Medical device including corrugated braid and associated method

Abstract

Embodiments of the present invention provide medical devices for treating a target site within the body and associated methods for fabricating and delivering medical devices. According to one embodiment, a medical device includes a tubular structure having proximal and distal ends and a side wall extending therebetween. At least a portion of the side wall can have a corrugated surface. The side wall further includes at least one layer of a metallic fabric configured to be compressed and heat set to define the corrugated surface. The tubular structure may comprise an expanded shape, and may be configured to be constrained to a smaller diameter than the expanded shape for delivery within a catheter to a target site and to assume the expanded shape upon release from the catheter.

1 . A medical device for treating a target site within the body, the medical device comprising:
 a tubular structure having proximal and distal ends and a side wall extending therebetween, at least a portion of the side wall having a corrugated surface, the tubular side wall comprising at least one layer of a metallic fabric configured to be compressed and heat set to define the corrugated surface.   
     
     
         2 . The medical device of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one layer of metallic fabric comprises a shape memory alloy. 
     
     
         3 . The medical device of  claim 1 , wherein the side wall comprises a plurality of layers of metallic fabric. 
     
     
         4 . The medical device of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one layer of metallic fabric is configured to facilitate thrombosis. 
     
     
         5 . The medical device of  claim 1 , wherein the tubular structure is configured to be moved between an expanded and an unexpanded shape, and wherein the tubular structure is configured to be constrained to an unexpanded shape for delivery within a catheter to a target site and to assume the expanded shape upon release from the catheter. 
     
     
         6 . The medical device of  claim 1 , wherein the side wall comprises a plurality of corrugated portions each comprising a corrugated surface, and wherein at least two corrugated portions of the plurality of corrugated portions are separated from one another by a non-corrugated portion. 
     
     
         7 . The medical device of  claim 6 , wherein one corrugated portion of the plurality of corrugated portions is located adjacent to at least one of the proximal end or the distal end. 
     
     
         8 . The medical device of  claim 1 , wherein the corrugated surface comprises a plurality of annular ridges each extending about an entire circumference of the tubular structure. 
     
     
         9 . The medical device of  claim 1 , wherein the medical device is one of a stent graft, an occluder, a shunt, or a flow restrictor. 
     
     
         10 . The medical device of  claim 1 , wherein the side wall is configured to be elongated such that at least a portion of the corrugated surface has a generally sinusoidal profile along a direction generally aligned with a central axis of the tubular structure. 
     
     
         11 . The medical device of  claim 1 , wherein the corrugated surface comprises a spiral ridge each extending about a circumference of the tubular structure. 
     
     
         12 . A method for increasing the radial strength of a medical device comprising:
 providing a tubular structure comprised of at least one layer of metallic material and having proximal and distal ends and a side wall extending therebetween;   compressing the tubular structure such that the side wall defines at least one corrugated surface extending at least partially between the proximal and distal ends; and   heat setting the compressed tubular structure.   
     
     
         13 . A method according to  claim 12 , wherein compressing comprises axially compressing the tubular structure. 
     
     
         14 . A method according to  claim 12 , further comprising forming the tubular structure from a plurality of metallic strands. 
     
     
         15 . A method according to  claim 14 , wherein compressing comprises compressing the tubular structure until a plurality of the strands buckle to define the corrugated surface. 
     
     
         16 . A method of delivering a medical device to a target site within the body, the method comprising:
 constraining to a smaller diameter a tubular structure having proximal and distal ends and a side wall extending therebetween, at least one portion of the side wall having a corrugated surface, the side wall comprising at least one layer of metallic material configured to be heat set to define an expanded shape, wherein the expanded shape is constrainable to a smaller diameter;   positioning the constrained tubular structure in a catheter;   delivering the tubular structure proximate to the target site; and   deploying the tubular structure from the catheter such that the tubular structure assumes the expanded shape.   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein constraining comprises axially elongating the tubular structure. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein constraining comprises constraining the tubular structure to an outer diameter of less than about  15  French. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein delivering comprises delivering the tubular structure over a guidewire. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein delivering comprises delivering the tubular structure such that the tubular structure self-expands and generally assumes the expanded shape. 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein delivering comprises compressing the tubular structure so as to urge the tubular structure back to the expanded shape. 
     
     
         22 . A medical device for treating a target site within the body, the medical device comprising:
 a tubular structure having proximal and distal ends and a side wall extending therebetween, at least a portion of the side wall having a corrugated portion that extends partially between the proximal and distal ends, has a first diameter, and has a corrugated surface, the side wall further comprising at least one non-corrugated portion adjacent the corrugated portion, extending partially between the proximal and distal ends, and having a second diameter not equal to the first diameter.   
     
     
         23 . The medical device of  claim 22 , wherein the side wall comprises at least one layer of a metallic material configured to be compressed and heat set to define the at least one corrugated portion. 
     
     
         24 . The medical device of  claim 23 , wherein the at least one layer of metallic material is configured to facilitate thrombosis. 
     
     
         25 . The medical device of  claim 22 , wherein the at least one corrugated portion is located adjacent to at least one of the proximal end or the distal end. 
     
     
         26 . The medical device of  claim 22 , wherein the side wall comprises a plurality of corrugated portions, and wherein a pair of the corrugated portions are separated by the at least one non-corrugated portion. 
     
     
         27 . The medical device of  claim 22 , wherein the tubular structure is one of a stent graft, a shunt, a flow restrictor, or an occluder. 
     
     
         28 . The medical device of  claim 22 , wherein the second diameter is less than the first diameter.