Bifurcated side-access intravascular stent graft

Abstract

A bifurcated intravascular stent graft comprises primary stent segments and a primary graft sleeve, forming a main fluid channel and having a side opening therethrough. An external graft channel formed on the primary graft sleeve has a first end communicating with the side opening and an open second end outside the primary graft sleeve, thereby providing a branch flow channel from the main channel out through the side opening and external graft channel. The primary stent segments and graft sleeve engage an endoluminal surface of a main vessel and form substantially fluid-tight seals. The stent graft further comprises a secondary stent graft, which may be positioned partially within the external graft channel, through the open second end thereof, and partially within a branch vessel. The secondary stent graft engages the inner surface of the external graft channel and the endoluminal surface of the branch vessel, thereby forming substantially fluid-tight seals.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A branching intravascular stent graft, comprising: a stent; a primary graft sleeve coupled to the stent, the primary graft sleeve having a first end and a second end, the primary graft sleeve having an opening therethrough between the first and second ends, the primary graft sleeve forming a fluid flow channel; and an internal graft channel formed within the primary graft sleeve and separated from the fluid flow channel by a partition, the internal graft channel having a first open end and a second open end, the second open end of the internal graft channel in fluid communication with the opening in the primary graft sleeve, the internal graft channel capable of allowing branch fluid flow through and between the first open end and the opening of the primary graft sleeve. 
     
     
         2 . The stent graft of  claim 1  wherein the stent is coupled to the primary graft sleeve near the primary graft sleeve first end. 
     
     
         3 . The stent graft of  claim 1  wherein the stent is coupled to the primary graft sleeve near the primary graft sleeve second end. 
     
     
         4 . The stent graft of  claim 1  wherein the stent is coupled to the primary graft sleeve near the primary graft sleeve first end; and an additional stent is coupled to the primary graft sleeve near the primary graft sleeve second end. 
     
     
         5 . The stent graft of  claim 1  further comprising a secondary stent graft, the secondary stent graft comprising: a secondary stent, a secondary graft sleeve coupled to the stent, the secondary graft sleeve having a first end and a second end, wherein the secondary stent graft is adapted for passing within the internal graft channel. 
     
     
         6 . The stent graft of  claim 5  wherein the secondary stent is coupled to the secondary graft sleeve near the secondary graft sleeve first end. 
     
     
         7 . The stent graft of  claim 5  wherein the secondary stent is coupled to the secondary graft sleeve near the secondary graft sleeve second end. 
     
     
         8 . The stent graft of  claim 5 wherein the secondary stent is coupled to the secondary graft sleeve near the secondary graft sleeve first end; and an additional secondary stent is coupled to the secondary graft sleeve near the secondary graft sleeve second end. 
     
     
         9 . The stent graft of  claim 1  wherein the stent comprises a helical form. 
     
     
         10 . The stent graft of  claim 1  wherein the stent comprises multiple ring forms. 
     
     
         11 . The stent graft of  claim 1  wherein the stent essentially spans between the primary graft sleeve first and second ends. 
     
     
         12 . The stent graft of  claim 11  wherein the stent comprises a helical form. 
     
     
         13 . The stent graft of  claim 11  wherein the stent comprises multiple ring forms. 
     
     
         14 . The stent graft of  claim 1  wherein the first open end of the internal graft channel extends longitudinally beyond the primary graft sleeve first end. 
     
     
         15 . The stent graft of  claim 1  wherein the first open end of the internal graft channel extends beyond the primary graft sleeve second end. 
     
     
         16 . The stent graft of  claim 1  wherein the primary graft sleeve first end is adapted for engaging a vessel lumen. 
     
     
         17 . The stent graft of  claim 1  wherein the primary graft sleeve second end is adapted for engaging a vessel lumen. 
     
     
         18 . The stent graft of  claim 1  wherein the primary graft sleeve first and second ends are adapted for engaging a vessel lumen. 
     
     
         19 . The stent graft of  claim 2  wherein the stent is adapted for engaging a vessel lumen. 
     
     
         20 . The stent graft of  claim 3  wherein the stent is adapted for engaging a vessel lumen. 
     
     
         21 . The stent graft of  claim 4  wherein the stent and additional stent are adapted for engaging a vessel lumen. 
     
     
         22 . The stent graft of  claim 11  wherein the primary graft sleeve first and second ends are adapted for engaging a vessel lumen. 
     
     
         23 . The stent graft of  claim 11  wherein the stent is adapted for engaging a vessel lumen near the primary graft sleeve first and second ends. 
     
     
         24 . The stent graft of  claim 1  further comprising at least one additional internal graft channel formed within the primary graft sleeve and separated from the fluid flow channel by a partition, the at least one additional internal graft channel having a first open end and a second open end, the second open end of the at least one additional internal graft channel in fluid communication with an at least one additional opening in the primary graft sleeve between the first and second ends of the primary graft sleeve, the at least one additional internal graft channel capable of allowing branch fluid flow through and between the first open end of the at least one additional internal graft channel and the at least one additional opening in the primary graft sleeve between the first and second ends of the primary graft sleeve. 
     
     
         25 . The stent graft of  claim 1  further comprising at least one radiopaque marker coupled to the stent graft. 
     
     
         26 . The stent graft of  claim 5  further comprising at least one radiopaque marker coupled to the secondary stent graft. 
     
     
         27 . The stent graft of  claim 1  wherein the internal graft channel is secured to an inner surface of the primary graft sleeve at one or more discrete contact points.