Braided Flange Branch Graft for Branch Vessel

Abstract

A braided flange branch graft formed of a braided super elastic memory material includes a neck between an inner flange and an outer flange. The neck is positioned in a side opening in a sidewall of a main stent graft and the inner flange and outer flange are deployed on opposite sides of the sidewall. The inner flange and the outer flange have a diameter greater than a diameter of the side opening in the sidewall of the main stent graft. Thus, the sidewall of the main stent graft is sandwiched between the inner flange and the outer flange securely and simply mounting the braided flange branch graft to the main stent graft. The braided flange has a substantially unobstructed fluid communication passage therethrough. Further, when stretched into a substantially cylindrical shape for delivery, the braided flange branch graft has a small delivery profile and is extremely flexible.

1 . An assembly comprising a braided flange branch graft around a tubular opening, said braided flange branch graft formed from a braided super elastic memory material, said braided flange branch graft comprising:
 a first flange;   a second flange;   a neck between said first flange and said second flange; and   a trunk extending longitudinally from said second flange;   wherein said tubular opening is the beginning of a substantially unobstructed passageway through and substantially along an axis of the braided flange.   
   
   
       2 . The assembly of  claim 1  wherein said first flange and said second flange extend radial outward from said neck. 
   
   
       3 . The assembly of  claim 1  wherein said first flange and said second flange have a first diameter greater than a second diameter of said neck. 
   
   
       4 . The assembly of  claim 1  wherein said first flange, said second flange, and said neck collectively define an annular channel. 
   
   
       5 . The assembly of  claim 1  wherein said first flange is disk shaped. 
   
   
       6 . The assembly of  claim 5  wherein said first flange comprises an outer radial perimeter that is circular. 
   
   
       7 . The assembly of  claim 5  wherein said first flange increases in thickness towards a radial center of said first flange. 
   
   
       8 . The assembly of  claim 5  wherein said first flange has a uniform thickness. 
   
   
       9 . The assembly of  claim 5  wherein said second flange is disk shaped. 
   
   
       10 . The assembly of  claim 1  wherein said trunk comprises a base attached to said second flange. 
   
   
       11 . The assembly of  claim 1  wherein said trunk is cylindrical. 
   
   
       12 . The assembly of  claim 1  wherein said braided flange branch graft defines a lumen extending through said braided flange branch graft. 
   
   
       13 . The assembly of  claim 1  wherein said braided flange branch graft further comprises an elastic cover over said braided super elastic memory material. 
   
   
       14 . An assembly comprising:
 a main stent graft comprising a sidewall with a side opening therein; and   a braided flange branch graft connected to said main stent graft, said braided flange branch graft formed from a braided super elastic memory material, said braided flange branch graft elements comprising:   a first flange on an inside of said main stent graft;   a second flange on an outside of said main stent graft;   a neck between said first flange and said second flange, said neck being located in said side opening; and   a trunk extending longitudinally from said second flange,   where a substantially unobstructed side passage provides fluid communication through said braided flange elements through said side opening.   
   
   
       15 . The assembly of  claim 14  wherein said sidewall is sandwiched between said first flange and said second flange. 
   
   
       16 . The assembly of  claim 14  wherein said first flange and said second flange are deployed on opposite sides of said sidewall of said main stent graft. 
   
   
       17 . The assembly of  claim 14  wherein said first flange and said second flange have a first diameter greater than a second diameter of said side opening. 
   
   
       18 . The assembly of  claim 14  wherein said sidewall is located within an annular channel defined by said first flange, said neck, and said second flange. 
   
   
       19 . The assembly of  claim 14  wherein said first flange, said neck, and said second flange form a means for locking said braided flange branch graft to said main stent graft. 
   
   
       20 . The assembly of  claim 14  wherein said braided flange branch graft defines a lumen in fluid communication with a lumen of said main stent graft. 
   
   
       21 . A delivery system comprising:
 a braided flange branch graft formed from a braided super elastic memory material, said braided flange branch graft comprising:   a first flange;   a second flange;   a neck between said first flange and said second flange; and   a trunk extending longitudinally from said second flange, said braided flange branch graft being stretched into a substantially cylindrical shape;   a handle;   an inner member extending distally from said handle, said braided flange branch graft being located over a distal end of said inner member;   a neck hook connected to said neck of said braided flange branch graft;   an inner end hook connected to an inner end of said braided flange branch graft, said first flange being stretched between said inner end hook and said neck hook; and   a base hook connected to a base of said trunk, said second flange being stretched between said neck hook and said base hook.   
   
   
       22 . The delivery system of  claim 21  wherein said handle comprises:
 an inner end hook slider connected to said inner end hook by an inner end hook connector; and   a base hook slider connected to said base hook by a base hook connector.   
   
   
       23 . The delivery system of  claim 22  wherein said handle further comprises:
 an inner end adjustment ring threadedly connected to said inner end hook slider; and   a base adjustment ring threadedly connected to said base hook slider.   
   
   
       24 . The delivery system of  claim 22  wherein said inner end hook connector comprises a wire. 
   
   
       25 . The delivery system of  claim 22  wherein said base hook connector comprises a pair of coaxial hypo tubes. 
   
   
       26 . The delivery system of  claim 21  wherein said neck hook is connected to said inner member. 
   
   
       27 . The delivery system of  claim 21  wherein said inner member defines a guide wire lumen, said delivery system further comprising a guide wire in said guide wire lumen. 
   
   
       28 . The delivery system of  claim 21  further comprising an outer end hook connected to an outer end of said braided flange branch graft, said outer end hook stretching said trunk. 
   
   
       29 . The delivery system of  claim 28  wherein said handle comprises:
 an outer end hook slider connected to said outer end hook by an outer end hook connector; and   an outer end adjustment ring threadedly connected to said outer end hook slider.   
   
   
       30 . A method of forming an intra-vascular assembly comprising:
 deploying a main stent graft comprising a sidewall having a side opening therein;   stretching a braided flange branch graft into a substantially cylindrical shape, said braided flange branch graft formed from a braided super elastic memory material, said braided flange branch graft element comprising:   a first flange;   a second flange;   a neck between said first flange and said second flange; and   a trunk extending longitudinally from said second flange, where a substantially unobstructed passage for fluid communication is provided through said braided flange element;   positioning said neck within said side opening;   deploying said first flange inside of said main stent graft; and   deploying said second flange outside of said main stent graft, wherein said sidewall of said main stent graft is sandwiched between said first flange and said second flange.   
   
   
       31 . The method of  claim 30  further comprising deploying said trunk.