Stent graft assembly and method

Abstract

A method for assembling a stent graft onto a balloon delivery catheter is disclosed. The method includes the steps of: assembling a graft over a stent with attached security rings and inserting the ends of the graft between the stent and the rings; placing the assembled stent graft on the delivery balloon of the delivery catheter; and crimping the stent graft onto the balloon. The stent may include a plurality of axially aligned belts that include a plurality of mid belts, and first and second end belts, where each of the mid belts includes a plurality of circumferentially spaced struts having first and second ends adjoining first sinusoidal-shaped elements, and each of the first and second end belts includes at least about twice the number of circumferentially spaced struts adjoining second sinusoidal-shaped elements. Also disclosed is a stent graft for use in practicing the method.

It is claimed:  
     
         1 . A stent graft, comprising 
 a stent and a graft in the form of a polymeric sleeve extending over at least a portion of the stent, and    security rings attached on opposite ends of the stent graft to prevent inadvertent displacement of the graft with respect to the stent during deployment of the stent graft into a vessel in a patient.    
     
     
         2 . The stent graft of  claim 1 , wherein said stent comprises 
 a plurality of axially aligned belts comprising a plurality of mid belts, and first and second end belts;    where each of said mid belts comprises a plurality of circumferentially spaced struts having first and second ends adjoining first sinusoidal-shaped elements, and each of said first and second end belts comprise at least about twice the number of circumferentially spaced struts adjoining second sinusoidal-shaped elements compared to the number of said struts in said mid belts.    
     
     
         3 . The stent graft of  claim 2 , wherein the first and second sinusoidal-shaped elements have hinge points, and the second sinusoidal-shaped elements have narrower hinge points relative to the hinge points of the first sinusoidal-shaped elements.  
     
     
         4 . The stent graft of  claim 1 , wherein said attachment is a weld.  
     
     
         5 . The stent graft of  claim 4 , wherein said weld is a laser weld.  
     
     
         6 . The stent graft of  claim 1 , wherein the graft is ePTFE.  
     
     
         7 . The stent graft of  claim 1 , wherein the graft further includes a bioactive coating thereon.  
     
     
         8 . The stent graft of  claim 1 , wherein one or both of the security rings further includes a radiopaque marker carried thereon.  
     
     
         9 . The stent graft of  claim 8 , wherein one or both of the security rings includes an eyelet and wherein the radiopaque material is disposed in the eyelet.  
     
     
         10 . A method for assembling a stent graft onto a balloon delivery catheter, comprising: 
 assembling a graft over a stent with attached security rings and inserting the ends of the graft between the stent and the rings;    placing the assembled stent graft on the delivery balloon of the delivery catheter; and    crimping the stent graft onto the balloon.    
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein said stent comprises 
 a plurality of axially aligned belts comprising a plurality of mid belts, and first and second end belts;    where each of said mid belts comprises a plurality of circumferentially spaced struts having first and second ends adjoining first sinusoidal-shaped elements, and each of said first and second end belts comprise at least about twice the number of circumferentially spaced struts adjoining second sinusoidal-shaped elements compared to the number of said struts in said mid belts.    
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the first and second sinusoidal-shaped elements have hinge points, and the second sinusoidal-shaped elements have narrower hinge points relative to the hinge points of the first sinusoidal-shaped elements.  
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein said attachment is a weld.  
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein said weld is a laser weld.  
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein said graft is ePTFE.  
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the graft further includes a bioactive coating thereon.  
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein one or both of the security rings further includes a radiopaque marker carried thereon.  
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein one or both of the security rings includes an eyelet and wherein the radiopaque material is disposed in the eyelet.