Endovascular graft with sensors design and attachment methods

Abstract

A endovascular graft having sensing devices attached thereto to facilitate measurement of pertinent parameters within the vasculature into which the graft is implanted. Power sources and transmitters may be attached to the graft to facilitate transmission of measurements to a receiving device outside the patient's body. The sensing devices, may be electrically passive or integrated devices with measurement and transmission capability. The sensing devices may be attached to specific locations on the graft material or attached to the lumen, thereby providing pertinent parameters from critical points inside the vasculature, or may be dispersed over the surface of the graft material or within the lumen to provide a profile of pertinent parameters. The sensing devices may be attached to the graft material with one suture using a running stitch to minimize graft bulk and may be coated with a material to inhibit or control tissue growth.

1 - 21 . (canceled)  
   
   
       22 . A modular endoluminal prosthesis for repairing an aneurysm in vasculature, comprising: 
 a first endovascular graft component; and    a second endovascular graft component for attachment to the first endovascular graft component, the second endovascular graft component having one or more sensors attached thereto and wherein at least one sensor is located on the external surface of the second endovascular graft component.    
   
   
       23 . The prosthesis of  claim 22 , further comprising: 
 one or more power sources attached to the second endovascular graft component; and    one or more transmitting devices attached to the second endovascular graft component, each transmitting device capable of transmitting signals containing the parameters measured by one or more sensors to a location outside a patient's body.    
   
   
       24 . The prosthesis of  claim 23 , wherein one or more of the power sources are located on the external surface of the second endovascular graft component.  
   
   
       25 . The prosthesis of  claim 23 , wherein one or more of the transmitting devices are located on the external surface of the second endovascular graft component.  
   
   
       26 . The prosthesis of  claim 22 , further comprising one or more receiving devices located outside a patient's body, each receiving device capable of receiving signals transmitted by one or more transmitters.  
   
   
       27 . The prosthesis of  claim 22 , wherein one of the first and second endovascular graft components is generally tubular and each has a superior end, an inferior end and a midsection.  
   
   
       28 . The prosthesis of  claim 27 , wherein one or more sensors are located on the second endovascular graft component at a midsection thereof.  
   
   
       29 . The prosthesis of  claim 22 , wherein the first endovascular graft component has a trunk portion and at least one limb portion.  
   
   
       30 - 75 . (canceled)  
   
   
       76 . A method of measuring pertinent parameters in the vasculature of a patient, comprising: 
 providing one or more sensors in the vasculature, each sensor capable of measuring a pertinent parameter and transmitting the measurement to a receiving device;    providing a receiving/transmitting device capable of receiving measurements from the sensors and transmitting the measurements to a receiving device outside the patient's body; and    providing one or more receiving devices outside the patient's body, each receiving device capable of receiving the measurements transmitted by the receiving/transmitting device.    
   
   
       77 . The method of  claim 76 , wherein the sensors are attached to an endoluminal prosthesis implanted in the vasculature.  
   
   
       78 . The method of  claim 76 , wherein the sensors are attached to a lumen wall of the vasculature.  
   
   
       79 . The method of  claim 77 , the endoluminal prosthesis further comprising a first endovascular graft component and a second endovascular graft component for attachment to the first endovascular graft component, the second endovascular graft component having one or more sensors attached thereto and wherein at least one sensor is adjacent an aneurysm when the first and second endovascular graft components are implanted within the vasculature.  
   
   
       80 . The method of  claim 77 , the endoluminal prosthesis further comprising a first endovascular graft component and a second endovascular graft component for attachment to the first endovascular graft component, the second endovascular graft component having one or more sensors attached thereto and wherein at least one sensor is located on the external surface of the second endovascular graft component.  
   
   
       81 . The method of  claim 77 , the endoluminal prosthesis further comprising at least one integrated sensor/transmitter device capable of measuring and transmitting a pertinent parameter to the receiving device.  
   
   
       82 . The method of  claim 81 , wherein the integrated sensor/transmitter device is connected to one or more sensors by electrical leads and wherein the integrated sensor/transmitter device is capable of sensing the parameter measured by each sensor and transmitting the parameter to the receiving device.  
   
   
       83 . The method of  claim 76 , wherein the receiving/transmitting device is attached to a lumen wall of the vasculature.  
   
   
       84 . The method of  claim 76 , wherein the receiving/transmitting device is attached to an endovascular graft implanted in the vasculature.  
   
   
       85 - 106 . (canceled)