Short body endoprosthesis

Abstract

The invention comprises, inter-alia, endoprosthetic implants for treating vascular defects, including abdominal aortic aneurysms. Implants according to the invention have a short main body that can be positioned within a patient's aorta at a position above the renal end of an aortic aneurysm. The short main body includes a proximal, or renal, face that redirects the flow of blood into the openings of channels that can carry blood past the aneurysm. In this way, the flow of blood through the aorta is diverted into the two passageways and through the main body of the implant. Fluid exiting the implant can be carried by leg extensions and delivered to a healthy part of the patient's aorta or the iliac arteries. Accordingly, the implant provides a system for allowing blood traveling through the aorta to be carried by a vascular graft that spans an aortic aneurysm, thereby relieving fluid pressure on the thin wall of aortic aneurysm, and reducing the risk of death caused by a ruptured aneurysm.

I claim:  
     
         1 . An endoprosthetic implant, comprising 
 a trunk having,    a proximal face including an aperture disposed therein,    a channel in fluid communication with said aperture and extending from said proximal face and having a portion adapted for coupling to a leg extension, and    an anchor coupled to a peripheral portion of said proximal face and adapted for engaging said proximal face to an interior tissue wall of a body lumen.    
     
     
         2 . An endoprosthetic implant according to  claim 1 , wherein 
 said proximal face comprises a substantially flat surface formed of a fluid resistant, biocompatible material suitable for disposition within a flow of fluid that occurs within the body lumen, said proximal face being adapted to redirect fluid flow through said channel.    
     
     
         3 . An endoprosthetic implant according to  claim 1 , wherein 
 said anchor comprises a tubular wire frame having a proximal opening and a distal opening.    
     
     
         4 . An endoprosthetic implant according to  claim 3 , including 
 a vascular graft having a bifurcated portion disposed within said tubular wire frame and having a first and second channel and a peripheral portion mounted to said proximal opening of said tubular wire frame for forming said proximal face.    
     
     
         5 . An endoprosthetic implant according to  claim 3 , wherein 
 said anchor is radially compressible for allowing said trunk to be carried within a lumen of a catheter delivery system.    
     
     
         6 . An endoprosthetic implant according to  claim 3 , wherein 
 said anchor includes a resilient wire frame capable of being placed under compression for providing a radially expansive force for sealing said trunk against the tissue wall of the body lumen.    
     
     
         7 . An endoprosthetic implant according to  claim 1 , wherein 
 said trunk is dimensionally adapted for disposition within a short section of the body lumen, for disposition above a site of an aneurysm.    
     
     
         8 . An endoprosthetic implant according to  claim 1 , wherein said trunk has a longitudinal length between approximately 1.0 cm.-3.0 cm.  
     
     
         9 . An endoprosthetic implant according to  claim 1 , further comprising 
 a tubular leg extension having an interior channel and having an upper end being contractible radially for insertion into said channel and being dimensionally adapted for spanning an aneurysm.    
     
     
         10 . An endoprosthetic implant according to  claim 1 , further comprising 
 hook elements coupled to said trunk for joining said trunk to the tissue of the body lumen.    
     
     
         11 . An endoprosthetic implant according to  claim 1 , wherein 
 said trunk comprises a solid plug of biocompatible material having two interior passageways extending therethrough for defining said first and second channels.    
     
     
         11 A. An endoprosthetic implant according to  claim 11 , wherein said biocompatible material is elastomeric.  
     
     
         12 . An endoprosthetic implant according to  claim 1 , wherein 
 said anchor is disposed proximate said proximal face.    
     
     
         13 . An endoprosthetic implant according to  claim 12 , further including 
 an extension loop frame having a distal loop portion for coupling to a spoke element of a catheter delivery system, whereby said catheter delivery system may deliver, recapture and reposition said implant within the body lumen.    
     
     
         14 . A method for providing a vascular graft within a body lumen, comprising the steps of 
 providing a trunk having a proximal face and a distal face and at least one channel extending longitudinally therethrough, and    disposing said trunk within the body lumen and orienting said proximal face to redirect a flow of fluid moving through the body lumen through at least one said channel.    
     
     
         15 . A method according to  claim 14 , including the further step of 
 coupling a tubular leg extension into said channel for forming a continuous lumen for carrying fluid to a healthy portion of a patient's vasculature.    
     
     
         16 . A method according to  claim 14 , wherein said step of providing a trunk includes the step of 
 providing a trunk having an anchor formed of a resilient wire frame capable of being placed under compression to provide a radially expansive force for forming a compression fit for fluidicly sealing said implant against the tissue of the body lumen.    
     
     
         17 . A method according to  claim 16 , wherein said step of providing a trunk includes the step of 
 providing a trunk having a longitudinal length of between approximately 1.0 cm.-3.0 cm. for fixedly engaging said implant to a short portion of the body lumen.    
     
     
         18 . A method according to  claim 14 , including the further step of 
 providing hooks for connecting said implant to the tissue of the body lumen.    
     
     
         19 . A method according to  claim 14 , including the further step of 
 providing a radially compressible extension loop frame having a distal portion including a loop adapted for coupling with a spoke of a catheter delivery system.    
     
     
         20 . A method according to  claim 14 , wherein said step of providing a trunk includes the step of 
 providing a trunk having a body formed of a solid material with at least one channel disposed therein.    
     
     
         21 . A method of forming a bifurcated implant, comprising the steps of 
 providing an anchor formed of a resilient wire frame capable of being radially compressed and having a generally tubular shape including a proximal opening and a distal opening,    providing a vascular graft having a bifurcated portion and a proximal portion coupled thereto,    disposing said bifurcated portion within said anchor, and    mounting said proximal portion of said graft to said proximal opening of said anchor to form a face for said implant having at least one opening for receiving fluid.    
     
     
         22 . A method according to  claim 21 , wherein said step of providing a vascular graft includes the step of 
 providing a bifurcated graft having a proximal portion formed as a unitary channel and having a bifurcated portion formed as two legs extending from said unitary channel.    
     
     
         23 . A method according to  claim 21 , wherein said step of providing a vascular graft includes the step of 
 providing a bifurcated graft woven from a biocompatible material and having a bifurcated section formed therein.    
     
     
         24 . A method according to  claim 21 , wherein said step of providing a vascular graft includes the step of 
 providing a graft formed as a unitary tubular body,    placing a stitch within said unitary tubular body along a centrally located longitudinal axis, to form said bifurcated portion.