Aneurysm stent

Abstract

The present invention relates to an aneurysm stent having a base and connector. The base has a vessel facing side and an aneurysm facing side, and is shaped to cover an aneurysm sufficiently. The connector is coupled to the aneurysm facing side of the base such that when deployed the connector is adapted to extend partially into the aneurysm to anchor the base about the aneurysm and inhibit flow into the aneurysm.

We claim:  
     
         1 . An apparatus to inhibit flow to an aneurysm, comprising: 
 a base having a vessel facing side and an aneurysm facing side;    the base comprising a shape sufficient to cover an aneurysm;    a connector; and    the connector coupled to the aneurysm facing side,    wherein the connector is adapted to anchor the base about the aneurysm to inhibit flow into the aneurysm.    
     
     
         2 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the connector is a coil adapted to pack in the aneurysm.  
     
     
         3 . The apparatus according to  claim 2 , wherein the connector is adapted to couple to at least one of the group consisting of: GDCs, balloons, liners, polymers, and clotting agents.  
     
     
         4 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein: 
 the base comprises an edge; and    the connector has at least a first prong, such that the edge and at least the first prong form a clamp that grips the vessel wall to seat the base about the aneurysm.    
     
     
         5 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein: 
 the base comprises graft material.    
     
     
         6 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein: 
 the base comprises self-expanding material such that the base can be delivered in a small package and expands on deployment to cover the aneurysm.    
     
     
         7 . The apparatus according to  claim 6 , wherein the base also comprises graft material.  
     
     
         8 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the connector comprises at least one coil adapted to engage GDCs packed in the aneurysm.  
     
     
         9 . The apparatus according to  claim 8 , wherein the at least one coil is made of at least a first shaped memory alloy.  
     
     
         10 . The apparatus according to  claim 9 , wherein the at least one coil is deformed such that on thermal treatment the at least one coil engages GDCs and provides a force tending to seat the base about the aneurysm.  
     
     
         11 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the base is at least one of a triangular shape, a circular shape, a conical shape, a spherical shape, an elliptical shape, a rectangular shape, and an irregular shape.  
     
     
         12 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the base resides completely in the vessel.  
     
     
         13 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the aneurysm facing side is coated with an adhesive.  
     
     
         14 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the connector comprises a post to be anchored in an occlusion in the aneurysm.  
     
     
         15 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the connector comprises at least one prong extending along an interior wall of the aneurysm, the at least one prong adapted to be held in place by at least one of a balloon or liner inserted in the aneurysm.  
     
     
         16 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the base comprises at least one base coil arranged to expand on deployment.  
     
     
         17 . The apparatus according to  claim 16 , wherein the at least one base coil expands on activation.  
     
     
         18 . The apparatus according to  claim 16 , wherein the at least one base coil is arranged in the shape of a spiral.  
     
     
         19 . The apparatus according to  claim 16 , wherein the at least one base coil comprises a shaped memory alloy that is activated on thermal manipulation.  
     
     
         20 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the vessel facing side is coated with a material to stimulate cell growth and encourage formation of a pseudointima.  
     
     
         21 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the connector is a tightly wound coil of material that expands to a corkscrew shape to anchor the stent.  
     
     
         22 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the connector is a plurality of rings that expand to anchor the stent.  
     
     
         23 . The apparatus according to  claim 22 , wherein the plurality of cross-linked rings are orthogonal.  
     
     
         24 . An aneurysm stent, comprising: 
 a base;    at least one connector coupled to the base;    the at least one connector adapted to be inserted into an aneurysm packed with GDCs and, upon insertion, to curl and pack into the aneurysm.    
     
     
         25 . The aneurysm stent according to  claim 24 , wherein: 
 the at least one connector is coupled to a geometric center of the base.    
     
     
         26 . The aneurysm stent according to  claim 24 , wherein: 
 the at least one connector is at least two connectors, each connector extending in the aneurysm.    
     
     
         27 . The aneurysm stent according to  claim 26 , wherein: 
 the at least two connectors are coupled to the base in a symmetrical manner.    
     
     
         28 . The aneurysm stent according to  claim 24 , wherein the at least one connector is made of a first shaped memory alloy.  
     
     
         29 . The aneurysm stent according to  claim 28 , wherein the base is made of a second shaped memory alloy.  
     
     
         30 . The aneurysm stent according to  claim 29 , wherein the first shaped memory alloy and the second shaped memory alloy are the same.  
     
     
         31 . The aneurysm stent according to  claim 30 , wherein the first shaped memory alloy and the second shaped memory alloy are nitinol.  
     
     
         32 . The aneurysm stent according to  claim 24 , wherein the base has a vessel side and an aneurysm side, the vessel side comprises a layer of biocompatible material that promotes permanent fixation of the stent  
     
     
         33 . The aneurysm stent according to  claim 32 , wherein the biocompatible material is a graft coated with a material to stimulate cell growth and encourage formation of a pseudointima.  
     
     
         34 . The aneurysm stent according to  claim 32 , wherein the aneurysm side has a layer of adhesive.  
     
     
         35 . An apparatus to inhibit flow to an aneurysm, comprising: 
 a base having a vessel facing side and an aneurysm facing side;    the base comprising a shape sufficient to cover an aneurysm; and    means for anchoring the base about the aneurysm to inhibit flow into the aneurysm.    
     
     
         36 . The apparatus according to  claim 35 , wherein the means for anchoring comprises: 
 at least one of a coil, a post, a prong, and a clamp.    
     
     
         37 . A method for obstructing the flow of blood through the neck of an aneurysm, the method comprising the steps of: 
 passing a catheter to the site of an aneurysm;    inserting an anchor into the aneurysm;    deploying an aneurysm base to block the neck of the aneurysm; and    anchoring the aneurysm base about the neck of the aneurysm using the anchor to inhibit the flow of blood in the aneurysm.    
     
     
         38 . The method according to  claim 37 , further comprising the step of: 
 packing material in the aneurysm to form an occlusion.    
     
     
         39 . The method according to  claim 38 , wherein the anchoring step includes engaging the anchor with the packed material.  
     
     
         40 . The method according to  claim 38 , wherein the anchoring step further includes the step of: 
 providing a seating force to assist in seating the aneurysm base about the neck of the aneurysm.    
     
     
         41 . The method according to  claim 37 , further comprising the steps of: 
 providing an adhesive coating on the aneurysm base; and    adhering the aneurysm base to the vessel during deployment.    
     
     
         42 . An aneurysm stent, comprising: 
 a base;    at least one connector coupled to the base;    the at least one connector adapted to be inserted into an aneurysm and, upon insertion, to anchor the base about a neck of the aneurysm.    
     
     
         43 . The aneurysm stent according to  claim 42 , wherein the at least one connector comprises: 
 at least one tightly wound coil that extends from the base into the aneurysm;    the at least one tightly wound coil expands after insertion to pack the aneurysm and anchor the stent.    
     
     
         44 . The aneurysm stent according to  claim 43 , wherein the at least one tightly wound coil expands into a corkscrew shape.  
     
     
         45 . The aneurysm stent according to  claim 42 , wherein the at least one connector comprises at least one of a plurality of coils, a plurality of prongs, and a plurality of posts.  
     
     
         46 . The aneurysm stent according to  claim 45 , wherein the plurality of cross-linked coils are orthogonal.