Methods and Devices for Contributing to Improved Stent Graft Fixation and/or Seal

Abstract

The present invention relates to methods and devices to contribute to improved stent graft fixation and/or seal within vessels at treatment sites. More specifically, the present invention relates to methods and devices to contribute to improved stent graft fixation and/or seal within vessels at treatment sites by providing stent grafts and methods of making and using stent grafts with collagen III/thrombin coatings.

1 . A stent graft comprising a collagen III and thrombin coating wherein said collagen III and thrombin coating covers only a portion of said stent graft and wherein, when implanted at a treatment site, said stent graft has a distal end and a proximal end.  
     
     
         2 . A stent graft according to  claim 1 , wherein said collagen III and thrombin coating is found at locations selected from the group consisting of at said distal end of said stent graft; at said proximal end of said stent graft; and at said distal end and said proximal end of said stent graft.  
     
     
         3 . A stent graft according to  claim 1 , wherein said stent graft further comprises an interruption in stent graft material.  
     
     
         4 . A stent graft according to  claim 3 , wherein said collagen III and thrombin coating is found at a location selected from the group consisting of around the perimeter of said interruption; around the perimeter of said interruption and at said distal end of said stent graft; around the perimeter of said interruption and at said proximal end of said stent graft; around the perimeter of said interruption and at said distal end and said proximal end of said stent graft; at said distal end of said stent graft; at said proximal end of said stent graft; and at said distal end and said proximal end of said stent graft.  
     
     
         5 . A stent graft according to  claim 1 , further comprising a polymer layer between said stent graft and said collagen III and thrombin coating.  
     
     
         6 . A stent graft according to  claim 2 , wherein said stent graft is part of a system comprising a first stent graft and a second stent graft and wherein said second stent graft comprises a collagen III and thrombin coating that only covers a portion of said second stent graft and wherein when implanted at a treatment site said second stent graft has a distal end and a proximal end and wherein said collagen III and thrombin coating on said second stent graft is found at a location selected from the group consisting of at said distal end of said second stent graft; at said proximal end of said second stent graft; and at said distal end and said proximal end of said second stent graft and wherein, when said stent grafts of said system are implanted at a treatment site, a location of said collagen III and thrombin coating on said stent graft according to  claim 2  at least partially overlaps with a location of said collagen III and thrombin coating on said second stent graft.  
     
     
         7 . A stent graft according to  claim 4 , wherein said stent graft is part of a system comprising a first stent graft and a second stent graft and wherein said second stent graft comprises a collagen III and thrombin coating that only covers a portion of said second stent graft and wherein when implanted at a treatment site said second stent graft has a distal end and a proximal end and wherein said collagen III and thrombin coating on said second stent graft is found at a location selected from the group consisting of around the perimeter of said interruption; around the perimeter of said interruption and at said distal end of said second stent graft; around the perimeter of said interruption and at said proximal end of said second stent graft; around the perimeter of said interruption and at said distal end and said proximal end of said second stent graft; at said distal end of said second stent graft; at said proximal end of said second stent graft; and at said distal end and said proximal end of said second stent graft and wherein, when said stent grafts of said system are implanted at a treatment site, a location of said collagen III and thrombin coating on said stent graft according to  claim 4  at least partially overlaps with a location of said collagen III and thrombin coating on said second stent graft.  
     
     
         8 . A stent graft according to  claim 1 , wherein said stent graft further comprises and releases one or more bioactive agents.  
     
     
         9 . A stent graft according to  claim 8 , wherein said one or more bioactive agents are selected from the group consisting of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF), plated-derived epidermal growth factor (PDEGF), fibroblast growth factors (FGFs), basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF), transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-β), platelet-derived angiogenesis growth factor (PDAF) and autologous platelet gel (APG) including platelet rich plasma (PRP) and platelet poor plasma (PPP).  
     
     
         10 . A method comprising providing a stent graft comprising a collagen III and thrombin coating wherein said collagen III and thrombin coating covers only a portion of said stent graft and wherein when implanted at a treatment site said stent graft has a distal end and a proximal end.  
     
     
         11 . A method according to  claim 10 , wherein said collagen III and thrombin coating is found at a location selected from the group consisting of at said distal end of said stent graft; at said proximal end of said stent graft; and at said distal end and said proximal end of said stent graft.  
     
     
         12 . A method according to  claim 10 , wherein said stent graft further comprises an interruption in stent graft material.  
     
     
         13 . A method according to  claim 12 , wherein said collagen III and thrombin coating is found at a location selected from the group consisting of around the perimeter of said interruption; around the perimeter of said interruption and at said distal end of said stent graft; around the perimeter of said interruption and at said proximal end of said stent graft; around the perimeter of said interruption and at said distal end and said proximal end of said stent graft; at said distal end of said stent graft; at said proximal end of said stent graft; and at said distal end and said proximal end of said stent graft.  
     
     
         14 . A method according to  claim 10 , further comprising a polymer layer between said stent graft and said collagen III and thrombin coating.  
     
     
         15 . A method according to  claim 11 , wherein said stent graft is a first stent graft in a system further comprising a second stent graft wherein said second stent graft comprises a collagen III and thrombin coating that only covers a portion of said second stent graft and wherein when implanted at a treatment site said second stent graft has a distal end and a proximal end and wherein said collagen III and thrombin coating on said second stent graft is found at a location selected from the group consisting of at said distal end of said second stent graft; at said proximal end of said second stent graft; and at said distal end and said proximal end of said second stent graft and wherein, when said stent grafts of said system are implanted at a treatment site, a location of said collagen III and thrombin coating on said first stent graft according at least partially overlaps with a location of said collagen III and thrombin coating on said second stent graft.  
     
     
         16 . A method according to  claim 13 , wherein said stent graft is a first stent graft in a system further comprising a second stent graft wherein said second stent graft comprises an interruption in stent graft material and a collagen III and thrombin coating found at a location selected from the group consisting of around the perimeter of said interruption; around the perimeter of said interruption and at said distal end of said second stent graft; around the perimeter of said interruption and at said proximal end of said second stent graft; around the perimeter of said interruption and at said distal end and said proximal end of said second stent graft; at said distal end of said second stent graft; at said proximal end of said second stent graft; and at said distal end and said proximal end of said second stent graft and wherein, when said stent grafts of said system are implanted at a treatment site, a location of said collagen III and thrombin coating on said first stent graft at least partially overlaps with a location of said collagen III and thrombin coating on said second stent graft.  
     
     
         17 . A method according to  claim 10 , wherein said stent graft further comprises and releases one or more bioactive agents.  
     
     
         18 . A method according to  claim 10 , wherein said one or more bioactive agents are selected from the group consisting of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF), plated-derived epidermal growth factor (PDEGF), fibroblast growth factors (FGFs), basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF), transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-β), platelet-derived angiogenesis growth factor (PDAF) and autologous platelet gel (APG) including platelet rich plasma (PRP) and platelet poor plasma (PPP).  
     
     
         19 . A method comprising providing a stent graft comprising a collagen III and thrombin coating wherein said collagen III and thrombin coating covers only a portion of said stent graft and wherein, when implanted at a treatment site, said stent graft has a distal end and a proximal end and wherein said collagen III and thrombin coating is found at a location selected from the group consisting of said distal end of said stent graft; said proximal end of said stent graft; and said distal end and said proximal end of said stent graft and positioning said stent graft at a treatment site wherein said collagen III and thrombin coating contributes to the fixation and/or seal of said stent graft to the vessel wall at said treatment site.  
     
     
         20 . A method according to  claim 19  wherein said stent graft further comprises an interruption in stent graft material and wherein said collagen III and thrombin coating is found at a location selected from the group consisting of around the perimeter of said interruption; around the perimeter of said interruption and at said distal end of said stent graft; around the perimeter of said interruption and at said proximal end of said stent graft; around the perimeter of said interruption and at said distal end and said proximal end of said stent graft; and positioning said stent graft at a treatment site wherein said interruption is found at the opening of a vessel branch and said collagen III and thrombin coating contributes to the fixation and/or seal of said stent graft to the vessel wall at said treatment site.