Vascular graft and deployment system

Abstract

A vascular graft includes a main portion and a branch portion that is coupled to the main portion by an articulating joint. The vascular graft may be inserted into the thoracic aorta with the branch portion positioned within a branch vessel and the main portion positioned within the thoracic aorta. The graft may be deployed within a deployment apparatus comprising an outer member and an inner member and a pusher. The main graft portion may be housed within the inner member while the branch graft portion is housed within the space between the inner and outer members. The inner member may have a longitudinal groove for allowing the articulating joint to pass by when the branch graft portion is deployed.

1 . A combination of a deployment apparatus and a vascular graft, the vascular graft having a main portion and a branch portion, the combination comprising:
 a main elongate flexible member having a proximal end, a distal end, and a lumen extending therebetween;   a second elongate member, slidably housed in the lumen of the main elongate member, having a proximal end, a distal end, a lumen extending therebetween, and a longitudinal groove located on the distal end, the second elongate member comprising a plurality of adjacent segments along at least a portion of its length; and   a pusher slidably housed in the lumen of the main elongate member, located proximal to the distal end of the second elongate member;   wherein the main portion of vascular graft comprises a proximal end, a distal end, and a lumen extending therebetween, and is positioned within the lumen of the second elongate member between the distal end of the second elongate member and the pusher; and   wherein the branch portion of the vascular graft comprises a proximal end, a distal end, and a lumen extending therebetween, the proximal end and the distal end of the branch portion each distinct from each of the proximal end and distal end of the main portion.   
     
     
         2 . The combination of  claim 1 , wherein the branch portion is connected to the main portion by an articulating joint that extends, at least partially, through the longitudinal groove of the second elongate member. 
     
     
         3 . The combination of  claim 2 , wherein the main portion is configured such that when (a) the combination is at least partially in a main vessel, and (b) the main elongate member is retracted proximally relative to the main portion, and (c) the second elongate member is retracted proximally such that the articulating joint moves distally relative to the groove, then the main portion expands in the main vessel, such that after expansion of the main portion in the main vessel and after expansion of the branch portion in a branch vessel that branches off the main vessel, the proximal and distal ends of the main portion reside entirely within the main vessel while the proximal and distal ends of the branch portion reside entirely within the branch vessel. 
     
     
         4 . The combination of  claim 1 , wherein each of the plurality of adjacent segments lies substantially along a plane, the plane of each adjacent segment is substantially parallel to the plane of a neighboring adjacent segment, at least two neighboring segments of the plurality of adjacent segments are separated by a distance extending along a longitudinal axis of the second elongate member, wherein each of the at least two neighboring segments of the plurality of adjacent segments extends substantially along a perimeter of a cross-section of the second elongate member and is discontinuous at the longitudinal groove, and wherein each of the at least two neighboring segments of the plurality of adjacent segments comprises a reinforced portion that provides more radial reinforcement of the second elongate member than exists between the at least two neighboring segments of the plurality of adjacent segments, such that the main portion of the vascular graft is maintained within the lumen of the second elongate member. 
     
     
         5 . The combination of  claim 2 , wherein a proximal region of the second elongate member is tapered such that a cross-sectional width of a proximal region of the second elongate member is less that a cross-sectional width of a distal region of the second elongate member. 
     
     
         6 . The combination of  claim 5 , wherein the branch portion of the vascular graft is positioned in the lumen of the main elongate member, adjacent to the tapered proximal region of the second elongate member. 
     
     
         7 . The combination of  claim 5 , wherein the main portion of the vascular graft further comprises a caudal graft extending beyond the articulating joint, wherein the caudal graft portion is housed in a compressed state in the tapered region of the lumen of the second elongate member between the main portion of the vascular graft and the pusher. 
     
     
         8 . The combination of  claim 1 , wherein the pusher comprises proximal and distal ends, having a flexible tip located at the distal end, and having a lumen extending between the proximal and distal ends. 
     
     
         9 . The combination of  claim 2 , further comprising a third elongate member having a distal and a proximal end and a lumen extending therebetween, wherein the third elongate member is slidably housed in the lumen of the main elongate member proximal to the second elongate member, and wherein the pusher is slidably housed in the lumen of the third elongate member. 
     
     
         10 . The combination of  claim 9 , wherein the main portion of the vascular graft further comprises a caudal graft extending beyond the articulating joint connecting the branch portion, wherein the caudal graft portion is housed in a compressed state in the lumen of the third elongate member between the main portion of the vascular graft and the pusher. 
     
     
         11 . The combination of  claim 1 , wherein, when the main portion is located in a thoracic aorta, the branch portion is positionable in a branch vessel of the thoracic aorta. 
     
     
         12 . The combination of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a elongate flexible member having a proximal end, a distal end, and a lumen extending therebetween;   a protuberance positioned at the distal end of the elongate flexible member; and   wherein, during deployment of the vascular graft, the elongate flexible member extends within the lumen of the first elongate member, such that the protuberance extends beyond the distal end of the first elongate member.   
     
     
         13 . The combination of  claim 12 , wherein the protuberance comprises an open framework. 
     
     
         14 . The combination of  claim 12 , wherein the protuberance is coated with an anesthetic. 
     
     
         15 . The combination of  claim 1 , further comprising a guidewire assembly, comprising:
 a guidewire; and   means for limiting lateral motion of a distal end of the guidewire relative to a longitudinal axis of the guide wire, when the guidewire is positioned in a lumen of a blood vessel.   
     
     
         16 . The combination of  claim 15 , wherein the means for limiting lateral motion comprises a wire meshwork. 
     
     
         17 . The combination of  claim 1 , further comprising a branch delivery sheath configured to maintain the branch portion of the vascular graft in a compressed state. 
     
     
         18 . The combination of  claim 17 , wherein the branch delivery sheath is coupled to a pull wire that is configured to effect removal of the branch delivery sheath from the branch portion of the vascular graft. 
     
     
         19 . The combination of  claim 18 , wherein the branch delivery sheath comprises first and second distal portions, coupled at a proximal portion of the sheath and separable at a distal portion of the branch delivery sheath, and wherein the branch delivery sheath is configured to surround at least partially the branch portion when the branch portion is in the compressed state. 
     
     
         20 . The combination of  claim 19 , further comprising:
 a locking mechanism configured to maintain the distal portions of the sheath in proximity to each other such that the branch portion is maintained in the compressed state; and   a release mechanism, configured to release the locking mechanism such that the first and second distal portions separate at the distal portion of the sheath.   
     
     
         21 . The combination of  claim 20 , wherein the pull wire is coupled to the release mechanism, and wherein the pull wire is configured to effect release of the locking mechanism, such that the first and distal portions separate at the distal portion of the sheath. 
     
     
         22 . The combination of  claim 19 , further comprising a sheath support extending along each of the first and second distal portions of the sheath. 
     
     
         23 . The combination of  claim 20 , wherein the locking mechanism comprises:
 a hole located in a proximal portion of each of the first and second distal portions of the sheath; and   a retaining pin reversibly insertable into each hole;   wherein, when the retaining pin is inserted into each hole, the sheath maintains the branch portion of the vascular graft in the compressed state.   
     
     
         24 . The combination of  claim 17 , further comprising:
 a hub on a proximal end of the sheath;   a pull wire extending through the hub; and   a retaining pin coupled to the pull wire.   
     
     
         25 . The combination of  claim 24 , wherein the hub further comprises a lumen, and the retaining pin comprises an extension from the pull wire that extends through the lumen of the hub. 
     
     
         26 . The combination of  claim 1 , wherein the branch vessel of the thoracic aorta in which the branch portion is positionable is selected from the group consisting of a carotid artery, an innominate artery, and a subclavian artery.