Expandable coiled endoluminal prosthesis

A releasable and implantable coiled endoluminal prosthesis comprising:

• an elongate, self-expanding coiled stent body extending generally helically about a longitudinal axis and having a main body portion and first and second end portions, said end portions being substantially less stiff than the main body portion;
• the main body portion comprising a coiled ribbon of material with its width much greater than its thickness;
• the end portions having an inwardly-tapering portion with a blunt tip, a longitudinally-extending length and a laterally-extending width, said length greater than said width;
• a graft material with a hollow graft material interior which encases at least part of the main body portion to create a releasable and implantable coiled stent graft;
• said coiled stent graft movable between a reduced diameter state and a relaxed, expanded diameter state;
• and
• said coiled stent graft having an interior and an exterior, in which adjacent turns thereof define a generally helical gap, extending from the exterior and opening into the interior, therebetween when in the expanded diameter state.

An endoluminal prosthesis comprising:

• a coiled body having first and second ends and a main portion between the first and second ends;
• the main portion having an average cross-sectional dimension of x;
• at least one of the first and second ends has a maximum cross-sectional dimension of about 5x to 25x and a blunt tip to help avoid trauma to the patient's tissue;
• and
• the main portion having a circular cross-sectional shape and the ends having flattened, generally oval shapes.

A catheter-releasable and implantable coiled endoluminal prosthesis comprising:

• an elongate, self-expanding coiled stent body extending generally helically about a longitudinal axis and having a main body portion and first and second end portions;
• a tubular graft material comprising layers of graft material defining a hollow graft material interior which encases the entire stent body to create a catheter-releasable and implantable coiled stent graft;
• the tubular graft material having ends, said ends being secured together so to secure the tubular graft material in place;
• said coiled stent graft comprising ends and being coiled from end to end, said ends being free ends;
• said coiled stent graft movable between a reduced diameter state and a relaxed, expanded diameter state;
• said coiled stent graft having an interior and an exterior, in which adjacent turns thereof define a generally helical gap, extending from the exterior and opening into the interior, therebetween when in the expanded diameter state;
• and
• the main body portion comprising a coiled ribbon of material with its width being much greater than it thickness.

A catheter-releasable and implantable coiled endoluminal prosthesis comprising:

• an elongate, self-expanding coiled stent body extending generally helically about a longitudinal axis and having a main body portion and first and second end portions;
• the main body portion comprising first and second generally helically extending edge elements connected together in generally parallel spaced apart relationship relative to each other by connector elements;
• said edge elements of said end portions being inwardly-tapering and defining blunt tips and said end portions being substantially less stiff than the main body portion so to help prevent tissue trauma during use;
• the main body portion comprising a coiled ribbon of material with its width much greater than its thickness;
• a graft material comprising layers of graft material defining a hollow graft material interior which encases at least part of the main body portion to create a catheter-releasable and implantable coiled stent graft;
• said coiled stent graft comprising ends and being coiled from end to end, said ends being free ends;
• said coiled stent graft movable between a reduced diameter state and a relaxed, expanded diameter state;
• and
• said coiled stent graft having an interior and an exterior, in which adjacent turns thereof define a generally helical gap, extending from the exterior and opening into the interior, therebetween when in the expanded diameter state.