the balloon 130 of a conventional balloon catheter 132 and inserted into the artery or other body cavity according to conventional medical procedure. Inflating the balloon 130 deploys (opens) the stent 100 (that is, causes an increase in its diameter and a decrease in its length), which remains expanded to keep the artery or body cavity open. A high- pressure balloon 130 allows the physician to fully expand the stent 100 until it is in full contact with the wall of the artery or body cavity. A low compliance balloon 130 is used so that the stent 100 and the artery or body cavity will not be over-expanded, and so that the balloon 130 will not dog-bone and over-expand the artery or body cavity on either end of the stent 100. The stent 100 stays in position after the balloon 130 is deflated and removed from the body. In instances when the stent 100 is self-expanding, i.e. made from memory metal, then upon deployment the stent 100 takes its predetermined configuration.

FIGURES 5A-5Q show the steps in the expansion of the stent of FIGURE 3 in an artery or other body cavity.

The stent 100 in accordance with the present invention can also be of use as a versatile connector in clinical settings in which it can be pre-attached to a side wall of another prosthesis, such as an endo-luminal graft. It can also be used as a connector to connect main and branch endo-aortic grafts for branch graft repair, as described in my co-pending U.S. patent application No. 10/960,296, filed October 8, 2004.

The stent 100 in accordance with the present invention can further be used in conjunction with percutaneous heart valve technology. In a percutaneous heart valve procedure, a collapsed percutaneous heart valve 125 is mounted on a balloon- expandable stent 100 and threaded through the patient's circulatory system via a catheter to the aortic valve from either an antegrade approach (in which the patient's septum and mitral valve are crossed to reach their native aortic valve) or a retrograde approach (in which the percutaneous heart valve 125 is delivered directly to the aortic valve through the patient's main artery). Once in the aortic valve, the percutaneous heart valve 125 is expanded by a balloon catheter to push the patient's existing valve leaflets aside and anchor inside the valve opening.

As shown in FIGURE 6 A, the percutaneous heart valve 125 in a collapsed state can be seated inside the undeployed stent 100 in accordance with the present invention, which in turn is loaded over the balloon of a conventional balloon catheter, as previously described. Once the valve 125 and stent 100 are positioned in the desired location, the balloon 130 is inflated, causing the valve 125 and the stent 100 to expand, as shown in FIGURE 6B. The valve 125 is fixed in position by the mechanism provided by the stent 100.

A second embodiment of the stent 100', and the progression of its deformation as it is stretched radially along its diameter, is shown in FIGURES 7A-7C. In this alternate embodiment, the stent 100' is similar to the stent 100, but has additional prongs 135 extending from and perpendicular to the connectors 115a positioned between the ovals 105, and parallel to the longitudinal axis of the stent 100'. These prongs 135 are for the purpose of attaching the stent 100' to, for example, a branch graft or a valve. A third embodiment of the stent 300 is shown in its undeployed state in

FIGURES 8A and 8B, and in its deployed state after being stretched radially along its diameter in FIGURE 8C. In the third embodiment, the stent 300 is formed of εm m x n array 300a of ovals 305 formed as shown in FIGURE 8E. With reference to FIGURE 8D, the array 300a of ovals 305 can be formed by laser-cutting a sheet or tube of metal, preferably stainless steel or a memory metal. Adjacent ovals 305 are connected to each other in the circumferential direction C by connectors 315a and in the axial direction A by connectors 315b positioned between the ovals coincident with their common short and long axes, respectively.

At least some of the ovals 305 at the ends of the stent 300 (that is, the ovals 305 in rows 1 and n in the axial direction) have a prong 320 extending inwardly from their outer ends in approximate alignment with their longitudinal axes. The prongs 320 are placed in facing pairs extending from ovals 305 that are in alignment in the axial direction A. Thus, for ovals 305 having a common long axis, the prongs 320 are approximately collinear; while for ovals 305 having a common short axis, the prongs 320 are approximately parallel. The prongs 350 are bifurcated, providing two point penetration for better purchase.

Referring now to FIGURES 8D and 8E, in the embodiment of FIGURES 8A- 8C, each prong 320 includes a spine 320a extending the length of the long axis of the

oval 305 and a furcation 320b on either side of the spine 320a at a location between the ends of the spine 320. The spine 320a has two end hinge points 320c at the ends thereof and one intermediate hinge point 32Od at the base of the furcations 320b. The amount by which the ovals 305 are foreshortened and the angle of the prongs 320 (that is, the angle of the furcations 320b) can be adjusted by varying the location of the furcations 320b and the intermediate hinge point 32Od relative to the ends of the spines 320 and the end hinge points 320c.

There may be intervening "blank" ovals 305 without any prongs 320, and which serve merely as spacers. The blank ovals 305 are utilized in some situations where more space is required between the connecting prongs 320. At least some of the ovals 305 at one end of the stent 300 can include a docking socket 360 (shown in FIGURE 8C) for mating to the cardiac locking pin of a valve frame.

FIGURES 9A-5Q show the steps in the expansion of the ¹ stent of FIGURES 8A-8C in an artery or other body cavity, using an angioplasty balloon. The undeployed stent 300 is loaded over the balloon 130 of a conventional balloon catheter 132 and inserted into the artery or other body cavity according to conventional medical procedure. As the balloon 130 inflates, the ovals 305 foreshorten in the axial direction, causing the spines 320a of the prongs 320 to bend at the hinges 320c and 32Od and the consequent activation of the prongs 320. As the balloon 130 continues to inflate, the angles assumed by the spines 320a at their hinges reach their maximums, bringing opposing furcations 320b together to engage the tissue therebetween.

Referring now to FIGURES 1OA and 1OB, there is shown a fourth embodiment of the stent 400. In the fourth embodiment, the stent 400 is formed of an m x n array 400a of ovals 405. With reference to FIGURE 1OB, the array 400a of ovals 405 can be formed by laser-cutting a sheet or tube of metal, preferably stainless steel. Adjacent ovals 405 are connected to each other in the circumferential direction C by connectors 415a and in the axial direction A by connectors 415b positioned between the ovals coincident with their common short and long axes, respectively. At least some of the ovals 405 at the ends of the stent 400 (that is, the ovals

405 in rows 1 and n in the axial direction) have a prong 420 extending inwardly from their outer ends in approximate alignment with their longitudinal axes. The prongs

420 are placed in facing pairs extending from ovals 405 that are in alignment in the axial direction A.

As shown in FIGURE 1OC, each prong 420 has substantially the same configuration as an oval 305 and a prong 320 of the third embodiment, described above. That is, each prong 420 includes an oval frame 420', a spine 420a extending the length of the long axis of the oval frame 420', and a furcation 420b on either side of the spine 420a at a location between the ends of the spine 420. The spine 420a has two end hinge points 420c at the ends thereof and one intermediate hinge point 42Od at the base of the furcations 420b. The oval frames 420' are connected at their short axes to the ovals 405 by connectors 420e, and are connected at one end of their long axes to the ovals 405 by a connector 42Of. Thus, as the ovals 405 foreshorten, the oval frames 420' also foreshorten. The amount by which the oval frames 420' are foreshortened and the angle of the furcations 420b can be adjusted by varying the location of the furcations 420b and the intermediate hinge point 42Od relative to the ends of the spines 420 and the end hinge points 420c. Preferably, the prongs 420 are formed by laser cutting.

As with stent 300, stent 400 is loaded over the balloon 130 of a conventional balloon catheter 132 and inserted into the artery or other body cavity according to conventional medical procedure. As the balloon 130 inflates, the ovals 405 and the oval frames 420' foreshorten in the axial direction, causing the spines 420a of the prongs 420 to bend at the hinges 420c and 42Od and the consequent activation of the prongs 420. As the balloon 130 continues to inflate, the angles assumed by the spines 420a at their hinges reach their maximums, bringing opposing furcations 420b together to engage the tissue therebetween. There may be intervening "blank" ovals 405 without any prongs 420, and which serve merely as spacers. The blank ovals 405 are utilized in some situations where more space is required between the connecting prongs 420. At least some of the ovals 405 at one end of the stent 400 can include a docking socket (not shown) similar to the docking socket 360 shown in FIGURE 8C, for mating to the cardiac locking pin of a valve frame.

Modifications and variations of the above-described embodiments of the present invention are possible, as appreciated by those skilled in the art in light of the above teachings. It is therefore to be understood that the invention may be practiced otherwise than as specifically described.