Kink resistant bifurcated prosthesis

Abstract

The invention relates to an endoluminal prosthesis adapted for placement at a bifurcation site within the body. The stent or stent-graft may be constructed to have segments of differing structural properties. A section of the stent-graft may be constructed to have a single-lumen tubular stent member covering a multilumen graft member. The stent-graft may comprise at least two modular components adapted for in situ assembly. An extended cylindrical interference fit may be used to seal the modular components.

1 . An implantable endoluminal prosthesis adapted for placement at a bifurcation site within a body, said device having at least two segments, at least one of said segments having structural properties different from another of said segments. 
   
   
       2 . The endoluminal prosthesis of  claim 1  wherein said device comprises a main body component and a contralateral leg component. 
   
   
       3 . The endoluminal prosthesis of  claim 1  wherein at least one of said components has a segment having an axial stiffness that is higher than adjacent segments. 
   
   
       4 . The endoluminal prosthesis of  claim 3  wherein said segment of higher axial stiffness comprises at least one extended strut. 
   
   
       5 . A stent section comprising a wire structure having undulations, said undulations characterized by an alternating series of upper apexes and lower apexes, said wire structure arranged in a helical configuration having at least a first turn and a second turn, said first turn having at least one lower apex which extends to substantially meet a lower apex of said second turn. 
   
   
       6 . The stent section of  5  wherein said upper and lower apexes of said of said first turn are in-phase with said apexes of said second turn. 
   
   
       7 . The stent section of  5  wherein said stent section comprises multiple turns, each one of said multiple turns having at least one lower apex which extends to substantially meet a lower apex of an adjacent turn. 
   
   
       8 . The stent section of  7  wherein the extended apex of each turn is spaced one undulation from the extended apex of a successive turn. 
   
   
       9 . A modular prosthesis adapted for placement at a bifurcation site within a body, said prosthesis comprising:
 a main body component having an extended cylindrical female receiving portion; and   a leg component having a mating cylindrical male portion, adapted for attachment to said extended cylindrical female receiving portion.   
   
   
       10 . The modular prosthesis of  claim 9  wherein said male portion is attached within said female portion by an interference fit. 
   
   
       11 . The modular prosthesis of  claim 10  wherein cylindrical male portion has a first diameter and said cylindrical female portion has a diameter smaller than said first diameter. 
   
   
       12 . The modular prosthesis of  claim 10  wherein said female receiving portion further comprises a zone of decreased diameter in the vicinity of an anchoring ring, said anchoring ring being attached to said female receiving portion.