Devices and methods for treatment of abdominal aortic aneurysm

Abstract

Devices and methods for treating aneurysms, such as abdominal aortic aneurysms (“AAA”) generally include one or more stent-graft devices. Some embodiments include self-expanding and/or balloon-expandable stent components and one or more graft components coupled with the stent components. Using various combinations of self-expanding stent members, balloon-expandable stent members, graft members, and/or anchoring members enhances the anchoring abilities of a stent-graft device to prevent leakage around it, and may further allow the device to be adjusted after placement at a site for treatment. Some embodiments further include a skirt graft member for further prevention of leakage and/or device slippage.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A stent for implanting in a vessel, said stent comprising:
 an expandable stent having a first end, a second end opposite the first end and a central lumen extending therebetween,   wherein the expandable stent has a collapsed configuration and an expanded configuration,   wherein in the collapsed configuration the stent is configured for delivery to a vessel,   wherein in the expanded configuration, at least a portion of the stent is configured to engage the vessel, and   wherein in the expanded configuration the central lumen forms a helix between the first and second ends.   
     
     
         2 . The stent of  claim 1 , wherein the stent is balloon expandable. 
     
     
         3 . The stent of  claim 1 , wherein the stent is self-expanding. 
     
     
         4 . The stent of  claim 1 , wherein in the collapsed configuration, the stent is disposed in a straight configuration. 
     
     
         5 . The stent of  claim 1 , further comprising a tubular graft member coupled with the expandable stent. 
     
     
         6 . The stent of  claim 1 , wherein the stent is pre-formed with a helical portion having shape memory characteristics that allow it to resume a helical shape once delivered. 
     
     
         7 . The stent of  claim 1 , wherein in the expanded configuration the stent is configured to engage the vessel thereby preventing leakage therearound. 
     
     
         8 . The stent of  claim 1 , wherein the vessel is an artery. 
     
     
         9 . The stent of  claim 8 , wherein the artery is an iliac artery, a carotid artery, a cerebral artery, or a coronary artery. 
     
     
         10 . The stent of  claim 1 , wherein the stent comprises a series of diamond shaped sections. 
     
     
         11 . The stent of  claim 1 , wherein the stent comprises a wire wound in a helical fashion. 
     
     
         12 . The stent of  claim 1 , wherein the helical configuration provides 360 degrees of helix. 
     
     
         13 . The stent of  claim 1 , wherein the helical configuration provides 540 degrees of helix. 
     
     
         14 . The stent of  claim 1 , wherein the helical configuration provides greater than 540 degrees of helix. 
     
     
         15 . The stent of  claim 1 , wherein the stent is configured for implantation in an aorta. 
     
     
         16 . The stent of  claim 1 , wherein the stent provides long-term elasticity and laminar flow without causing dramatic atherosclerotic response within the stent due to turbulence or shear. 
     
     
         17 . A method for implanting a stent in a vessel, said method comprising:
 providing an expandable stent having a first end, a second end opposite the first end and a central lumen extending therebetween;   delivering the expandable stent in a collapsed configuration to a treatment region in the vessel;   expanding the stent from the collapsed configuration to an expanded configuration in which the stent at least partially engages the vessel, and wherein expanding the stent forms the central lumen into a helix, the helix disposed between the first and second ends.   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , further comprising permitting blood flow through the helical central lumen, wherein the helical central lumen creates sufficiently laminar blood flow. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the sufficiently laminar blood flow avoids causing an atherosclerotic response in the vessel due to turbulence or shear in the blood flow. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein expanding the stent comprises expanding the stent with a balloon. 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein expanding the stent comprises allowing the stent to self-expand. 
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein expanding the stent comprises releasing the stent from a sheath or constraining device, thereby allowing the stent to self-expand. 
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein delivering the stent in the collapsed configuration comprises maintaining the stent in a straight configuration. 
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein providing the expandable stent further comprises providing a tubular graft member coupled with the expandable stent. 
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein expanding the stent to engage the vessel comprises preventing fluid leakage therearound. 
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the vessel comprises an artery. 
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 26  wherein the artery comprises an aorta, an iliac artery, a carotid artery, a cerebral artery, or a coronary artery.