Endovascular prosthesis

Abstract

A novel endovascular approach useful in the treatment of aneurysms, particularly saccular aneurysms. The present endovascular prosthesis comprises a leaf portion capable of being urged against and blocking the opening of the aneurysm thereby leading to obliteration of the aneurysm. The leaf portion is attached to, and independently moveable with respect to, a body comprising at least one expandable portion. Thus, the body serves the general purpose of fixing the endovascular prosthesis in place at a target body passageway in the vicinity at which the aneurysm is located and the leaf portion serves the purpose of blocking the aneurysmal opening thereby leading to obliteration of the aneurysm. A method of delivering and implanting the endovascular prosthesis is also described.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A prosthesis for endovascular blocking of an aneurysmal opening, the prosthesis comprising: 
 a body having a promixal end, a distal end and at least one expandable portion disposed therebetween, the at least one expandable portion being expandable from a first, unexpanded state to a second, expanded state with a radially outward force thereon to urge the first expandable portion against a vascular lumen, and    a leaf portion attached to the body,    the leaf portion being independently moveable with respect to the body.    
     
     
         2 . The prosthesis defined in  claim 1 , wherein the leaf portion comprises a substantially non-porous section.  
     
     
         3 . The prosthesis defined in  claim 1 , wherein the at least one tubular expandable portion is porous.  
     
     
         4 . The prosthesis defined in  claim 1 , wherein the body comprises at least a pair of opposed tubular expandable portions.  
     
     
         5 . The prosthesis defined in  claim 4 , wherein the opposed tubular expandable portions are connected to one another by connection means.  
     
     
         6 . The prosthesis defined in  claim 4 , wherein the opposed tubular expandable portions are connected to one another by at least one wire.  
     
     
         7 . The prosthesis defined in  claim 4 , wherein the leaf portion is connected to one of the opposed tubular expandable portions.  
     
     
         8 . The prosthesis defined in  claim 4 , wherein the opposed tubular expandable portions comprise a porous surface.  
     
     
         9 . The prosthesis defined in  claim 4 , wherein the opposed tubular expandable portions, the connection means and the leaf portion are integrally formed.  
     
     
         10 . The prosthesis defined in  claim 1 , wherein the body is a tube.  
     
     
         11 . The prosthesis defined in  claim 1 , wherein the body is a porous tube.  
     
     
         12 . The prosthesis defined in  claim 12 , wherein the tube is constructed from a plastically deformable material.  
     
     
         13 . The prosthesis defined in  claim 12 , wherein the tube is constructed from a self-expanding material.  
     
     
         14 . The prosthesis defined in  claim 11 , wherein the leaf portion is a cut-out of the tube to define an opening in the body in the second position.  
     
     
         15 . The prosthesis defined in  claim 1 , wherein the leaf portion comprises a head.  
     
     
         16 . The prosthesis defined in  claim 1 , wherein the leaf portion comprises a neck which interconnects the head and the body.  
     
     
         17 . The prosthesis defined in  claim 1 , wherein the head is wider than the neck.  
     
     
         18 . The prosthesis defined in  claim 1 , wherein the leaf portion further comprises a pharmaceutically acceptable adhesive on a surface thereof.  
     
     
         19 . The prosthesis defined in  claim 1 , wherein the leaf portion further comprises mechanical adjustment means to adjust the position of the leaf portion with respect to the body.  
     
     
         20 . The prosthesis defined in  claim 19 , wherein the adjustment means comprises a wire attached to the leaf portion.  
     
     
         21 . The prosthesis defined in  claim 20 , wherein the wire is attached to the leaf portion at a point distal to the point at which the leaf portion is connected to the body.  
     
     
         22 . The prosthesis defined in  claim 1 , wherein the leaf portion further comprises a pharmaceutically acceptable compound capable of expanding and entering an opening in the aneurysm.  
     
     
         23 . The prosthesis defined in claim  28 , wherein the pharmaceutically acceptable compound expands upon activation.  
     
     
         24 . The prosthesis defined in claim  28 , wherein the pharmaceutically acceptable compound expands upon electrical activation.  
     
     
         25 . The prosthesis defined in  claim 1 , wherein the leaf portion comprises an aperture for receiving guide means for navigating the prosthesis to a target location.  
     
     
         26 . A method for endovascular blocking of an aneurysmal opening with a prosthesis comprising: a body having a promixal end, a distal end and at least one expandable portion disposed therebetween, and a leaf portion attached to the body, the method comprising the steps of: 
 disposing the prosthesis on a catheter;    inserting the prosthesis and catheter within a body passageway by catheterization of the body passageway;    translating the prosthesis and catheter to a target body passageway at which the aneurysm opening is located;    exerting a radially outward expansive force on the at least one expandable portion such that the at least one expandable portion is urged against the target body passageway;    urging the leaf portion against the aneurysmal opening thereby blocking the aneurysmal opening.    
     
     
         27 . A prosthesis for endovascular blocking of an aneurysmal opening, the prosthesis comprising: 
 a body having a longitudinal axis comprising at least one expandable portion, the at least one expandable portion being expandable from a first, unexpanded state to a second, expanded state with a radially outward force thereon to urge the first expandable portion against a vascular lumen, and    a leaf portion attached to the body,    the body being flexible between: (i) a first position in which the at least one expandable portion and the leaf portion are aligned along the longitudinal axis, and (ii) a second position in which the at least one expandable portion and the leaf are unaligned along the longitudinal axis.