Endoluminal prosthesis

Abstract

An expandable endolumenal prosthesis comprises, in the non-expanded configuration, a tubular body extending along a longitudinal axis and having a distal end and a proximal end, the tubular body having a porous wall defined by a plurality of interlaced circumferential lines forming a pathway motif or pattern, in which: at least one line is closed onto itself, each of the lines extends along an axis, each of the lines comprises at least one plurality of modules, each module comprises three lobes, that is, two outer lobes and one inner lobe disposed between the two outer lobes in the pathway of the pattern, each lobe comprises one or more curved sections having concavities facing in the same direction defining an apex of the lobe, the lobes opening alternately on opposite sides of the pathway of the pattern along the extent of the line, both of the outer lobes of the three lobes being extended by straight outer arms, the at least one plurality of modules being arranged consecutively so as to have successive outer arms which extend from the outer lobes in substantially opposite directions relative to the pathway of the pattern for two successive modules, and in which, for each module, the distance between the apex of one of the outer lobes and the apex of the inner lobe of the same module is less than the distance between the apex of the same outer lobe and the apex of any outer lobe of an adjoining module.

1 . An expandable endolumenal prosthesis comprising, in the non-expanded configuration, a tubular body extending along a longitudinal axis and having a distal end and a proximal end; the tubular body having a porous wall defined by a plurality of interlaced circumferential lines forming a pathway motif or pattern wherein at least one line is closed onto itself; each of the lines extends along an axis (a-a); each of the lines comprises at least one plurality of modules; each module comprises three lobes, that is, two outer lobes and one inner lobe disposed between the two outer lobes in the pathway of the pattern; each lobe comprising one or more curved sections having concavities facing in the same direction, defining an apex of the lobe; the lobes opening alternately on opposite sides of the pathway of the pattern along the extent of the line; both of the outer lobes of the three lobes being extended by straight outer arms; the at least one plurality of modules being arranged consecutively so as to have successive outer arms which extend from the outer lobes in substantially opposite directions relative to the pathway of the pattern for two successive modules; and wherein, for each module, the distance between the apex of one of the outer lobes and the apex of the inner lobe of the same module is less than the distance between the apex of the same outer lobe and the apex of any outer lobe of an adjoining module; for each line, there is at least one adjacent line which has a motif that is a mirror image of the said line with respect to an axis parallel to the axis of the line; at least one connecting element or bridge is provided between two adjacent lines; and in which said bridge connects two faced outer lobe of two adjacent lines, said bridge extends along a longitudinal axis parallel to the longitudinal axis of the tubular body.  
     
     
         2 . A prosthesis according to  claim 1  in which the inner lobe of at least one module is extended by at least one straight inner arm.  
     
     
         3 . A prosthesis according to  claim 2  in which both of the ends of the inner lobe are extended by straight arms.  
     
     
         4 . A prosthesis according to  claim 1 , in which at least one of the outer arms extends along an axis which is inclined to the longitudinal axis of the tubular body and is also inclined to the axis of the line to which the module belongs.  
     
     
         5 . A prosthesis according to  claim 1 , in which both of the outer arms of the module extend along respective axes which are inclined to the longitudinal axis of the tubular body and are also inclined to the axis of the line to which the module belongs.  
     
     
         6 . A prosthesis according to  claim 1  in which the outer arms of the module extend away from the lobes along converging axes.  
     
     
         7 . A prosthesis according to  claim 5  in which the arms have inclinations substantially close to the direction of the longitudinal axis of the prosthesis when the prosthesis is in the non-expanded configuration.  
     
     
         8 . A prosthesis according to  claim 5  in which the inclination of the arms is selected in a manner such that, when the prosthesis is in the expanded configuration, the arms are arranged substantially close to the direction transverse the longitudinal axis of the prosthesis.  
     
     
         9 . A prosthesis according to  claim 1  in which at least one outer arm of a module is shared with the adjacent module.  
     
     
         10 . A prosthesis according to  claim 1  in which all of the outer arms of each module are shared with adjacent modules.  
     
     
         11 . A prosthesis according to  claim 1  in which the outer arms are of equal extent.  
     
     
         12 . A prosthesis according to  claim 1  in which the inner lobe is extended by two straight inner arms.  
     
     
         13 . A prosthesis according to  claim 12  in which the inner arms are of equal extent.  
     
     
         14 . A prosthesis according to  claim 1  in which the inner lobe is joined to the outer lobes by means of at least one inner arm.  
     
     
         15 . A prosthesis according to  claim 1  in which the inner lobe and the inner arm or arms have an overall extent less than the overall extent of the outer lobes and the respective outer arms.  
     
     
         16 . A prosthesis according to  claim 1  in which the outer and inner lobes with their outer arms and inner arms, respectively, have a non-uniform extent in a direction transverse the axis of the line.  
     
     
         17 . A prosthesis according to  claim 1  in which the outer or inner arms have an extent which varies in the modules of the same line.  
     
     
         18 . A prosthesis according to  claim 1  in which the outer or inner arms have an extent which varies in the modules disposed along the longitudinal axis of the tubular body of the prosthesis.  
     
     
         19 . A prosthesis according to  claim 1  in which the outer arms of the same module have different extents.  
     
     
         20 . A prosthesis according to  claim 1  in which at least one module has two inner arms of equal extent.  
     
     
         21 . A prosthesis according to  claim 1  in which at least one module has two inner arms of different extents.  
     
     
         22 . A prosthesis according to  claim 1  in which at least one module has a single inner arm.  
     
     
         23 . A prosthesis according to  claim 1  in which at least one module comprises at least one lobe comprising at least one curved section of predefined extent suitable for determining the aperture of the cell which faces it.  
     
     
         24 . A prosthesis according to  claim 1  in which at least one module comprises at least one lobe comprising at least one curved section of predefined extent suitable for arranging the arms substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the prosthesis when it is in the non-expanded or clenched configuration.  
     
     
         25 . A prosthesis according to  claim 1  in which at least one module comprises at least one lobe comprising at least one curved section of predefined extent suitable for arranging the arms substantially transverse the longitudinal axis of the prosthesis when it is in the expanded configuration.  
     
     
         26 . A prosthesis according to  claim 1  in which at least one module comprises at least one lobe comprising a plurality of curved sections with concavities having the same orientation.  
     
     
         27 . A prosthesis according to  claim 1  in which at least one module comprises at least one lobe comprising a plurality of curved sections with concavities having the same orientation and at least one interposed straight section.  
     
     
         28 . A prosthesis according to  claim 1  in which the inner lobe is joined directly to one of the outer lobes.  
     
     
         29 . A prosthesis according to  claim 1  in which all of the modules of a line have identical characteristics.  
     
     
         30 . A prosthesis according to  claim 1  in which, in at least one line, two pluralities of modules are provided, alternating with one another so as to provide a series of a module of a first plurality and a module of the second plurality.  
     
     
         31 . A prosthesis according to  claim 1  in which, in at least one line, the same module is repeated along the pathway of the line in a mirror-image arrangement with respect to an axis parallel to the axis of the line.  
     
     
         32 . A prosthesis according to  claim 1  in which the prosthesis comprises lines comprising several pluralities of modules.  
     
     
         33 . A prosthesis according to  claim 1  in which the prosthesis comprises three pluralities of modules.  
     
     
         34 . A prosthesis according to  claim 1  in which at least one module has outer lobes that are disposed at different distances from the axis of the line.  
     
     
         35 . A prosthesis according to  claim 1  in which, in at least one line, the pathway is interrupted so as to form an opening in the pattern suitable for the passage of an SDS guide wire.  
     
     
         36 . A prosthesis according to  claim 35  in which the pathway is interrupted to an extent equal to one module.  
     
     
         37 . A prosthesis according to  claim 35  in which the pathway is interrupted to an extent equal to five lobes.  
     
     
         38 . A prosthesis according to  claim 35  in which the pathway is interrupted between two connecting bridges between the line and adjoining lines.  
     
     
         39 . A prosthesis according to  claim 35  in which the pathway is interrupted in two adjacent lines.  
     
     
         40 . A prosthesis according to  claim 1  in which at least one module is substantially M-shaped and is arranged so as to have outer arms directed substantially either towards the distal end or towards the proximal end.  
     
     
         41 . A prosthesis according to  claim 1  in which the axis of the line is substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the tubular body.  
     
     
         42 . A prosthesis according to  claim 41  in which the line axis is inclined to the longitudinal axis at an angle of between 5 degrees and 45 degrees and preferably between 10 and 30 degrees.  
     
     
         43 . A prosthesis according to  claim 1  in which the line axis is straight or circumferential.  
     
     
         44 . A prosthesis according to  claim 1  in which, for each line, there is at least one adjacent line which has a motif that is a mirror image of the said line with respect to an axis parallel to the axis of the line.  
     
     
         45 . A prosthesis according to  claim 1  in which at least one connecting element or bridge is provided between two adjacent lines.  
     
     
         46 . A prosthesis according to  claim 45  in which the bridge defines the interlacing of the lines.  
     
     
         47 . A prosthesis according to  claim 45  in which the bridge comprises a bridge lobe.  
     
     
         48 . A prosthesis according to  claim 45  in which the bridge comprises two bridge lobes.  
     
     
         49 . A prosthesis according to  claim 45  in which the bridge comprises three bridge lobes.  
     
     
         50 . A prosthesis according to  claim 45  in which a bridge is provided between two adjacent lines, for every five complete lobes of a line.  
     
     
         51 . A prosthesis according to  claim 45  in which, along the line, a bridge is provided between two adjacent lines, for every first or second outer lobe having the same orientation.  
     
     
         52 . A prosthesis according to  claim 45  in which a bridge is provided for every module of the line.  
     
     
         53 . A prosthesis according to  claim 1  in which, between two adjacent lines, a continuous closed pathway is provided, disposed between two bridges defining a cell.  
     
     
         54 . A prosthesis according to  claim 53  in which a variation of the cell perimeter is provided along the longitudinal axis of the prosthesis.  
     
     
         55 . A prosthesis according to  claim 1  in which the prosthesis comprises an external or internal coating.  
     
     
         56 . A prosthesis according to  claim 55  in which the coating comprises a drug.  
     
     
         57 . An expandable endolumenal prosthesis comprising, in the non-expanded configuration, a tubular body extending along a longitudinal axis and having a distal end and a proximal end; the tubular body having a porous wall defined by a plurality of interlaced circumferential pattern lines of which at least one is closed onto itself; each of the lines extending along an axis; each of the lines comprising at least one series of lobes intercalated by arms, each lobe comprising at least one curved section, each arm constituting a straight section; all of the lobes of the series of lobes opening alternately on opposite sides of the pathway of the pattern, along the extent of the line; for every four consecutive lobes separated by three arms, one of the arms having a greater extent than the other two arms.