# US 11,992,400 B2 · Stent graft and method for producing same > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 11,992,400 B2 - Document ID: US11992400B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 17/255,844 - Filed: 2019-06-25 - Published: 2021-08-19 - Granted: 2024-05-28 - Earliest claimed: 2018-06-26 - Assignees: Rheinisch-Westfalische Technische Hochschule Aachen - Applicants: Rheinisch-WestfäLische Technische Hochschule (Rwth) Aachen - Inventors: Alexander Löwen; Valentine Gesché; Stefan Jockenhövel; Thomas Gries - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11992400B2 ## CPC - A61F 2/07: Stent-grafts - B33Y 10/00: Processes of additive manufacturing - B33Y 50/00: Data acquisition or data processing for additive manufacturing - B33Y 80/00: Products made by additive manufacturing - A61F 2210/0014: using shape memory or superelastic materials, e.g. nitinol - A61F 2210/0071: thermoplastic - A61F 2240/001: Designing or manufacturing processes - A61F 2240/002: Designing or making customized prostheses - A61F: FILTERS IMPLANTABLE INTO BLOOD VESSELS; PROSTHESES; DEVICES PROVIDING PATENCY TO, OR PREVENTING COLLAPSING OF, TUBULAR STRUCTURES OF THE BODY, e.g. STENTS; ORTHOPAEDIC, NURSING OR CONTRACEPTIVE DEVICES; FOMENTATION; TREATMENT OR PROTECTION OF EYES OR EARS; BANDAGES, DRESSINGS OR ABSORBENT PADS; FIRST-AID KITS (dental prosthetics A61C) - B33Y: ADDITIVE MANUFACTURING, i.e. MANUFACTURING OF THREE-DIMENSIONAL [3D] OBJECTS BY ADDITIVE DEPOSITION, ADDITIVE AGGLOMERATION OR ADDITIVE LAYERING, e.g. BY 3D PRINTING, STEREOLITHOGRAPHY OR SELECTIVE LASER SINTERING ## Abstract The invention relates to a method for producing a stent graft. The method comprises providing a graft made of a first polymer-based material and applying a stent structure comprising a plurality of struts made of a second polymer-based material onto the graft by means of an additive manufacturing method. The invention further relates to a stent graft produced by means of the method. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method for producing a stent graft, which comprises the following steps: providing a graft made of a first polymer-based material; and then applying a stent structure comprising a plurality of struts made of a second polymer-based material onto the graft by means of an additive method; wherein the graft and the applied stent structure are configured such that the stent graft is arrangeable in at least one compressed state and in at least one expanded state, wherein the stent graft has a smaller cross-section in the at least one compressed state than in the at least one expanded state. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, wherein the graft is tubular and/or tube-shaped. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, wherein the produced stent graft is configured such that the graft is arranged within the stent structure. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, wherein the graft is textile and/or textile-based. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The method according to claim 4, wherein the graft is a weave and/or knitwear. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, wherein the graft is produced by means of a jacquard technique. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, wherein the stent structure comprises a shape memory polymer. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, wherein the provided graft comprises fenestrations. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The method according to claim 8, wherein the fenestrations have a diameter between 3 mm and 12 mm. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, wherein the provided graft comprises a plurality of pores formed by a textile structure of the graft and having a diameter of 1 to 1,000 μm. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The method according to claim 10, wherein individual pores have an opening area of 1 to 1,000,000 μm2. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, wherein the struts, in a cross-section perpendicular to the direction in which the respective strut extends, have a height of at least 10 μm in the radial direction of the stent graft and/or a width perpendicular to the height of at least 10 μm in the cross-section. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, wherein the struts, in a cross-section perpendicular to the direction in which the respective strut extends, in the radial direction of the stent graft, are made from a plurality of layers, and/or wherein the struts, in a cross-section perpendicular to the direction in which the respective strut extends, perpendicular to the radial direction of the stent graft, comprise a plurality of layers. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) The method according to any claim 1, which further comprises the steps of: obtaining preoperative medical image data of a vessel; and generating a computer-aided model of the graft the stent structure and/or the stent graft by means of the image data. ### Claim 15 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, wherein the stent structure is applied onto the graft by using a rotatable holder by means of which the graft can be held and rotated. ### Claim 16 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, wherein the struts configure a compressible helical, zigzag or mesh structure and/or meander-shaped rings. ### Claim 17 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, wherein the graft comprises one or more scallops. ### Claim 18 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, wherein the graft has a material layer thickness of 0.01 mm to 2 mm after its production. ### Claim 19 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, wherein the provided graft is configured to be permeable to liquid and wherein the graft forms a self-sealing system. ### Claim 20 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, wherein the provided graft is impermeable to liquid. ### Claim 21 (depends on 20) The method according to claim 20, wherein the provided graft is impermeable to liquid by means of a coating, wherein the method comprises a step of coating the graft before the application of a stent structure onto the graft. ### Claim 22 (depends on 20) The method according to claim 20, wherein the provided graft is impermeable to liquid by means of a coating, wherein, after the application of a stent structure onto the graft, the method comprises a step of coating the produced stent graft. ### Claim 23 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, wherein the stent graft comprises at least one stent structure that is arranged on the graft at least partially inside and outside, and/or wherein the stent graft comprises at least one stent structure that is arranged on an inner side of the graft and at least one stent structure that is arranged on an outer side of the graft. ### Claim 24 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, wherein the stent graft is metal-free. ### Claim 25 (depends on 1) A stent graft, produced according to the method of claim 1. ### Claim 26 (depends on 25) The stent graft of claim 25, wherein the stent structure surrounds the graft. ### Claim 27 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, wherein the additive method is fused deposition modeling. ### Claim 28 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, wherein the stent structure is applied directly onto the graft by means of the additive method. ### Claim 29 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, wherein the stent structure is attached to the graft when applying said stent structured onto the graft by means of said additive method.