# US 8,540,764 B2 · Mobile external coupling for branch vessel connection > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 8,540,764 B2 - Document ID: US8540764B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 12/425,616 - Filed: 2009-04-17 - Published: 2010-10-21 - Granted: 2013-09-24 - Earliest claimed: 2009-04-17 - Assignees: Medtronic Vascular, Inc. - Applicants: Walter Bruszewski; Peggy Grills; Frank Harewood; Lana Woolley - Inventors: Walter Bruszewski; Peggy Grills; Frank Harewood; Lana Woolley - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US8540764B2 ## CPC - A61F 2/07: Stent-grafts - A61F 2/89: the wire-like elements comprising two or more adjacent rings flexibly connected by separate members - A61F 2/954: for placing stents or stent-grafts in a bifurcation - A61F 2002/061: {provided with means for allowing access to secondary lumens} - A61F 2002/075: {the stent being loosely attached to the graft material, e.g. by stitching} - A61F 2002/821: {Ostial stents} - A61F 2002/9665: {with additional retaining means} - A61F 2210/0014: using shape memory or superelastic materials, e.g. nitinol - A61F 2210/0057: stretchable - A61F 2210/0071: thermoplastic - A61F 2230/0008: elliptical or oval - A61F 2250/0039: differing in diameter - A61F 2250/006: modular - 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) ## Abstract An endovascular prosthesis includes a tubular body and a mobile external coupling. The tubular body includes a graft material and stents coupled thereto, a forms a lumen therethrough. The mobile external coupling extends outwardly from the tubular body. The mobile external coupling includes a graft material and is generally frustoconically shaped. The mobile external coupling includes a base coupled to the tubular body, a top spaced from the tubular body, and a coupling lumen disposed between the base and the top, wherein the coupling lumen is in flow communication with the body lumen. The coupling graft material is a woven fabric with warp yarn which run generally parallel to a longitudinal axis of the mobile external coupling including a shape memory material. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An endovascular prosthesis comprising: a tubular body having a proximal end, a distal end, and a body lumen disposed between the proximal and distal ends, the tubular body including a body graft material and a plurality of stents coupled to the body graft material, the stents being generally coaxial with the tubular body; and a mobile external coupling extending outwardly from the tubular body, wherein the mobile external coupling is generally frustoconically shaped and includes a base coupled to the tubular body, a top spaced from the tubular body, and a coupling lumen disposed between the base and the top, wherein the coupling lumen is in flow communication with the body lumen and wherein the mobile external coupling includes a coupling graft material, wherein the coupling graft material is a woven fabric with warp yarns which run generally parallel to a longitudinal axis of the mobile external coupling, the warp yarns including a shape memory material, wherein the shape memory material of the warp yarns is annealed straight to shape set the warp yarns to urge the mobile external coupling to protrude away from the tubular body. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The prosthesis of claim 1, wherein the shape memory material is a nickel-titanium alloy. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The prosthesis of claim 1, wherein the warp yarns are composite yarns made from combination of a thermoplastic yarns and the shape memory material. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The prosthesis of claim 1, wherein fill yarns of the mobile external coupling running generally transverse to the warp yarns are made from a thermoplastic yarn. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The prosthesis of claim 1, further comprising a separate ring disposed at the top of the mobile external coupling and coupled to the coupling graft material. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The prosthesis of claim 1, wherein a height of the mobile external coupling from the base to the top is in the range of 10-15 mm. ### Claim 7 A main prosthesis and a branch prosthesis assembly comprising: a main prosthesis configured for placement in a main vessel, the main prosthesis including a tubular body and a mobile external coupling, the tubular body having a proximal end, a distal end, a body lumen disposed between the proximal and distal ends, and a body graft material, the mobile external coupling extending outwardly from the tubular body and including a coupling lumen in flow communication with the body lumen, wherein the mobile external coupling includes a generally frustoconically shaped coupling graft material, wherein the coupling graft material is a woven fabric with warp yarns which run generally parallel to a longitudinal axis of the mobile external coupling, the warp yarns including a shape memory material, wherein the shape memory material of the warp yarns is annealed straight to shape set the warp yarns to urge the mobile external coupling to protrude away from the tubular body; and a branch prosthesis configured for placement in a branch vessel that extends from the main vessel, the branch prosthesis including an outer surface in contact with an inner surface of the mobile external coupling; wherein the mobile external coupling includes a base coupled to the tubular body and a top spaced from the tubular body, and wherein a distal portion of the mobile external coupling overlaps with a proximal end of the branch prosthesis. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The assembly of claim 7, wherein the shape memory material is a nickel-titanium alloy. ### Claim 9 (depends on 7) The assembly of claim 7, wherein the warp yarns are composite yarns made from combination of a thermoplastic yarns and the shape memory material. ### Claim 10 (depends on 7) The assembly of claim 7, wherein fill yarns of the mobile external coupling running generally transverse to the warp yarns are made from a thermoplastic yarn. ### Claim 11 (depends on 7) The assembly of claim 7, further comprising a separate ring disposed at the top of the mobile external coupling and coupled to the coupling graft material. ### Claim 12 (depends on 7) The assembly of claim 7, wherein a height of the mobile external coupling from the base to the top is in the range of 10-15 mm. ### Claim 13 A method for excluding an aneurysm at a target location near a junction of a main vessel and a branch vessel, comprising the steps of: delivering a main prosthesis in a compressed configuration to the target location in the main vessel, wherein the main prosthesis includes a tubular body and a mobile external coupling, the tubular body having a proximal end, a distal end, a body lumen disposed between the proximal and distal ends, and a body graft material, the mobile external coupling including a coupling graft material, wherein the coupling graft material is a woven fabric with warp yarns which run generally parallel to a longitudinal axis of the mobile external coupling, the warp yarns including a shape memory material, wherein the shape memory material of the warp yarns is annealed straight to shape set the warp yarns to urge the mobile external coupling to protrude away from the tubular body; retracting a first sleeve to expose the mobile external coupling; aligning the mobile external coupling with the branch vessel; and deploying the tubular body such that the tubular body expands from the compressed configuration to an expanded configuration, wherein the tubular body is disposed in the main vessel and the mobile external coupling extends into the branch vessel, wherein the mobile external coupling extends outwardly from the tubular body, and wherein the mobile external coupling includes a coupling lumen in flow communication with the body lumen. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The method of claim 13, further comprising the steps of: delivering a branch vessel prosthesis in a compressed configuration to the branch vessel; and deploying the branch vessel prosthesis such that the branch vessel prosthesis radially expands to an expanded configuration and an outside surface of a portion of the branch vessel prosthesis is in contact with an inner surface of a portion of the mobile external coupling. ### Claim 15 (depends on 13) The method of claim 13, wherein the mobile external coupling includes a base coupled to the tubular body and a top spaced from the tubular body. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The method of claim 15, wherein a height of the mobile external coupling from the base to the top is in the range of 10-15 mm. ### Claim 17 (depends on 15) The method of claim 15, further comprising a ring disposed at the top of the mobile external coupling. ### Claim 18 (depends on 15) The method of claim 15, wherein the base is generally elliptical in shape and the top is generally circular in shape. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The method of claim 18, wherein the base includes a major axis that is in the range of 20-30 mm and a minor axis that is in the range of 15-20 mm. ### Claim 20 (depends on 18) The method of claim 18, wherein the top includes a diameter in the range of 8-12 mm. ### Claim 21 (depends on 13) The method of claim 13, wherein the shape memory material is a nickel-titanium alloy. ### Claim 22 (depends on 13) The method of claim 13, wherein the warp yarns are composite yarns made from combination of a thermoplastic yarns and the shape memory material. ### Claim 23 (depends on 13) The method of claim 13, wherein fill yarns of the mobile external coupling running generally transverse to the warp yarns are made from a thermoplastic yarn. ### Claim 24 (depends on 13) The method of claim 13, wherein the main vessel is the aortic arch.