# US 5,562,728 A · Endovascular grafting apparatus, system and method and devices for use therewith > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 5,562,728 A - Document ID: US5562728A - Status: Granted - Kind: A - Application number: 08/420,623 - Filed: 1995-04-12 - Granted: 1996-10-08 - Earliest claimed: 1983-12-09 - Inventors: Harrison M. Lazarus; Ronald G. Williams; Wesley D. Sterman; Alec A. Piplani - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US5562728A ## CPC - A61F 2/82: Devices providing patency to, or preventing collapsing of, tubular structures of the body, e.g. stents (stent-grafts for tubular structures of the body other than blood vessels A61F2/04; stent-grafts for blood vessels A61F2/07) - A61B 17/11: for performing anastomosis; Buttons for anastomosis - A61F 2/04: Hollow or tubular parts of organs, e.g. bladders, tracheae, bronchi or bile ducts (A61F2/18, A61F2/20 take precedence; instruments specially adapted for placement or removal of stents or stent-grafts A61F2/95) - A61F 2/07: Stent-grafts - A61F 2/958: Inflatable balloons for placing stents or stent-grafts - A61M 25/10: Balloon catheters ({A61M25/0125 takes precedence; embolectomy A61B17/22032; retractors A61B17/02;} inflatable balloons for placing stents or stent-grafts A61F2/958 {; stomach balloons for treatment of obesity A61F5/0003; oesophagal tubes A61J15/00}) - A61B 90/39: {Markers, e.g. radio-opaque or breast lesions markers} - A61F 2/848: having means for fixation to the vessel wall, e.g. barbs - A61F 2/89: the wire-like elements comprising two or more adjacent rings flexibly connected by separate members - A61F 2002/075: {the stent being loosely attached to the graft material, e.g. by stitching} - A61F 2002/3008: {radio-opaque, e.g. radio-opaque markers} - A61F 2002/30451: {soldered or brazed or welded} - A61F 2002/8486: {provided on at least one of the ends} - A61F 2220/0016: with sharp anchoring protrusions, e.g. barbs, pins, spikes - A61F 2220/0058: soldered or brazed or welded - A61F 2220/0075: sutured, ligatured or stitched, retained or tied with a rope, string, thread, wire or cable - A61F 2250/0098: radio-opaque, e.g. radio-opaque markers - A61M 2025/1068: {having means for varying the length or diameter of the deployed balloon, this variations could be caused by excess pressure} - 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) - A61B: DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION (usefulness limited to only animals A61D) - A61M: DEVICES FOR INTRODUCING MEDIA INTO, OR ONTO, THE BODY (introducing media into or onto the bodies of animals A61D7/00; means for inserting tampons A61F13/26; devices for administering food or medicines orally A61J; containers for collecting, storing or administering blood or medical fluids A61J1/05); DEVICES FOR TRANSDUCING BODY MEDIA OR FOR TAKING MEDIA FROM THE BODY (surgery A61B; chemical aspects of surgical articles A61L); DEVICES FOR PRODUCING OR ENDING SLEEP OR STUPOR {(Electrotherapy, e.g. producing anaesthesia by the use of alternating or intermittent currents A61N1/36021)} ## Abstract Endovascular grafting system having a capsule catheter comprising a flexible elongate tubular member having proximal and distal extremities and a capsule mounted on the distal extremity of the tubular member. The capsule is generally cylindrical in shape and is formed of a helical wrap of a metal ribbon. The wraps are bonded into a unitary capsule permitting bending of said unitary capsule. A graft is disposed within the capsule. The graft is comprised of a tubular member having proximal and distal ends. Hooks are secured to the proximal and distal ends of the tubular member and face in a direction outwardly towards the inner wall of the capsule. A push rod is disposed within the capsule catheter and engages the graft whereby upon relative movement between the push rod and the capsule catheter, the graft can be forced out of the capsule. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An expandable intraluminal vascular graft for implanting in a body vessel comprising a deformable tubular member having proximal and distal ends and a wall extending between the proximal and distal ends, the wall being formed of a flexible material capable of receiving tissue ingrowth, said tubular member being capable of assuming a first position of reduced size for insertion into the body vessel and a second expanded position, expandable yieldable spring means respectively secured to the proximal and distal ends of the tubular member, said yieldable spring means urging said tubular member from said first position of reduced size to a second expanded position and attachment means secured to said expandable spring means for attachment to the body vessel. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) A graft as in claim 1 wherein said expandable spring means is in the form of substantially vee-shaped spring portions having apices and legs extending from the apices, the spring means having a helical torsion spring at each apex yieldably urging said legs in a direction to open the vee-shaped spring portions. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) A graft as in claim 1, wherein said expandable spring means includes a plurality of interconnected vees with each vee having an apex and with coil spring means formed at each apex serving to expand the vees in an outward direction along the plane of each of the vees. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) A graft as in claim 3, wherein the attachment means is in the form of hook elements secured to the spring means proximate the apices of the vees. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) A graft as in claim 4, wherein the apices of the vees of each of the expandable spring means lie in first and second planes spaced along a longitudinal axis of the graft. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) A graft as in claim 5, herein the apices in the first and second planes are spaced beyond the end of the tubular member and wherein the hook elements are mounted on the vees proximate the apices lying in the first and second planes. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) A graft as in claim 6, wherein the apices in one of the first and second planes are offset circumferentially with respect to the apices in the other of the first and second planes. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) A graft as in claim 7, wherein at least three apices are provided in the first plane and at least three apices are provided in the second plane. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) A graft as in claim 1, further comprising radiopaque marker means secured to the wall of the tubular member, said marker means including first and second aligned radiopaque markers spaced apart longitudinally of the tubular member to permit ascertaining whether any twisting of the tubular member has occurred. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) A graft as in claim 9, wherein the first and second markers are positioned adjacent apices of the yieldable spring means. ### Claim 11 A graft for emplacement by a balloon catheter, said graft comprising: a tubular member having a first end and a second end; a first attachment system connected to and positioned proximate the first end of said tubular member, said first attachment system including a plurality of support members each having two legs joined to form an apex, each leg being joined to the legs of adjacent support members to form a circular arrangement of the support members about a central axis and operable between a first collapsed position and a second expanded position; and first wall engaging members connected to an positioned proximate the first end of said tubular member. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) A graft as in claim 11, wherein said first attachment system is self-expanding. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) A graft as in claim 12, wherein each of the legs of the support members are formed of a spring material and are substantially straight. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) A graft as in claim 13, wherein each of said first wall engaging members are secured to a respective on leg of one of the support members. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) A graft as in claim 14, wherein the support members are vee-shaped. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) A graft as in claim 15, wherein each of said first wall engaging members have tip portions extending at an angle from the central axis of about 55 degrees to about 80 degrees toward the second end of said tubular member. ### Claim 17 (depends on 15) A graft as in claim 15, wherein each of said first wall engaging members are attached to a leg of a support members and have tip portions extending at an angle from the central axis of about 65 degrees toward the second end of said tubular member. ### Claim 18 (depends on 14) A graft as in claim 14, wherein the legs extend away from the apex so that said first attachment system is sinusoidal in shape. ### Claim 19 (depends on 11) A graft as in claim 11, further comprising a second attachment system connected and positioned proximate the second end of said tubular member, and second wall engaging members connected to an positioned proximate the second end of said tubular member, said second attachment system including a plurality of support members each having two legs joined to form an apex, each leg being joined to the legs of adjacent support members to form a circular arrangement of support members about a central axis and operable between a first collapsed position and a second expanded position. ### Claim 20 (depends on 19) A graft as in claim 19, wherein the support members of said second attachment system are self-expanding and the second wall engaging members are attached to a respective one leg of one of the support members of the second attachment system and have tip portions extending at an angle from the central axis of about 30 degrees to about 90 degrees toward the first end of said tubular member. ### Claim 21 (depends on 19) A graft as in claim 19, wherein the support members of said second attachment system are self-expanding and the second wall engaging members are attached to a respective leg of one of the support members, of the second attachment system and have tip portions extending at an angle from the central axis of about degrees toward the first end of said tubular member. ### Claim 22 (depends on 11) A graft as in claim 11, further comprising a radio-opaque seam stitched in said tubular member in a longitudinal manner. ### Claim 23 A graft for intraluminal placement in a corporeal lumen, said graft comprising: a tubular member having a first end and a second end; a first attachment system positioned proximate the first end of said tubular member, said first attachment system including a plurality of legs joined by a plurality of apices, the legs being configured in a circular arrangement; and a second attachment system positioned proximate the second end of said tubular member, said second attachment system including a plurality of legs joined by a plurality of apices, the legs being configured in a circular arrangement. ### Claim 24 (depends on 23) The graft of claim 23, further comprising a plurality of lumen engaging members secured to the legs of the first and second attachment systems. ### Claim 25 (depends on 24) The graft of claim 24, wherein said first and second attachment systems are self-expanding. ### Claim 26 (depends on 25) The graft of claim 25, wherein the apices are each configured to form a helical spring. ### Claim 27 (depends on 23) The graft of claim 23, further comprising a plurality of radiopaque markers secured to said tubular member. ### Claim 28 An expandable intraluminal vascular graft comprising: a deformable tubular member having proximal and distal ends, said tubular member having a first reduced position and a second expanded position; an expandable spring arrangement secured to the proximal and distal ends of the tubular member, said expandable spring arrangement capable of urging said tubular member from the first reduced position to the second expanded position; and an attachment system secured to said expandable spring arrangement for securing said tubular member to a wall of a body vessel. ### Claim 29 (depends on 28) A graft as in claim 28, wherein said expandable spring arrangement is in the form of substantially vee-shaped spring portions having apices with legs extending from the apices. ### Claim 30 (depends on 29) A graft as in claim 29, wherein said attachment system comprises wall engaging members secured to the legs of said expandable spring arrangement. ### Claim 31 (depends on 30) A graft as in claim 30, wherein each of the apices of said expandable spring arrangement comprise a coil spring arrangement. ### Claim 32 (depends on 30) A graft as in claim 30, wherein the apices of said expandable spring arrangement extend beyond the proximal and distal ends of said tubular member. ### Claim 33 (depends on 30) A graft as in claim 30, having a plurality of radiopaque markers secured to said tubular member, said markers including first and second aligned radiopaque markers spaced apart longitudinally of said tubular member. ### Claim 34 (depends on 33) A graft as in claim 33, wherein the first aligned radiopaque marker is positioned adjacent the proximal end of said tubular member and the second aligned radiopaque marker is positioned adjacent the distal end of said tubular member. ### Claim 35 An expandable intraluminal vascular graft for implanting in a body vessel having a wall, the graft comprising: conforming means for engrafting a body vessel, said conforming means having proximal and distal extremities; and attachment means secured to the proximal and distal extremities of said conforming means for engaging the body vessel, said attachment means being self-expanding and having engaging means for securing said conforming means to a wall of the body vessel.