Implantable flow diverter

Abstract

A flow diverter for implantation into a patient's vessel includes a distal annular support element and a proximal annular support element, the proximal and distal support elements supporting a longitudinally twisted diverter element. The flow diverter is designed to be disposed within a vessel and to impart a rotational or twisting motion to the flow of blood passing therethrough, thereby to reduce the pressure of blood at the center of the vessel. Such flow diversion can reduce the pressure of blood impinging upon an aneurysm at a bifurcation downstream of the vessel. The device can be particularly useful for the treatment of aneurysms occurring at the bifurcation between the basilar artery and the posterior cerebral arteries.

1 . A method of treating or preventing an aneurysm at a bifurcation in a circulatory system, the method comprising:
 implanting an endoluminal flow diverter in a blood vessel upstream of the bifurcation to divert blood flow, the endoluminal flow diverter comprising a proximal support at a proximal end of the diverter and a distal support at a distal end of the diverter, the endoluminal flow diverter defining a longitudinal axis therethrough, the endoluminal flow diverter comprising a panel disposed between and connected to the proximal and distal supports, the panel having a helical twist formed therein about the longitudinal axis.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the panel twists by an angle of about 90 degrees between the proximal and distal supports. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the panel is formed of a sheet of material. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the proximal and distal supports are each ring-shaped. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein the proximal and distal supports are radially compressible. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein the proximal and distal supports in a radially expanded state define a device diameter, the device diameter being substantially equal to the diameter of the blood vessel. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein the panel extends across the device diameter of the endoluminal flow diverter. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the panel is of uniform thickness. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the panel twists uniformly about the longitudinal axis. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the proximal support and the distal support is a stent. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 1 , comprising implanting the endoluminal flow diverter into the basiliar artery. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the endoluminal flow diverter is implanted adjacent a bifurcation of posterior cerebral arteries. 
     
     
         13 . A method of treating or preventing an aneurysm at a bifurcation of a pair of posterior cerebral arteries, the method comprising:
 implanting in a basiliar artery an endoluminal flow diverter upstream of the bifurcation to divert blood flow, the endoluminal flow diverter comprising a proximal support at a proximal end of the diverter and a distal support at the distal end of the diverter, the endoluminal flow diverter defining a longitudinal axis therethrough, the endoluminal flow diverter comprising a panel disposed between and connected to the proximal and distal supports, the panel having a helical twist of about 90 degrees formed therein about the longitudinal axis.   
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the proximal and distal supports in a radially expanded state define a device diameter, the device diameter being substantially equal to the diameter of the basiliar artery. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the panel extends across the device diameter of the endoluminal flow diverter. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein blood exits the endoluminal flow diverter with substantially constant pressure across a diameter of the basiliar artery. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the panel is formed of a sheet of material. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the proximal and distal supports are each ring-shaped. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the proximal and distal supports are radially compressible. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the panel is of uniform thickness.