Bifurcated vascular graft and method and apparatus for deploying same

Abstract

A structurally supported bifurcated vascular graft is described having a hollow cylindrical body graft with a top end and bottom end and two hollow cylindrical limb grafts which are attached to the hollow cylindrical body graft near the top end of the body graft. One or more structural supports or stents are attached to either the interior or exterior of the body graft and limb grafts. Further, an apparatus and method for delivering a one-piece bifurcated vascular graft is also described which includes first and second hollow limb tubes for containing the limbs of a bifurcated graft, a third hollow body tube for containing the body of a graft, and a hollow delivery tube capable of encompassing the limb tubes and graft body tube.

1 . A bifurcated vascular graft comprising: 
 a hollow tubular body member having first and second open ends, said second end defining a first opening;    a first hollow tubular limb member having first and second open ends; and    a second hollow tubular limb member having first and second open ends wherein the first open end of each of said first and second hollow tubular limb members extend through said first opening and are connected to the hollow tubular body member near the first open end of said hollow tubular body member such that a length of said limb members are circumferentially contained within said hollow tubular body member.    
     
     
         2 . The bifurcated vascular graft of  claim 1  wherein said first and second hollow tubular limb members have approximately equal diameters, said diameters being smaller than a diameter of said hollow tubular body member.  
     
     
         3 . The bifurcated vascular graft of  claim 1  wherein said first and second hollow tubular limb members extend beyond the second end of the hollow tubular body member.  
     
     
         4 . The bifurcated vascular graft of  claim 1  further comprising at least one of a first stent and first structural support located adjacent to the first end of said hollow tubular body member.  
     
     
         5 . The bifurcated vascular graft of  claim 4  wherein said at least one of a first stent and first structural support is positioned about an interior portion of said hollow tubular body member.  
     
     
         6 . The bifurcated vascular graft of  claim 4  further comprising at least one of a second stent and second structural support located adjacent to the second end of said first hollow tubular limb member.  
     
     
         7 . The bifurcated vascular graft of  claim 6  wherein said at least one of a second stent and second structural support is positioned about an exterior of said first hollow tubular limb member.  
     
     
         8 . The bifurcated vascular graft of  claim 6  further comprising at least one of a third stent and a third structural support located adjacent to the second end of said second hollow tubular limb member.  
     
     
         9 . The bifurcated vascular graft of  claim 8  wherein said at least one of a third stent and third structural support is positioned about an exterior of said first hollow tubular limb member.  
     
     
         10 . The bifurcated vascular graft of  claim 9  wherein a portion of the second ends of said first and second hollow tubular limb members are folded back over said at least one of a second stent and second structural support and at least one of a third stent and third structural support, respectively, such that the second ends of said first and second hollow tubular limb members form cuffs.  
     
     
         11 . The bifurcated vascular graft of  claim 1  wherein said first and second hollow tubular limb members are attached to one another along a portion of a circumference of their first open ends.  
     
     
         12 . The bifurcated vascular graft of  claim 11  wherein at least a portion of the circumference of the first ends of each of said first and second hollow tubular limb members is attached to a portion of a circumference of the first end of said hollow tubular body member.  
     
     
         13 . The bifurcated vascular graft of  claim 11  wherein the attachment between the first open ends of the first and second hollow tubular limb members is seamless.  
     
     
         14 . The bifurcated vascular graft of  claim 11  further comprising a reinforcement suture positioned under the attachment area of the first ends of said first and second hollow tubular limb members.  
     
     
         15 . The bifurcated vascular graft of  claim 11  further comprising: 
 at least one of a first stent and a first structural support located adjacent the first open end of said first hollow tubular body member;    at least one of a second stent and a second structural support located adjacent the second open end of said first hollow tubular limb member; and    at least one of a third stent and a third structural support located adjacent the second open end of said second hollow tubular limb member.    
     
     
         16 . The bifurcated vascular graft of  claim 15  wherein said at least one of a first stent and first structural support is positioned about an interior of said hollow tubular body member, said at least one of a second stent and second structural support is positioned about an exterior of said first hollow tubular limb member, and said at least one of a third stent and third structural support is positioned about an exterior of said second hollow tubular limb member.  
     
     
         17 . The bifurcated vascular graft of  claim 16  wherein a portion of the second ends of said first and second hollow tubular limb members are folded back over said at least one of a second stent and second structural support and at least one of a third stent and third structural support, respectively, such that the second ends of said first and second hollow tubular limb members form cuffs.  
     
     
         18 - 39 . (canceled)