Implantable vascular device having longitudinal struts

Abstract

An implantable frame comprises a plurality of corner structures configured to decrease pressure to the vessel wall and define pulsatility enhancing windows of the implantable frame. The corner structures may comprise plurality of neighboring longitudinal struts that extend in a longitudinal direction of the blood vessel when placed to form the vessel wall to a substantially polygonal cross-section and distribute pressure loading of the corner structure among the plurality of neighboring longitudinal struts to improve biocompatibility. The corner structures also allow increased forming of the vessel wall and can provide stretching of the vessel wall to enhance pulsatility of the vessel wall.

1 . (canceled) 
     
     
         2 . A method of treating a subject, the method comprising:
 placing an implantable frame in a blood vessel of the subject in a collapsed profile configuration, the implantable frame comprising:
 a plurality of corner structures, each corner structure comprising a pair of circumferentially adjacent longitudinal struts joined by a plurality of transverse members so as to define one or more openings extending between the pair of circumferentially adjacent longitudinal struts, and 
 a plurality of connecting members, each connecting member extending laterally between longitudinal ends of a pair of circumferentially adjacent corner structures, the connecting members in combination with the plurality of corner structures defining a plurality of windows, each window defining a side of the implantable frame, wherein each side of the frame comprises a single window; and 
   expanding the implantable frame from the collapsed profile configuration to an expanded profile configuration in the blood vessel,   wherein the implantable frame, when in the expanded profile configuration, defines a polygonal cross-section having a plurality of sides from a proximal end thereof to a distal end thereof,   wherein the corner structures and the connecting members are arranged together to define the shape of the polygonal cross-section and the polygonal cross-section lies in a plane transverse to a longitudinal axis of the implantable frame, and   wherein the implantable frame expanded in the blood vessel reshapes the blood vessel to modulate baroreceptor activity.   
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein placing the implantable frame in the blood vessel comprises placing the implantable frame in an artery. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein the artery is a carotid artery, a common carotid artery, an internal carotid artery, an external carotid artery, an aortic arch, a renal artery, a subclavian artery, or a braciocephalic artery. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein the implantable frame is expanded in the blood vessel to have a percentage of a surface area of the implantable frame contacting a wall of the blood vessel divided by a surface area of the blood vessel wall that covers the plurality of windows and the implantable frame of no more than 12%. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the implantable frame expanded in the blood vessel reshapes the blood vessel to have a plurality of flattened sides. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the modulation of baroreceptor activity lowers a blood pressure of the patient. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the implantable frame comprises from three to five corner structures. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein, for one or more of the corner structures, the two circumferential adjacent longitudinal struts are joined with two to three transverse members. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein, the implantable frame comprises six to ten connecting members. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the connecting members in combination with the circumferentially adjacent corner structures defines three to five windows. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein each window of the plurality of windows is sized to enhance pulsatility of the wall. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the one or more openings extending between two circumferentially adjacent longitudinal struts of each corner structure allow tissue in-growth over the corner structure. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the modulation of baroreceptor activity improves baroreceptor sensitivity. 
     
     
         15 . A method of treating a subject, the method comprising:
 expanding an implantable frame in a blood vessel of the subject so that:
 (i) a plurality of corner structures of the implantable frame contact an inner wall of the blood vessel, each corner structure comprising a pair of circumferentially adjacent longitudinal struts joined by a plurality of transverse members so as to define one or more openings extending between the pair of circumferentially adjacent longitudinal struts of each corner structure, and 
 (ii) a plurality of connecting members of the implantable frame, each connecting member extending laterally between longitudinal ends of a pair of circumferentially adjacent corner structures, in combination with the plurality of corner structures define a plurality of windows, each window defining a side of the frame, 
   wherein each side of the frame comprises a single window; and
 reshaping a blood vessel of a subject with the plurality of windows of the expanded implantable frame to modulate baroceptor activity. 
   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the blood vessel is reshaped to have a polygonal cross-sectional shape comprising a plurality of regions of decreased curvature and a plurality of regions of increased curvature. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the plurality of regions of decreased curvature comprise three to five such regions. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the plurality of regions of increased curvature comprise three to give such regions. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the plurality of regions of decreased curvature are free to move past a plane of the window during systole. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the polygonal cross-sectional shape of the blood vessel lies in a plane perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the implantable frame and wherein the implantable frame defines a polygonal cross-section having from the plurality of sides from a proximal end thereof to a distal end thereof. 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the longitudinal struts of the plurality of corner structures comprise a thickness extending in a radial direction away from the longitudinal axis of the implantable frame, and wherein each of the windows is dimensioned to allow at least the portion of the vessel wall to move a distance greater than the thickness between systole and diastole. 
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the implantable frame is expanded in an artery. 
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 22 , wherein the artery is a carotid artery, a common carotid artery, an internal carotid artery, an external carotid artery, an aortic arch, a renal artery, a subclavian artery, or a braciocephalic artery. 
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the implantable frame is expanded in the blood vessel to have a percentage of a surface area of the implantable frame contacting the inner wall of the blood vessel divided by a surface area of the inner wall of the that covers the plurality of windows and the implantable frame of no more than 12%. 
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the implantable frame expanded in the blood vessel reshapes the blood vessel to have a plurality of flattened sides. 
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the modulation of baroreceptor activity lowers a blood pressure of the patient. 
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the one or more openings extending between two circumferentially adjacent longitudinal struts of each corner structure allow tissue in-growth over the corner structure. 
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the modulation of baroreceptor activity improves baroreceptor sensitivity.