Stent graft having an internal bidirectional branch

Abstract

A stent graft having an internal bidirectional branch formed from a tubular segment of graft material. The internal bidirectional branch extends within the lumen of the stent graft and proximally and distally from a lateral opening in the sidewall of the stent graft. The tubular segment from which the stent graft is made is partitioned into first and second sections along a length of the tubular segment to form the internal bidirectional branch. The lateral opening has a length and a width that may be greater than the diameter of the internal bidirectional branch and may be in the shape of a quadrilateral. The internal bidirectional branch and the stent graft are formed from a single piece of graft material.

We claim: 
     
         1 . A stent graft comprising:
 a substantially tubular graft of graft material having a proximal end, a distal end, an internal lumen, and a sidewall;   an enlarged lateral opening in the sidewall and having a proximal end, a distal end, a length and a width,   an internal branch disposed within the lumen and in fluid communication with the enlarged lateral opening, the internal branch having a proximal end, a proximal end opening, a distal end, a distal end opening, a proximal portion extending from the proximal end of the enlarged lateral opening toward the proximal end of the substantially tubular graft and having a diameter, and a distal portion extending from the distal end of the lateral opening toward the distal end of the substantially tubular graft and having a diameter; and   a plurality of stents;   wherein each of the length and width of the enlarged lateral opening is greater than the diameters of the proximal and distal portions of the internal branch and define an enlarged recess into the internal branch; and   wherein the substantially tubular graft and the internal branch are constructed from a single piece of the graft material.   
     
     
         2 . The stent graft of  claim 1 , wherein the lateral opening is in the shape of a quadrilateral. 
     
     
         3 . The stent graft of  claim 1 , further comprising a wire support about a perimeter of the proximal and distal end openings of the internal branch. 
     
     
         4 . The stent graft of  claim 1 , further comprising a longitudinal wire support along the length of the internal branch. 
     
     
         5 . The stent graft of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of stents comprises a first stent disposed proximal of the lateral opening and a second stent disposed distally of the lateral opening such that a portion of the first stent and a portion of the second stent define a perimeter of the lateral opening. 
     
     
         6 . The stent graft of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of stents comprises a first stent having a first strut, a second strut, and an apex, and a second stent having a first strut, a second strut, and an apex, wherein the first strut, the second strut, and the apex of the first stent define the proximal end and first and second proximal sides of the lateral opening, and the first strut, the second strut, and the apex of the second stent define the distal end and first and second distal sides of the lateral opening. 
     
     
         7 . The stent graft of  claim 1 , wherein the internal branch is a partitioned segment of the sidewall of the substantially tubular graft. 
     
     
         8 . A stent graft having an internal bidirectional branch comprising:
 a substantially tubular graft of graft material having a proximal end, a distal end, an internal lumen, and a sidewall;   a lateral opening in the sidewall and having a proximal end, a distal end, a length, a width, and a perimeter;   an internal branch disposed within the lumen and in fluid communication with the lateral opening, the internal bidirectional branch having a proximal end, a proximal end opening, a distal end, a distal end opening, a proximal portion extending from the proximal end of the lateral opening toward the proximal end of the substantially tubular graft and having a diameter, and a distal portion extending from the distal end of the lateral opening toward the distal end of the substantially tubular graft and having a diameter; and   a plurality of stents;   wherein each of the length and width of the lateral opening is greater than the diameters of the proximal and distal portions of the internal branch and define an enlarged recess into the internal branch; and   wherein the internal branch is an integral partitioned segment of the sidewall of the substantially tubular graft.   
     
     
         9 . The stent graft of clam  8 , wherein a portion of a first stent and a portion of a second stent define the perimeter of the enlarged lateral opening. 
     
     
         10 . The stent graft of  claim 8 , wherein the substantially tubular graft and the internal branch are constructed from a single piece of the graft material such that the enlarged lateral opening in the sidewall opens into the internal branch without a separate lateral opening in the internal branch. 
     
     
         11 . The stent graft of  claim 8 , wherein the lateral opening is in the shape of a quadrilateral. 
     
     
         12 . The stent graft of  claim 8 , further comprising a wire support about a perimeter of the of the proximal and distal end openings of the internal branch. 
     
     
         13 . The stent graft of  claim 8 , further comprising a longitudinal wire support along the length of the internal branch. 
     
     
         14 . The stent graft of  claim 8 , wherein the substantially tubular graft of graft material and the internal branch are a single piece of graft material and where the substantially tubular graft of graft material has a first condition where the internal branch is disposed externally to the substantially tubular graft of graft material and a second condition where the internal branch is disposed internally of the substantially tubular graft of graft material. 
     
     
         15 . A stent graft having an internal bidirectional branch comprising:
 a substantially tubular graft of graft material having a proximal end, a distal end, an internal lumen, and a sidewall;   an enlarged lateral opening in the sidewall and having a proximal end, a distal end, a length, a width, and a perimeter;   an internal branch disposed within the lumen and in fluid communication with the enlarged lateral opening, the internal bidirectional branch having a proximal end, a proximal end opening, a distal end, a distal end opening, a proximal portion extending from the proximal end of the enlarged lateral opening toward the proximal end of the substantially tubular graft and having a diameter, and a distal portion extending from the distal end of the enlarged lateral opening toward the distal end of the substantially tubular graft and having a diameter; and   a plurality of stents;   wherein each of the length and width of the enlarged lateral opening is greater than the diameters of the proximal and distal portions of the internal branch and together define an enlarged recess into the internal branch;   wherein the substantially tubular graft and the internal branch are constructed from a single piece of the graft material such that the internal branch is an integral partitioned segment of the sidewall of the substantially tubular graft.   
     
     
         16 . The stent graft of  claim 15 , wherein the plurality of stents comprises a first stent disposed proximal of the lateral opening and a second stent disposed distally of the lateral opening such that a portion of the first stent and a portion of the second stent define a perimeter of the lateral opening. 
     
     
         17 . The stent graft of  claim 15 , wherein the proximal portion of the internal branch proximal of the proximal end of the enlarged lateral opening and the distal portion of the internal branch distal the enlarged lateral opening are cylindrical and a portion of the internal branch between the proximal and distal portions tapers from a first diameter to a second larger diameter. 
     
     
         18 . The stent graft of  claim 15 , wherein the length of the enlarged lateral opening is greater than the length of the proximal and distal portions. 
     
     
         19 . The stent graft of  claim 17 , wherein the portion of the internal branch between the proximal and distal portions tapers distally from a first width to a second width greater than the first and tapers proximally from a first width to the second width. 
     
     
         20 . The stent graft of  claim 1 , wherein the length of the enlarged lateral opening is greater than the length of the proximal and distal portions.