Endovascular prosthesis

Abstract

A endovascular prosthesis for implantation in a body passageway. The prosthesis comprises a tubular wall which is: (i) movable between a first longitudinal length and a second longitudinally length, and (ii) radially expandible for implantation of the prosthesis in the body passageway. In one embodiment, the tubular wall has a longitudinally length which is variable by an “accordian”-like action. In another embodiment, the tubular wall has a longitudinally length which is variable by an “telescoping”-like action. The longitudinal length of the tubular wall may be varied in vivo to optimize deployment of the endovascular prosthesis.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . An endovascular prosthesis for implantation in a body passageway, the prosthesis comprising a tubular wall, the tubular wall being: (i) movable between a first longitudinal length and a second longitudinally length, and (ii) radially expandible for implantation of the prosthesis in the body passageway.  
     
     
         2 . The endovascular prosthesis defined in  claim 1 , wherein the tubular wall comprises a first tubular wall and a second tubular wall in sliding engagement with one another.  
     
     
         3 . The endovascular prosthesis defined in  claim 2 , wherein the tubular wall comprises an annular portion for occlusion of a section of the body passageway, the annular portion comprising a first porous section and a non-porous section.  
     
     
         4 . The endovascular prosthesis defined in  claim 3 , wherein the tubular wall comprises a second porous section adjacent the annular portion.  
     
     
         5 . The endovascular prosthesis defined in  claim 3 , wherein the tubular wall comprises a third porous section adjacent the annular portion.  
     
     
         6 . The endovascular prosthesis defined in any one of claims  2 - 3 , wherein the tubular wall comprises a second porous section disposed adjacent one side of the annular portion and a third porous section adjacent an opposed side of the annular portion.  
     
     
         7 . The endovascular prosthesis defined in  claim 6 , wherein second porous section and the third portion section are interconnected by the first porous section.  
     
     
         8 . The endovascular prosthesis defined in any one of claims  3 - 7 , wherein the non-porous section radially spans from about 90° to about 270° of the annular portion.  
     
     
         9 . The endovascular prosthesis defined in an), one of claims  3 - 7 , wherein the non-porous section radially spans from about 150° to about 250° of the annular portion.  
     
     
         10 . The endovascular prosthesis defined in any one of claims  3 - 7 , wherein the non-porous section radially spans from about 180° to about 240° of the annular portion.  
     
     
         11 . The endovascular prosthesis defined in any one of claims  3 - 10 , wherein the non-porous section extends longitudinally a distance in the range of from about 2 cm about 10 cm.  
     
     
         12 . The endovascular prosthesis defined in any one of claims  3 - 10 , wherein the non-porous section extends longitudinally a distance in the range of from about 3 cm about 8 cm.  
     
     
         13 . The endovascular prosthesis defined in any one of claims  3 - 10 , wherein the non-porous section extends longitudinally a distance in the range of from about 3 cm about 6 cm.  
     
     
         14 . The endovascular prosthesis defined in any one of claims  3 - 13 , wherein the non-porous section comprises a cover material disposed over a fourth porous section.  
     
     
         15 . The endovascular prosthesis defined in any one of claims  3 - 14 , wherein the non-porous section comprises a cover material disposed connected to the first porous section.  
     
     
         16 . The endovascular prosthesis defined ill  claim 15 , wherein the cover material comprises a layer of polymer material.  
     
     
         17 . The endovascular prosthesis defined in  claim 1 , wherein the tubular wall comprises a plurality of interconnected expandable annular members.  
     
     
         18 . The endovascular prosthesis defined in  claim 17 , wherein the annular members are interconnected by a plurality of longitudinal members.  
     
     
         19 . The endovascular prosthesis defined in  claim 17 , wherein the annular members are interconnected by a cover material.  
     
     
         20 . The endovascular prosthesis defined in any one of claims  1 - 19 , wherein the tubular wall comprises at least one radioopaque marker.  
     
     
         21 . The endovascular prosthesis defined in any one of claims  1 - 19 , wherein the tubular wall comprises a pair of radioopaque markers disposed at opposed ends of the tubular wall.  
     
     
         22 . The endovascular prosthesis defined in any one of claims  1 - 19 , wherein the tubular wall comprises a pair of radioopaque markers disposed at opposed ends of the non-porous section.  
     
     
         23 . The endovascular prosthesis defined in any one of claims  1 - 22 , wherein the tubular wall is constructed from a plastically deformable material.  
     
     
         24 . The endovascular prosthesis defined in  claim 23 , wherein the plastically deformable material comprises stainless steel.  
     
     
         25 . The endovascular prosthesis defined in  claim 23 , wherein the plastically deformable material comprises a laminar structure.  
     
     
         26 . The endovascular prosthesis defined in  claim 25 , wherein the laminar structure comprises a layer of plastically deformable, material and a layer of radioopaque material.  
     
     
         27 . The endovascular prosthesis defined in any one of claims  1 - 22 , wherein the tubular wall is constructed from a self-expanding material.  
     
     
         28 . The endovascular prosthesis defined in  claim 27 , wherein the self-expanding material comprises a shape memory alloy.  
     
     
         29 . A method for endovascular blocking of an endovascular disease condition located between a first location point and a second location point in a target body passageway of a patient with the endovascular prosthesis defined in any one of claims  1 - 28 , the method comprising the steps of: 
 inserting the prosthesis and a catheter within a body passageway by catheterization of the body passageway;    translating the prosthesis and catheter to a target body passageway in which the endovascular disease condition is located;    positioning the distal end of the prosthesis such the distal end of the prosthesis is substantially aligned with the first location point;    extending the distal end of the prosthesis with respect to the catheter;    exerting a radially outward expansive force on the distal end of the tubular wall such that the distal end of the tubular wall is urged against the target body passageway;    fixing a proximal portion of the prosthesis with respect to the catheter;    retracting the catheter thereby longitudinally extending the expansible portion of the tubular wall until the proximal end of the prosthesis is substantially is substantially aligned with the second location point;    freeing the prosthesis with respect to the catheter;    retracting the catheter to expose the proximal end of the endovascular prosthesis; and    exerting a radially outward expansive force on the proximal end of the tubular wall such that the proximal end of the tubular wall is urged against the target body passageway.    
     
     
         30 . The method defined in  claim 29 , wherein aortic disease condition comprises aortic dissection.  
     
     
         31 . The method defined in  claim 29 , wherein aortic disease condition comprises blunt chest trauma.  
     
     
         32 . The method defined in  claim 29 , wherein aortic disease condition comprises aortic sclerosis.