Patent Grant
7780720
The present invention relates to a bifurcated endoluminal prosthesis for use in a bifurcated blood vessel such, for example, as the infrarenal portion of a mammalian aortic artery where it bifurcates to the common iliac arteries. The present invention also embraces a stent connecting means for connecting a stent (e.g. a stent which forms part of an endoluminal prosthesis) to another stent, as well as apparatus and method for introducing prostheses to the vasculature and methods of treating angiological diseases.
A stent is used to provide a prosthetic intraluminal wall e.g. in the case of a stenosis to provide an unobstructed conduit for blood in the area of the stenosis. An endoluminal prosthesis comprises a stent which carries a prosthetic graft layer of fabric and is used e.g. to treat an aneurysm by removing the pressure on a weakened part of an artery so as to reduce the risk of embolism, or of the natural artery wall bursting. Typically, a stent or endoluminal prosthesis is implanted in a blood vessel at the site of a stenosis or aneurysm by so-called “minimally invasive techniques” in which the stent is compressed radially inwards and is delivered by a catheter to the site where it is required through the patient's skin or by a “cut down” technique in which the blood vessel concerned is exposed by minor surgical means. When the stent is positioned at the correct location, the catheter is withdrawn and the stent is caused or allowed to re-expand to a predetermined diameter in the vessel.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,886,062 discloses a vascular stent which comprises a length of sinuous or “zig-zag” wire formed into a helix; the helix defines a generally cylindrical wall which, in use, constitutes a prosthetic intraluminal wall. The sinuous configuration of the wire permits radial expansion and compression of the stent; U.S. Pat. No. 4,886,062 discloses that the stent can be delivered percutaneously and expanded in situ using a balloon catheter.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,733,665 discloses an expandable intraluminal graft which is constituted by a tubular member formed from a plurality of intersecting elongate members which permit radial expansion and compression of the stent.
EP-A-0556850 discloses an intraluminal stent which is constituted by a sinuous wire formed into a helix; juxtaposed apices of the wire are secured to one another so that each hoop of the helix is supported by its neighboring hoops to increase the overall strength of the stent and to minimize the risk of plaque herniation; in some embodiments the stent of EP-A-0556850 further comprises a tubular graft member to form an endoluminal prosthesis.
The prior art stents and prostheses mentioned above are generally satisfactory for the treatment of aneurysms, stenoses and other angiological diseases at sites in continuous unbifurcated portions of arteries or veins.
However, the prior art stents and prostheses are not wholly satisfactory for use where the site of desired application of the stent or prosthesis is juxtaposed or extends across a bifurcation in an artery or vein such, for example, as the bifurcation in the mammalian aortic artery into the common iliac arteries. For example, in the case of an abdominal aortic aneurysm (“AAA”) in the infrarenal portion of the aorta which extends into one of the common iliac arteries, the use of one of the prior art prosthesis referred to above across the bifurcation into the one iliac artery will result in obstruction of the proximal end of the other common iliac artery; by-pass surgery is therefore required to connect the one iliac artery in juxtaposition with the distal end of the prosthesis to the other blocked iliac artery. It will be appreciated by a person skilled in the art that it is desirable to avoid surgery wherever possible; the requirement for by-pass surgery associated with the use of the prior art prosthesis in juxtaposition with a bifurcation in an artery therefore constitutes a significant disadvantage.
Throughout this specification, the term “proximal” shall mean “nearest to the heart,” and the term “distal” shall mean “furthest from the heart.”
According to one aspect of the present invention there is provided a stent connecting means for connecting two intraluminal stents one to the other to define a continuous lumen through the two stents, the stent connecting means including a first stent including a male engaging portion which can be compressed radially inwardly, and a second stent including a female cooperating portion. The male engaging portion may be entered into the female cooperating portion in a radially compressed state and thereafter caused or allowed to expand in the female cooperating portion; the arrangement being such that in service the interengagement of the male engaging portion and the female cooperating portion serves to resist longitudinal separation of the two stents one from the other.
Typically, the first stent may include a proximal male engaging portion; the second stent may include a distal female cooperation portion. The male engaging portion may be flared radially outwardly towards its extremity, and the female cooperating portion may be tapered radially inwardly towards its extremity. In some embodiments, the male engaging portion may comprise a frustoconical wall which flares outwardly towards its longitudinal extremity; the female engaging portion may comprise a frustoconical wall which tapers radially inwardly towards its longitudinal extremity.
Alternatively, said male engaging and female cooperating portions may be substantially untapered; they may be substantially cylindrical.
The male engaging portion of the first stent may be resiliently compressible in a radially inwards direction such that in the radially compressed state it is capable of self-reexpansion to engage in the female cooperating portion. Typically, each of said first and second stents may be resiliently compressible.
In use therefore the second stent may be delivered in a radially compressed state by using a catheter; when the second stent is located at the site of use, the catheter may be withdrawn thereby allowing the second stent to re-expand to engage the endoluminal surface of the blood vessel.
The first stent may then be delivered percutaneously or by a “cut down” technique to a site distal of the second stent such that the male engaging portion of the first stent in the radially compressed state is entered into the expanded female cooperating portion of the second stent; the catheter may then be withdrawn allowing the first stent to re-expand such that the male engaging portion engages in the female cooperating portion of the second stent.
In some embodiments of the present invention the second stent may have two transversely spaced distal female cooperating portions; the second stent may therefore constitute a bifurcated stent for use in juxtaposition with a bifurcation in a blood vessel.
Each of the two transversely spaced distal female cooperating portions may be adapted for connection to a first male stent which, in use, extends across the bifurcation into a respective one of the branched blood vessels.
In a particular aspect of the present invention there is provided a bifurcated intraluminal stent for use in juxtaposition with an angiological bifurcation; the bifurcated intraluminal stent comprising a proximal portion adapted to be positioned in service in a blood vessel in juxtaposition with a bifurcation, a first distal stent portion adapted to extend across the bifurcation into one of the branched blood vessels and a second distal stent portion adapted to allow blood to flow from the proximal portion into the other branched vessel. The first distal stent portion may be formed integrally with the proximal portion.
In some embodiments the second distal stent portion may comprise a female cooperating portion which is adapted to engage a male engaging portion of a another stent adapted to extend in the other branched blood vessel such that, in use, the bifurcated stent can be connected in situ to the other stent. The bifurcated intraluminal stent may therefore constitute a second stent in accordance with the present invention comprising a distal female cooperating portion disposed intermediate the proximal and distal extremities of the stent; the other stent may constitute a first stent in accordance with the present invention.
Typically, the proximal end of said second stent may be flared radially outwardly towards its extremity to engage the endoluminal surface of the artery thereby to resist longitudinal movement of the second stent in service.
Each of the first and second stents may comprise a sinuous wire formed into a tubular configuration. The sinuous and tubular configurations may be imparted to the wire by winding it on a mandrel.
Typically, each stent may be made from a shape memory nitinol (nickel˜titanium) wire which may be wound on to the mandrel to form the stent in a tubular configuration is of slightly greater diameter than the diameter of the blood vessel in which the stent is intended to be used. The stent may be annealed at an elevated temperature and then allowed to cool in air so that the nitinol wire “remembers” the configuration in which it was wound on the mandrel.
Said nitinol wire may be type “M” nitinol wire which is martensitic at temperatures below about 13° C. and is austenitic at temperatures above about 25° C.; it will be appreciated therefore that the type “M” wire will be austenitic at body temperature of 37° C. Typically, the annealing may be conducted at about 500° C. or more for at least about 60 minutes; after cooling the wire may be immersed in cold water to facilitate removal of the wire from the mandrel with the wire in its maleable martensitic form. Typically, the cold water may have temperature of less than about 10° C.; the wire may be immersed for about 5 minutes or more. An advantage of using nitinol wire to form the stent in accordance with the present invention is that the nitinol wire is “super elastic” in its austenitic state; the radial outward force exerted by the stent on the wall of the blood vessel in use is therefore substantially constant irrespective of the diameter of the vessel and the expanded stent.
In some embodiments the wire may have a helical configuration as disclosed in EP-A-0556850. Alternatively, the wire may be of an entirely novel configuration, namely one in which the wire forms a plurality of hoops such that the plane of the circumference of each hoop is substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the stent. Each hoop may comprise a substantially complete turn of the wire having a sinuous configuration; optionally, as each hoop is completed, the point of winding the wire may be displaced longitudinally with respect to the winding axis to form the next hoop. When the next hoop is complete, the point of winding is moved further longitudinally with respect to the winding axis to the form the next succeeding hoop and so on.
It will appreciated that an advantage of this novel arrangement is that the planes of the hoops are not skewed with respect to the longitudinal axis of the stent; the longitudinal ends of the stent are “square” to said longitudinal axis, so that when the stent is caused or allowed to expand in situ there is substantially no twisting of the stent as it shortens in length. It will be appreciated that this represents a significant advantage, as in areas of stenosis or aneurysm it is desirable to minimize the movement of the stent within the blood vessel so as to reduce the potential trauma to the patient. A stent of this configuration may be used, apart from the bifurcated embodiment otherwise taught herein, in any application which in stents generally have heretofor been used.
Typically, the stents of this invention whether of the helical or perpendicular variety, also comprise a securing means for securing an apex of the sinuous wire in one hoop to a juxtaposed apex of a neighboring hoop so that each hoop is supported by its neighbors. The securing means may comprise a loop element of a suture material, for example, to tie the juxtaposed apices together; the loop element may also comprise a loop formed of a thermoplastics material such, for example, as polypropylene. Alternatively, the securing means may be a bead formed of a thermoplastic material around juxtaposed apices. Also alternatively, the securing means may be a loop, ring, or staple formed of wire such as nitinol.
The male engaging portion and female cooperating portion, of the first and second interengaging stents of this invention, may be formed separately from the remainder of the respective non-engaging portions of these stents and then the engaging and non-engaging portions secured to one another by securing means.
In one embodiment of the present invention, the proximal and distal stent portions of the bifurcated stent in accordance with the present invention may be formed separately; the distal end of the proximal stent portion may be secured to the wider proximal end of a first intermediate frustoconical stent portion; the narrower distal end of the first intermediate frustoconical stent portion may be secured to the proximal end of the distal stent portion. The female cooperating portion of the bifurcated stent may be constituted by a second frustoconical stent portion which is secured to the distal end of the proximal stent portion in juxtaposition with the first frustoconical portion.
Alternatively the first and second frustoconical portions may be omitted; the proximal and distal stent portions may be secured directly one to the other.
The female cooperating portion may be constituted by a generally cylindrical stent portion secured to said proximal stent portion in transversely spaced relation to the distal portion.
Each of the first and second stents of the bifurcated form of the present invention may carry a tubular graft layer formed from a biocompatible fabric in juxtaposition with the stent; the combined stent and graft layer constituting an endoluminal prosthesis. Typically the graft layer may be disposed externally of the stent; it will be appreciated however that in some embodiments the graft layer may be disposed internally of the stent. In some embodiments the graft layer may be secured to the stent by loop elements such, for example, as loops of polypropylene. The biocompatible fabric may be a polyester fabric or a polytetrafluoroethylene fabric; typically said fabric may be woven or a warp knitted polyester fabric. In some embodiments the woven or a warp knitted fabric may be formed in a seam-free bifurcated configuration as a sleeve for a bifurcated stent.
In some embodiments the male engaging portion of the first stent and the female cooperating portion of the second stent may be left uncovered. Alternatively, the fabric graft layer may extend to the proximal extremity on the external surface of the male engaging portion, and may be folded over the distal extremity of the female engaging portion to form an inner sleeve; in use the external fabric of the male engaging portion may butt against the folded over portion of the fabric internally of the female cooperating portion to form a substantially blood tight seal.
The present invention in one aspect therefore includes a bifurcated endoluminal prosthesis comprising a bifurcated stent in accordance with the invention and a tubular graft layer.
The first stent having the male engaging portion may also have a tubular graft layer. If required the first prosthesis may be introduced in a radially compressed state such that the male engaging portion of the first prosthesis is engaged in the intermediate female cooperating portion of the bifurcated prosthesis; the first prosthesis is then caused to be allowed to re-expand in situ such that the male engaging portion engages in the female cooperating portion to resist longitudinal separation of the two prosthesis in service.
The bifurcated prosthesis may be adapted for use in the infrarenal portion of a mammalian aorta in juxtaposition with the bifurcation of the common iliac arteries for the treatment of abdominal aortic aneurysms. In use the bifurcated endoluminal prosthesis may be introduced into the infrarenal portion of the aorta using a catheter such that the first distal stent portion extends into one of the branched iliac arteries; the catheter may then be withdrawn allowing the prosthesis to re-expand in situ.
It will be appreciated by a person skilled in the art that the prostheses may be introduced to the site of use percutaneously or by “cut down” techniques.
Any of the stents according to this invention may be provided on its external surface with circumferentially spaced wire barbs or hooks adapted to engage in the endoluminal surface of the host artery to resist longitudinal movement or slippage of the stent in use. Typically the barbs or hooks may be disposed on part of the stent which is provided with a fabric graft layer such that in use the points of the artery which are engaged by the barbs or hooks are covered by the fabric graft. It will be appreciated by a person skilled in the art that the trauma to the artery wall caused by the hooks or barbs may cause emboli; the provision of the fabric graft over the barbs or hooks in use will therefore help to prevent the introduction of such emboli into the blood stream.
The male engaging portion for the first stent may be provided with circumferentially spaced hooks or barbs on its external surface to engage the internal surface of said female cooperating means, thereby to reinforce the connecting means against longitudinal separation of the stents one from the other in the service.
The present invention therefore provides a connecting means for connecting two stents longitudinally one to the other. It will be appreciated that this represents a significant step forward in the art as it allows the provision of a bifurcated endoluminal prosthesis for use in juxtaposition e.g. with arterial bifurcations without requiring by-pass surgery to connect one of the branched arteries to the other branched artery.
In particular, the invention provides a bifurcated endoluminal prosthesis which can be positioned in an artery in juxtaposition with a bifurcation to extend into one of the branched arteries; the bifurcated prosthesis can be connected to another prosthesis which extends into the other branched artery. The prosthesis can be delivered percutaneously or by “cut down” methods and connected together in situ thereby to provide effective treatment of an angiological disease such, for example, as an aneurysm or a stenosis which extends across a bifurcation in a blood vessel without the need for by-pass surgery.
In another aspect, this invention provides an introducer for delivering, into the vasculature at an angiological bifurcation where a blood vessel branches into two branched vessels, a bifurcated endoluminal stent or prosthesis having a proximal portion adapted to be disposed in the blood vessel and a distal portion adapted to be disposed at least partially in one of the two branched vessels. The introducer comprises a tubular outer sheath, a proximal portion pusher disposed at least partially within the outer sheath, and a distal portion pusher disposed at least partially within the proximal portion pusher.
The present invention further provides an introducer for delivering into the vasculature at an angiological bifurcation where a blood vessel branches into two branched vessels, an endoluminal prosthesis having a proximal stent portion and a distal stent portion. The introducer comprises a tubular outer sheath, a proximal portion pusher disposed at least partially within the outer sheath and having a proximal end adapted to contact the proximal stent portion, a distal portion pusher disposed at least partially within the proximal portion pusher and having a proximal end adapted to contact the distal stent portion; and a balloon catheter, having a balloon attached thereto, disposed at least partially within the distal portion pusher.
This invention in another aspect provides a method for delivering a bifurcated endoluminal stent or prosthesis having a proximal portion and a first distal portion into the vasculature at an angiological bifurcation where a blood vessel branches into a first branched vessel and a second branched vessel. The method comprises inserting a first introducer containing the stent or prosthesis into the vasculature to a predetermined delivery location, the first introducer comprising an outer sheath, a proximal portion pusher, and a distal portion pusher; withdrawing the outer sheath of the first introducer while maintaining the proximal portion pusher in a fixed position until the proximal portion of the stent or prosthesis is deployed from the first introducer into the blood vessel; withdrawing the outer sheath and the proximal portion pusher while maintaining the distal portion pusher in a fixed position until the first distal portion of the stent or prosthesis is deployed from the first introducer at least partially into the first branched vessel; and withdrawing the first introducer from the vasculature.
This invention further provides a method for delivering, into the vasculature at an angiological bifurcation where a blood vessel branches into two branched vessels, an endoluminal prosthesis having a proximal stent portion, and a distal stent portion. The method comprises the steps of inserting an introducer containing the prosthesis into the vasculature to a predetermined delivery location, the introducer comprising an outer sheath, a proximal stent portion pusher, a distal stent portion pusher, and a balloon catheter having a balloon attached thereto; inflating the balloon to at least partially block blood flow in the blood vessel; withdrawing the outer sheath of the introducer while maintaining the proximal stent portion pusher in a fixed position until the proximal stent portion of the prosthesis is deployed from the introducer into the blood vessel; withdrawing the outer sheath and the proximal stent portion pusher while maintaining the distal stent portion pusher in a fixed position until the distal stent portion of the prosthesis is deployed from the introducer into the blood vessel; and withdrawing the introducer from the vasculature.
In general, this invention provides a method of treating an angiological disease at a bifurcation site where a blood vessel branches into a first branched vessel and a second branched vessel comprising the steps of disposing in the blood vessel a proximal portion of an endoluminal stent; directing blood flow from the blood vessel into the first branched vessel through a first distal portion of the endoluminal stent, the first distal portion being connected to the proximal portion and extending into the first branched vessel; and directing blood flow from the blood vessel into the second branched vessel through a second distal portion of the endoluminal stent, the second distal portion being connected to the proximal portion and extending into the second branched vessel. This method may be applied to aneurysms, occlusions, or stenosis.
Following is a description by way of example only and with reference to the accompanying drawings of the present invention, including novel stent constructions and methods of manufacture and use thereof.
The aspects, features and advantages of the present invention will be more readily understood from the following detailed description when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:
a is a front view of a bifurcated intraluminal stent in accordance with the present invention constituting part of an endoluminal prosthesis.
b is a front view of another stent which is adapted to be connected to the bifurcated stent of
a) is a side view of part of the bifurcated stent of
b) is a side view of an exemplary is mandrel used to form the part of the bifurcated stent shown in
a) is a side view of yet another part of the bifurcated stent of
b)-4(f) are partial exploded views of the exemplary stent of
a) is a cross-sectional view of an exemplary assembled introducer according to the present invention.
b)-8(e) are side views of the component parts of the introducer of
f) is a partial cross-sectional view of the introducer of
g) is a cross-sectional view of part of the introducer of
a) and 10(b) are side views of other alternative embodiments of an introducer according to the present invention.
a)-21(c) are cross-sectional views of alternative insertion apparatus according to the present invention.
a), 24(b), 25, 26 and 27 are sequential cross-sectional views of the bifurcation of the abdominal aortic artery during introduction of an exemplary prosthesis according to the present invention.
The entire disclosure of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 08/463,987, filed Jun. 5, 1995 is expressly incorporated by reference herein.
The present invention includes apparatus and method for treating angiological diseases in any bifurcated blood vessel. One example of such a bifurcated blood vessel is the infrarenal portion of a mammalian aortic artery where it bifurcates to the common iliac arteries. Examples of diseases that can be treated using the apparatus and method of the present invention include aneurysm, stenosis, and occlusion.
A bifurcated stent in accordance with the present invention which is indicated at 10 in
Each of the four parts of the bifurcated stent 10 is made in substantially the same way by winding a shape memory nitinol wire, typically nitinol type M wire, onto a mandrel 46.
The construction of the exemplary proximal part 12 of the bifurcated stent 10 is shown in
When one hoop 20 e.g. the hoop indicated at 20a has been formed, the point of winding of the nitinol wire is displaced longitudinally with respect to the axis of mandrel 46 to form the next successive hoop 20b. The stent shown in
The proximal part of the exemplary bifurcated stent of
In this embodiment of the invention the wire is annealed at a temperature of about 500° C. for 60 minutes and is then allowed to cool in air. The purpose of the annealing is so that the nitinol wire in its austenitic form “remembers” its configuration as wound on mandrel 46; it will be appreciated therefore that other temperatures and durations for the annealing are included within the present invention provided the nitinol wire “remembers” its wound configuration.
After annealing and cooling, the wire is immersed in cold water at less than 10° C. for about 5 minutes; the wire is then removed from the mandrel, and juxtaposed apices 22 of neighboring hoops 20 are secured together by securing means 99 (see
In addition to polypropylene filaments, the securing means may comprise a loop element 99a of a suture material, for example, to tie the juxtaposed apices together, as shown in
The exemplary first and second frustoconical parts 14, 18 of the skeleton shown in the figures are formed in substantially the same way as the proximal part 12 by winding nitinol wire onto a mandrel and then annealing the wire before removing it from the mandrel. As shown in
The exemplary first distal part 16 of the bifurcated stent 10 is formed by winding nitinol type M wire typically having a diameter of 0.28 mm (0.011″) onto a mandrel to form twelve longitudinally spaced hoops 20 as shown in
The proximal part 12, the first and second frustoconical parts 14, 18, and the first distal part 16 are each covered with a tubular graft layer of a biocompatible woven fabric (
The proximal part 12 of the wire skeleton may be provided with a plurality of circumferentially spaced hooks or barbs 43 which project through the tubular fabric layer to engage in the endoluminal surface of a host artery in service.
The sinuous configuration of each turn 20 of the wire skeleton of the stent 10 allows the prosthesis to be compressed resiliently radially inwards so that it can be received in a catheter e.g. a 16 or 18 French catheter for percutaneous or cut down delivery, e.g. to an intraluminal site in the infrarenal section of the aortic artery. Larger diameter catheters up to, e.g., 20 French, may be used to deliver the prosthesis using “cut down” procedures.
An x-ray opaque marker may be attached to one or more ends of a stent so that the delivery of the stent can be monitored using x-rays. As shown in
The bifurcated endoprosthesis is positioned in the infrarenal section of the aortic artery in juxtaposition with the bifurcation of the common iliac arteries such that the first distal part 16 of the prosthesis extends into one of the common iliac arteries. The catheter is then withdrawn allowing the stent 10 to re-expand towards its configuration as wound on the mandrel in which it was annealed until the stent engages the endoluminal surface of the host artery. The barbs or hooks engage the endoluminal surface of the host artery to resist longitudinal displacement or slipping of the prosthesis in use.
It will be appreciated that when the bifurcated prosthesis is positioned and re-expanded in the fitted position, blood can flow from the aortic artery into the proximal part 12 of the prosthesis from where it can flow into the one common iliac artery through the frustoconical part 14 and the first distal part 16 and also into the other common iliac artery through the second frustoconical part 18.
In cases where it is required to implant a prosthesis in the other common iliac artery a second prosthesis comprising a second stent 40 as shown in
The frustoconical proximal part 42 is constructed in the same way as the frustoconical parts 14, 18 of the bifurcated stent 10; the distal part 44 is constructed in the same way as the distal part 16 of the bifurcated stent 10. The distal end of the frustoconical proximal part 42 is secured to the proximal end of the distal part 44 by securing juxtaposed apices using polypropylene filaments as described above.
In use, the second prosthesis is compressed radially inwards and is received in a catheter for percutaneous or “cut down” delivery to the other common iliac artery. The frustoconical proximal part 42 is guided, in the radially compressed state, into the second frustoconical part 18 of the bifurcated stent 10. The catheter is then withdrawn allowing the second stent 40 to re-expand towards its remembered configuration, until the distal part 14 engages the endoluminal surface of the other common iliac artery, and the outer surface of the frustoconical proximal part 42 engages the interior surface of the second frustoconical part 18 of the bifurcated stent 10.
As with other stents described herein, the frustoconical proximal part 42 may be formed with circumferentially spaced barbs or hooks 43, as shown in
The tapered configurations of the second frustoconical part 18 of the bifurcated stent 10 and of the proximal frustoconical part 42 of the second stent 40 are such that in the fitted position as described, the prosthesis are locked together to resist longitudinal separation in service. Barbs or hooks on the second stent 40 and/or an frustoconical proximal part 42 help to resist such longitudinal separation.
In another example of the present invention a bifurcated endoluminal prosthesis 50 as shown in
In use the prosthesis is delivered percutaneously or by “cut down” methods to an artery in juxtaposition with an arterial bifurcation; blood can flow through the frustoconical proximal portion 52 into each of the branched arteries through the first and second distal frustoconical portions 58, 60. If a prosthesis is required in one or both of the branched arteries, a separate prosthesis comprising a stent of the type shown in
Another variant of the present invention is shown in
One of said frustoconical intermediate portions 76 is secured at its distal end to an elongate distal portion 80. The proximal end 82 of the proximal portion 72 is flared radially outwards towards its proximal end 82 to engage the intraluminal surface of the host blood vessel in service. Save for this flared portion, the entire endoprosthesis is covered with a fabric graft layer as shown in
Said other frustoconical intermediate portion 78 constitutes a female cooperating portion in accordance with the present invention which is adapted to receive a male engaging portion of another prosthesis as indicated at 86 in
Yet another example of the present invention is shown in
Referring to
Housed within outer sheath 101 is proximal portion pusher 102. Proximal portion pusher 102 is a cylindrical tube having an outside diameter smaller than the inside diameter of outer sheath 101. Proximal portion pusher 102 is preferably slidable throughout the length of outer sheath 101.
Disposed within proximal portion pusher 102 is distal portion pusher 103. Distal portion pusher 103 is a cylindrical tube slidably contained within distal portion pusher 102. Distal portion pusher 103 is preferably adapted to slide throughout the entire length of proximal portion pusher 102.
Disposed within distal portion 103 is balloon catheter 104. Balloon catheter 104 is adapted to slide within distal portion pusher 103. At the leading end 105 of balloon catheter 104 is nose cone 106. Balloon 107 is attached to balloon catheter 104 between nose cone 106 and proximal end 115 of proximal portion pusher 102.
As shown in
Also in the illustrated embodiment of
In an alternative embodiment illustrated in
a) shows an alternative embodiment of introducer 100. As shown in
As shown in
Also shown in
In use, the prosthesis must first be loaded into introducer 100. Outer sheath 101 is first removed from introducer 100. Balloon catheter 104 is then threaded through distal portion 16 and proximal portion 12 of the prosthesis. The prosthesis is then cooled to a temperature of approximately 10° C. or below and radially compressed. For this purpose, the prosthesis may be immersed in cold water. The prosthesis should preferrably remain in the water during the loading operation.
As supporting stent 10 is compressed beneath the fabric covering of the prosthesis, excess fabric is produced. This excess fabric may simply be pinched together and laid over the compressed prosthesis in longitudinal folds.
Distal portion 16 of the prosthesis in the radially compressed state is then inserted into proximal portion pusher 102. Outer sheath 101 is then pulled over proximal portion 12 of the prosthesis and over proximal portion pusher 102. A thread (not shown) may be attached to the proximal end of proximal portion 12 of the prosthesis and threaded through outer sheath 101. This thread may then be used to pull proximal portion 12 through outer sheath 101. During the loading process, it is important to keep proximal portion 12 and distal portion 16 of the prosthesis properly aligned with outer sheath 101 and proximal portion pusher 102. Marks may be placed on the outside of outer sheath 101 and proximal portion pusher 102 to ensure proper alignment.
Referring again to
Balloon catheter 104 is positioned such that nose cone 106 just clears proximal end 117 of outer sheath 101. The introducer is now in condition for insertion into the patient.
Referring to
In the aorta, introducer 100 is positioned such that end 117 of outer sheath 101 is approximately level with renal arteries 180 as shown in
Introducer 100 is then repositioned to place the prosthesis in the desired deployment location. Proper placement may be facilitated with the use of radiopaque markers as described above. Balloon catheter 104 is then extended such that balloon 107 is above renal arteries 180. Balloon 107 is then inflated to occlude the aorta as shown in
While maintaining proximal portion pusher 102 in a fixed position, outer sheath 101 is withdrawn until the proximal end of the prosthesis emerges from outer sheath 101 as shown in
Outer sheath 101 is further withdrawn while maintaining proximal portion pusher 102 fixed until proximal portion 12 is fully deployed from the end of outer sheath 101, and the frustoconical portion 18 of the prosthesis just clears end 117, as shown in
Balloon 107 is then deflated to allow blood to flow through proximal portion 12 and out frustoconical portion 18 of the prosthesis. Balloon 107 is withdrawn into the prosthesis until the distal end 118 of nose cone 106 is just above the proximal end of the prosthesis. Balloon 107 is then inflated to seat the prosthesis, which may be provided with barbs (not shown) at its proximal end, against the wall of the aorta, as shown in
Distal portion pusher 103 is then maintained in a fixed position while outer sheath 101 is withdrawn. Once outer sheath 101 has been withdrawn to the point at which proximal end 117 of outer sheath 101 is flush with proximal end 115 of proximal portion pusher 102, both outer sheath 101 and proximal portion pusher 102 are withdrawn, still maintaining distal portion pusher 103 in a fixed position. Outer sheath 101 and proximal portion pusher 102 are withdrawn until distal portion 16 of the prosthesis is deployed clear of proximal end 116 of distal portion pusher 103 as shown in
a) illustrates an exemplary second introducer 300 used for deploying second distal part 44. Second introducer 300 of the illustrated embodiment comprises cylindrical outer sheath 301 and female Luer lock assembly 310. Second introducer 300 also has hemostasis valve 361 contained within a hub 362 thereof. Cartridge 311 shown in
In use, a thin-walled tube (not shown) is first threaded through distal portion 44. This tube serves as a guide wire guide, allowing a guide wire to be threaded straight through distal portion 44 as discussed below. Distal portion 44 containing the thin-walled tube is then cooled, radially compressed, and inserted into inner tube 314 of cartridge 311 in a manner similar to that described for inserting the bifurcated prosthesis into proximal portion pusher 102 and outer sheath 101. When distal portion 44 has been loaded into inner tube 314 of cartridge 311, the thin-walled tube serving as a guide wire guide extends out both ends of cartridge 311.
A guide wire 171 is then inserted into the vasculature to the bifurcation site and through distal stent portion 12 as shown in
Second introducer 300 is then inserted into the vasculature over guide wire 171 by passing guide wire 171 into and through dialator 359. Dialator 359 with tapered end 360 provides a smooth transition within the blood vessel from the diameter of guide wire 171 to the diameter of second introducer 300. Second introducer 300 is maneuvered such that outer sheath 301 is inside frustoconical portion 18 of proximal portion 12 by at least 20 mm in this embodiment, as shown in
Cartridge 311 is then passed over guide wire 171 by passing guide wire 171 through the thin-walled guide wire guide within distal portion 44 contained in cartridge 311. The guide wire guide is then removed and discarded.
Cartridge 311 is then lockingly engaged with introducer 300 by mating male Luer lock assembly 310 with female Luer lock assembly 312. Such locking engagement prevents relative movement of cartridge 311 and introducer 300. Preventing relative movement lends stability and reliability to the insertion process that has not heretofore been achieved.
A pusher 315 is then inserted into inner tube 314 of cartridge 311 such that proximal end 317 of pusher 315 longitudinally contacts a distal end of distal portion 44 within inner tube 314. Pusher 315 pushes distal portion 44 through cartridge 311 and into outer sheath 301 of introducer 300. Distal portion 44 is pushed through outer sheath 301, which remains in a fixed position, until distal portion 44 is at proximal end 320 of outer sheath 301 (see
Pusher 302 is held firmly in place, and outer sheath 301 is withdrawn approximately 2 cm. This deploys frustoconical part 42 of distal part 44 inside the frustoconical part 18 as shown in
Outer sheath 301 may then be withdrawn while maintaining pusher 302 in a fixed position to fully deploy distal portion 44, as shown in
The delivery apparatus and method described above are particularly useful in treating an abdominal aortic aneurysm with a bifurcated prosthesis according to the present invention. Other diseases and alternative embodiments of the prosthesis and delivery method will now be described.
In the case of an abdominal aortic aneurysm confined to the aorta and not extending far enough to affect the iliac arteries, a straight (i.e. non-bifurcated) stent may be used. Preferably, for such applications, the straight stent comprises a composite of at least two axially aligned stent segments. Two embodiments of such straight stents are described herein, each comprising axially aligned stent requests, each of the requests comprising one or more adjacent hoops, perpendicular to a common axis, and each hoop being formed of wire in a sinuous or zigzag configuration with some or all of the juxtaposed apices in adjacent hoops secured to one another.
First, referring to
Proximal portion 401 is a ring formed of a number of longitudinally spaced hoops 20 as described in connection with the formation of stent 10 above. In the illustrated embodiment, two hoops 20 are used, each hoop 20 having a unit width.
Distal portion 402 is also a ring formed of longitudinally displaced hoops 20 in the manner described above. Distal ring 402 has two hoops 20 of unit width in the illustrated embodiment.
Intermediate portion 403 of straight stent 400 is formed of biocompatible woven fabric such as, for example, a plain woven fabric made from 30 or 40 denier polyester. In this embodiment, intermediate fabric section 403 does not cover a stent. Fabric portion 403 is attached at its proximal and distal ends to the proximal and distal stent portions, respectively, by stitching, for example, with 0.003 inch polypropylene filaments around apices 22 of the stent portions. Other than such connections at its longitudinal ends, intermediate fabric section 403 is unsupported by any stent.
The second embodiment of a straight stent that may be used according to this invention is illustrated in
To treat an abdominal aortic aneurysm that does not extend down over the walls of the iliac arteries, as shown in
In the introducer 410 shown in
In use, straight stent 400 is first charged into the introducer by cooling it to temperatures below 10° C., radially compressing it, and inserting it within outer sheath 101, as described above in connection with the bifurcated stent or prosthesis. The remainder of introducer 410 is also assembled as described in connection with introducer 100.
Introducer 410 is passed through an entry point (not shown) over guide wire 411 as shown in
In the aorta, introducer 410 is positioned and balloon 107 is inflated above the renal arteries in the same manner as described above in connection with the bifurcated stent and as illustrated in
While maintaining proximal portion pusher 102 in a fixed position, outer sheath 101 is withdrawn until proximal portion 401 of stent 400 emerges from outer sheath 101 as shown in
Balloon 107 is then deflated and withdrawn inside proximal portion 401 where balloon 107 is re-inflated to seat the stent 400, as shown in
Proximal portion pusher 102 in this embodiment is glued to distal portion pusher 103 such that ends 115 and 116 are flush. These flush ends are adapted to engage stent 450 within outer sheath 101.
In use, straight stent 450 is first charged into introducer 490 by cooling it to temperatures below 10° C., radially compressing it, and inserting it within outer sheath 101, as described above in connection with the bifurcated stent or prosthesis. The remainder of introducer 490 is also assembled as described in connection with introducer 100.
Introducer 490 is passed through an entry point (not shown) over a guide wire 411 as shown in
In the aorta, introducer 490 is positioned and balloon 107 is inflated above the renal arteries in the same manner as described above in connection with the bifurcated stent and as illustrated in
While maintaining attached proximal portion pusher 102 and distal portion pusher 103 in a fixed position, outer sheath 101 is withdrawn until proximal is portion 451 of stent 450 emerges from outer sheath 101 as shown in
Balloon 107 is then deflated and withdrawn inside proximal portion 451 where balloon 107 is re-inflated to seat the stent 450, as shown in
The angiological disease of occlusion is the blockage of an artery resulting from a buildup or clot of soft thrombus. There are two types of occlusions that can occur at the aorta-iliac bifurcation. The first is infrarenal occlusion. In this case, the blockage extends in the aorta from just below the renal arteries into the iliac arteries. The second type is an occlusion that is limited to the immediate area of the bifurcation.
To treat an infrarenal occlusion, a canalization is first made through the thrombus by methods known in the art. A bifurcated endoluminal prosthesis according to the present invention is then implanted at the bifurcation site to provide an unobstructed lumen extending from the aorta into each of the iliac arteries. Blood can thus flow freely from the aorta to the iliac arteries.
The bifurcated endoluminal prosthesis according to the present invention that is used to treat an occlusion must be fabric covered. This is necessary to prevent embolization from the thrombus remaining on the wall of the recanalized artery.
An occlusion at the bifurcation is treated by recanalizing the artery as above. A bifurcated endoluminal prosthesis according to the present invention may be implanted at the bifurcation. Because the occlusion is limited to the immediate bifurcation site, however, the proximal portion of the prosthesis may be shorter than that discussed above.
To implant the bifurcated endoluminal prosthesis to treat both types of occlusion, the delivery system comprising introducer 100 discussed above for delivering the bifurcated endoluminal prosthesis to treat an abdominal aortic aneurysm is used. The same delivery method discussed above for implanting the bifurcated endoluminal prosthesis to treat abdominal aortic aneurysms is used to implant the device to treat the occlusion.
Using the method and apparatus of this invention to treat occlusion provides an unobstructed lumen through which blood can flow from the aorta to the is iliac arteries.
The angiological disease of stenosis is a narrowing of an artery caused by a buildup of hard calcified plaque. This is usually caused by a buildup of cholesterol. To treat such an angiological disease, angioplasty is performed on the plaque according to methods well known in the art. The bifurcated endoluminal stent according to the present invention is then implanted at the bifurcation site. This stent is the same as that described above for treatment of an abdominal aortic aneurysm. To treat the stenosis, however, it is not necessary to cover the stent with a fabric, thus creating a prosthesis. Because restenosis is rare at the bifurcation site, there is no need to isolate the blood flowing in the lumen from the walls of the arteries.
The delivery system used to implant the bifurcated endoluminal stent used to treat stenosis is the same as that illustrated in
Similarly, with the exception of the steps involving inflation of balloon 107 to block blood flow, the method of delivering the bifurcated endoluminal stent to treat stenosis is the same as that described above for delivering the bifurcated endoluminal prosthesis to treat abdominal aortic aneurysm.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 94400284 | Feb 1994 | EP | regional |
| 94401306 | Jun 1994 | EP | regional |
This application is a continuation of Ser. No. 08/463,987, filed Jun. 5, 1995, now pending, which is a division of Ser. No. 08/317,763, filed Oct. 4, 1994, now U.S. Pat. No. 5,609,627, which is a continuation-in-part of Ser. No. 08/312,881, filed Sep. 27, 1994, now pending. The present application is also a continuation-in-part of Ser. No. 08/312,881.
| Number | Name | Date | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1417396 | Lassiter et al. | May 1922 | A |
| 3304557 | Polansky | Feb 1967 | A |
| 3357432 | Sparks | Dec 1967 | A |
| 3500820 | Almen | Mar 1970 | A |
| 3657744 | Ersek | Apr 1972 | A |
| 3805301 | Liebig | Apr 1974 | A |
| 3818511 | Goldberg et al. | Jun 1974 | A |
| 3868956 | Alfidi et al. | Mar 1975 | A |
| 3878565 | Sauvage | Apr 1975 | A |
| 3890977 | Wilson | Jun 1975 | A |
| 3996938 | Clark, III | Dec 1976 | A |
| 4130904 | Whalen | Dec 1978 | A |
| 4140126 | Choudhury | Feb 1979 | A |
| 4149911 | Clabburn | Apr 1979 | A |
| 4202349 | Jones | May 1980 | A |
| 4214587 | Sakura, Jr. | Jul 1980 | A |
| 4306318 | Mano et al. | Dec 1981 | A |
| 4425908 | Simon | Jan 1984 | A |
| 4464449 | Kajita et al. | Aug 1984 | A |
| 4494531 | Gianturco | Jan 1985 | A |
| 4503569 | Dotter | Mar 1985 | A |
| 4512338 | Balko et al. | Apr 1985 | A |
| 4530113 | Matterson | Jul 1985 | A |
| 4545082 | Hood | Oct 1985 | A |
| 4553545 | Maass et al. | Nov 1985 | A |
| 4560374 | Hammerslag | Dec 1985 | A |
| 4562596 | Kornberg | Jan 1986 | A |
| 4577631 | Kreamer | Mar 1986 | A |
| 4580568 | Gianturco | Apr 1986 | A |
| 4617932 | Kornberg | Oct 1986 | A |
| 4649922 | Wiktor | Mar 1987 | A |
| 4655771 | Wallsten | Apr 1987 | A |
| 4665906 | Jervis | May 1987 | A |
| 4665918 | Garza et al. | May 1987 | A |
| 4681110 | Wiktor | Jul 1987 | A |
| 4728328 | Hughes et al. | Mar 1988 | A |
| 4729766 | Bergentz et al. | Mar 1988 | A |
| 4732152 | Wallsten et al. | Mar 1988 | A |
| 4733665 | Palmaz | Mar 1988 | A |
| 4739762 | Palmaz | Apr 1988 | A |
| 4762128 | Rosenbluth | Aug 1988 | A |
| 4768507 | Fischell et al. | Sep 1988 | A |
| 4772264 | Cragg | Sep 1988 | A |
| 4776337 | Palmaz | Oct 1988 | A |
| 4781703 | Walker et al. | Nov 1988 | A |
| 4795463 | Gerow | Jan 1989 | A |
| 4800882 | Gianturco | Jan 1989 | A |
| 4820298 | Leveen et al. | Apr 1989 | A |
| 4830003 | Wolff et al. | May 1989 | A |
| 4856516 | Hillstead | Aug 1989 | A |
| 4878906 | Lindemann et al. | Nov 1989 | A |
| 4886062 | Wiktor | Dec 1989 | A |
| 4886065 | Collins, Jr. | Dec 1989 | A |
| 4913141 | Hillstead | Apr 1990 | A |
| 4922905 | Strecker | May 1990 | A |
| 4969458 | Wiktor | Nov 1990 | A |
| 4969890 | Sugita et al. | Nov 1990 | A |
| 4994032 | Sugiyama et al. | Feb 1991 | A |
| 4994071 | MacGregor | Feb 1991 | A |
| 5019085 | Hillstead | May 1991 | A |
| 5019090 | Pinchuk | May 1991 | A |
| 5035706 | Giantureo et al. | Jul 1991 | A |
| 5037427 | Harada et al. | Aug 1991 | A |
| 5041126 | Gianturco | Aug 1991 | A |
| 5047050 | Apresani | Sep 1991 | A |
| 5057092 | Webster, Jr. | Oct 1991 | A |
| 5064435 | Porter | Nov 1991 | A |
| 5067957 | Jervis | Nov 1991 | A |
| 5078726 | Kreamer | Jan 1992 | A |
| 5078736 | Behl | Jan 1992 | A |
| 5084065 | Weldon et al. | Jan 1992 | A |
| 5085635 | Cragg | Feb 1992 | A |
| 5104399 | Lazarus | Apr 1992 | A |
| 5104404 | Wolff | Apr 1992 | A |
| 5123917 | Lee | Jun 1992 | A |
| 5133732 | Wiktor | Jul 1992 | A |
| 5135536 | Hillstead | Aug 1992 | A |
| 5151105 | Kwan-Gett | Sep 1992 | A |
| 5161547 | Tower | Nov 1992 | A |
| 5183085 | Timmermans | Feb 1993 | A |
| 5192297 | Hull | Mar 1993 | A |
| 5192310 | Herweck et al. | Mar 1993 | A |
| 5197978 | Hess | Mar 1993 | A |
| 5201901 | Harada et al. | Apr 1993 | A |
| 5207295 | Bialy et al. | May 1993 | A |
| 5207695 | Trout | May 1993 | A |
| 5236446 | Dumon | Aug 1993 | A |
| 5236447 | Kubo et al. | Aug 1993 | A |
| 5275622 | Lazarus | Jan 1994 | A |
| 5282824 | Gianturco | Feb 1994 | A |
| 5290305 | Inone | Mar 1994 | A |
| 5292331 | Boneau | Mar 1994 | A |
| 5304200 | Spaulding | Apr 1994 | A |
| 5306294 | Winston et al. | Apr 1994 | A |
| 5314472 | Fontaine | May 1994 | A |
| 5330500 | Song | Jul 1994 | A |
| 5342387 | Summers | Aug 1994 | A |
| 5354308 | Simon et al. | Oct 1994 | A |
| 5354309 | Schnepp-Pesch | Oct 1994 | A |
| 5360443 | Barone | Nov 1994 | A |
| 5364354 | Walker et al. | Nov 1994 | A |
| 5366504 | Andersen et al. | Nov 1994 | A |
| 5370683 | Fontaine | Dec 1994 | A |
| 5370691 | Samson | Dec 1994 | A |
| 5383892 | Cardon | Jan 1995 | A |
| 5383928 | Scott et al. | Jan 1995 | A |
| 5389106 | Tower | Feb 1995 | A |
| 5395349 | Quiachon et al. | Mar 1995 | A |
| 5395390 | Simon et al. | Mar 1995 | A |
| 5397345 | Lazarus et al. | Mar 1995 | A |
| 5398981 | Barton | Mar 1995 | A |
| 5405377 | Cragg | Apr 1995 | A |
| 5415664 | Pinchuk | May 1995 | A |
| 5419324 | Dillow | May 1995 | A |
| 5429144 | Wilk | Jul 1995 | A |
| 5443496 | Schwartz | Aug 1995 | A |
| 5443498 | Fontaine | Aug 1995 | A |
| 5456713 | Chuter | Oct 1995 | A |
| 5464449 | Ryan et al. | Nov 1995 | A |
| 5484418 | Quiachon et al. | Jan 1996 | A |
| 5489295 | Piplani et al. | Feb 1996 | A |
| 5507767 | Maeda | Apr 1996 | A |
| 5507771 | Gianturco | Apr 1996 | A |
| 5522880 | Barone et al. | Jun 1996 | A |
| 5540712 | Kleshinski et al. | Jul 1996 | A |
| 5562724 | Vorwerk et al. | Oct 1996 | A |
| 5562726 | Chuter | Oct 1996 | A |
| 5562727 | Turk et al. | Oct 1996 | A |
| 5562728 | Lazarus et al. | Oct 1996 | A |
| 5571170 | Palmaz et al. | Nov 1996 | A |
| 5575817 | Martin | Nov 1996 | A |
| 5609605 | Marshall et al. | Mar 1997 | A |
| 5609627 | Goicoechea et al. | Mar 1997 | A |
| 5628783 | Quiachon et al. | May 1997 | A |
| 5632772 | Alcime | May 1997 | A |
| 5639278 | Dereume et al. | Jun 1997 | A |
| 5645559 | Hachtman et al. | Jul 1997 | A |
| 5653743 | Martin | Aug 1997 | A |
| 5662675 | Polanskyj Stockert et al. | Sep 1997 | A |
| 5676697 | MacDonald | Oct 1997 | A |
| 5683448 | Cragg | Nov 1997 | A |
| 5683450 | Goicoechea et al. | Nov 1997 | A |
| 5693086 | Goicoechea et al. | Dec 1997 | A |
| 5697970 | Schmitt | Dec 1997 | A |
| 5716365 | Goicoechea et al. | Feb 1998 | A |
| 5718724 | Goicoechea et al. | Feb 1998 | A |
| 5725572 | Lam | Mar 1998 | A |
| 5741325 | Chaikof et al. | Apr 1998 | A |
| 5741332 | Schmitt | Apr 1998 | A |
| 5776180 | Goicoechea et al. | Jul 1998 | A |
| 5800456 | Maeda et al. | Sep 1998 | A |
| 5800508 | Goicoechea et al. | Sep 1998 | A |
| 5824039 | Piplani et al. | Oct 1998 | A |
| 5824042 | Lombardi | Oct 1998 | A |
| 5843175 | Frantzen | Dec 1998 | A |
| 5871536 | Lazarus | Feb 1999 | A |
| 5876432 | Lau et al. | Mar 1999 | A |
| 5916263 | Goicoechea et al. | Jun 1999 | A |
| 5938696 | Goicoechea et al. | Aug 1999 | A |
| 5997573 | Quijano et al. | Dec 1999 | A |
| 6051020 | Goicoechea et al. | Apr 2000 | A |
| 6090137 | Schmitt | Jul 2000 | A |
| 6102938 | Evans et al. | Aug 2000 | A |
| 6117167 | Goicoechea et al. | Sep 2000 | A |
| 6123722 | Fogarty et al. | Sep 2000 | A |
| 6129756 | Kugler et al. | Oct 2000 | A |
| 6156063 | Douglas | Dec 2000 | A |
| 6159239 | Greenhalgh | Dec 2000 | A |
| 6162246 | Barone | Dec 2000 | A |
| 6165213 | Goicoechea | Dec 2000 | A |
| 6176875 | Lenker et al. | Jan 2001 | B1 |
| 6197049 | Shaolian | Mar 2001 | B1 |
| 6200339 | Leschinsky et al. | Mar 2001 | B1 |
| 6210435 | Piplani et al. | Apr 2001 | B1 |
| 6221099 | Andersen et al. | Apr 2001 | B1 |
| 6221102 | Baker et al. | Apr 2001 | B1 |
| 6235050 | Quiachon et al. | May 2001 | B1 |
| 6251133 | Richter et al. | Jun 2001 | B1 |
| 6251134 | Alt et al. | Jun 2001 | B1 |
| 6261316 | Shaolian et al. | Jul 2001 | B1 |
| 6270523 | Herweck et al. | Aug 2001 | B1 |
| 6273909 | Kugler et al. | Aug 2001 | B1 |
| 6280467 | Leonhardt | Aug 2001 | B1 |
| 6283991 | Cox et al. | Sep 2001 | B1 |
| 6287335 | Drasler et al. | Sep 2001 | B1 |
| 6302906 | Goicoechea et al. | Oct 2001 | B1 |
| 6312462 | McDermott et al. | Nov 2001 | B1 |
| 6325819 | Pavcnik et al. | Dec 2001 | B1 |
| 6325826 | Vardi et al. | Dec 2001 | B1 |
| 6331190 | Shokoohi et al. | Dec 2001 | B1 |
| 6334869 | Leonhardt et al. | Jan 2002 | B1 |
| 6344056 | Dehdashtian | Feb 2002 | B1 |
| 6348066 | Pinchuk et al. | Feb 2002 | B1 |
| 6361557 | Gittings et al. | Mar 2002 | B1 |
| 6395019 | Chobotov | May 2002 | B2 |
| 6395022 | Piplani et al. | May 2002 | B1 |
| 6398803 | Layne et al. | Jun 2002 | B1 |
| 6398807 | Chouinard et al. | Jun 2002 | B1 |
| 6409750 | Hyodoh et al. | Jun 2002 | B1 |
| 6409756 | Murphy | Jun 2002 | B1 |
| 6416542 | Marcade et al. | Jul 2002 | B1 |
| 6428565 | Wisselink | Aug 2002 | B1 |
| 6440166 | Kolluri | Aug 2002 | B1 |
| 6454795 | Chuter | Sep 2002 | B1 |
| 6464721 | Marcade et al. | Oct 2002 | B1 |
| 6485524 | Strecker | Nov 2002 | B2 |
| 6517572 | Kugler et al. | Feb 2003 | B2 |
| 6524336 | Papazolgou et al. | Feb 2003 | B1 |
| 6540777 | Stenzel | Apr 2003 | B2 |
| 6547820 | Staudenmeier | Apr 2003 | B1 |
| 6551350 | Thornton et al. | Apr 2003 | B1 |
| 6565596 | White et al. | May 2003 | B1 |
| 6576007 | Dehdashtian et al. | Jun 2003 | B2 |
| 6576009 | Ryan et al. | Jun 2003 | B2 |
| 6582458 | White et al. | Jun 2003 | B1 |
| 6589277 | Fabiani et al. | Jul 2003 | B1 |
| 6592614 | Lenker et al. | Jul 2003 | B2 |
| 6613073 | White et al. | Sep 2003 | B1 |
| 6645242 | Quinn | Nov 2003 | B1 |
| 6652567 | Deaton | Nov 2003 | B1 |
| 6682541 | Gifford, III et al. | Jan 2004 | B1 |
| Number | Date | Country |
|---|---|---|
| PM 1537 | Apr 1995 | AU |
| 2086333 | Apr 1991 | CA |
| 2158373 | Oct 1994 | CA |
| 2 144 305 | Feb 1995 | CA |
| 3 918 736 | Dec 1990 | DE |
| 93 19 267.3 | Apr 1994 | DE |
| 4 303 181 | Aug 1994 | DE |
| 0 145 166 | Jun 1985 | EP |
| 0 346 564 | Dec 1989 | EP |
| 0 357 003 | Mar 1990 | EP |
| 0 421 729 | Apr 1991 | EP |
| 0 423 916 | Apr 1991 | EP |
| 0 461 791 | Dec 1991 | EP |
| 0 464 755 | Jan 1992 | EP |
| 0 466 518 | Jan 1992 | EP |
| 0 480 667 | Apr 1992 | EP |
| 0 508 473 | Oct 1992 | EP |
| 0 539 237 | Apr 1993 | EP |
| 0 540 290 | May 1993 | EP |
| 0 551 179 | Jul 1993 | EP |
| 0 556 850 | Aug 1993 | EP |
| 0 565 251 | Oct 1993 | EP |
| 0 579 523 | Jan 1994 | EP |
| 0 536 164 | Mar 1994 | EP |
| 0 481 365 | Jun 1994 | EP |
| 0 621 015 | Oct 1994 | EP |
| 0 621 016 | Oct 1994 | EP |
| 0 622 088 | Nov 1994 | EP |
| 0 645 125 | Mar 1995 | EP |
| 0 646 365 | Apr 1995 | EP |
| 0 656 197 | Jun 1995 | EP |
| 0 657 147 | Jun 1995 | EP |
| 0 662 307 | Jul 1995 | EP |
| 0 686 379 | Dec 1995 | EP |
| 0 734 235 | Oct 1996 | EP |
| 1602513 | Jan 1971 | FR |
| 2678508 | Jan 1993 | FR |
| 1205743 | Sep 1970 | GB |
| 1491202 | Nov 1977 | GB |
| 2106190 | Apr 1983 | GB |
| 2269104 | Feb 1994 | GB |
| H02-68052 | Mar 1990 | JP |
| H02-167178 | Jun 1990 | JP |
| 03076554 | Apr 1991 | JP |
| 3133446 | Jun 1991 | JP |
| 3151983 | Jun 1991 | JP |
| H04-500328 | Jan 1992 | JP |
| 4025755 | Feb 1992 | JP |
| 5305092 | Nov 1993 | JP |
| H05-509008 | Dec 1993 | JP |
| H06-7454 | Jan 1994 | JP |
| 6023031 | Feb 1994 | JP |
| 7501476 | Feb 1995 | JP |
| WO 8908433 | Sep 1989 | WO |
| WO 9015582 | Dec 1990 | WO |
| WO 9107928 | Jun 1991 | WO |
| WO 9117789 | Nov 1991 | WO |
| WO 9200043 | Jan 1992 | WO |
| WO 9206734 | Apr 1992 | WO |
| WO 9313825 | Jul 1993 | WO |
| WO9319703 | Oct 1993 | WO |
| WO 9417754 | Aug 1994 | WO |
| WO 9501761 | Jan 1995 | WO |
| WO 9508966 | Apr 1995 | WO |
| WO 9516406 | Jun 1995 | WO |
| WO 9709008 | Mar 1997 | WO |
| WO 9827895 | Jul 1998 | WO |
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 20040098086 A1 | May 2004 | US |
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Parent | 08317763 | Oct 1994 | US |
| Child | 08463987 | US |
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Parent | 08463987 | Jun 1995 | US |
| Child | 10692886 | US |
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Parent | 08312881 | Sep 1994 | US |
| Child | 08317763 | US |
