Intralumenal graft

Abstract

An intralumenal graft for the repair of damaged or weakened sections of the vascular system. The graft consists of a semi-rigid, resilient tube made of a material suitable for long-term residence inside a vessel. The tube has a relaxed, smaller diameter and is expandable to a larger diameter which is maintained by a retaining ledge or teeth on the inside of the graft. Repair of a vessel is attained by insertion of the graft in its relaxed condition into the vessel at a site which may be remote from the damaged section. The graft is positioned and expanded to its larger diameter by a balloon catheter. Once expanded, the graft is retained in position by friction with the inner wall of the vessel.

I claim: 
     
       1. An intralumenal support for insertion into a .[.damage.]. .Iadd.damaged .Iaddend.section of a vessel, comprising: (a) a graft element formed of a rolled, generally rectangular section of a resilient material suitable for .[.long term.]. residence inside the vessel and expandable substantially uniformly over its entire length from a relaxed, small diameter to one or more larger diameters;   (b) retaining means on said graft element;   (c) a first, generally longitudinal edge of said graft element and;   (d) a second, generally longitudinal edge of said graft element which, when said graft element is at its relaxed diameter, is inside said retaining means and said first edge, wherein   (e) upon expansion of said graft element from said relaxed, small diameter to one or more larger .[.diameter.]. .Iadd.diameters.Iaddend., said .[.first.]. .Iadd.second .Iaddend.edge is retained by said retaining means which thereby prevents said graft element from returning to the smaller diameter.   
     
     
       2. The support as defined in claim 1, wherein: (a) the section of .[.th evesel.]. .Iadd.the vessel .Iaddend.admits of repair over a length bounded on either end by a healthy section of the vessel;   (b) said support is of a length at least equal to said length of the section admitting of repair to extend onto said healthy sections of the vessel.   
     
     
       3. The support as defined in claim 1, wherein: (a) said retaining means is an inwardly extended projection that curves toward said second edge.   
     
     
       4. The graft as defined in claim 1, wherein: (a) said resilient material includes an outer coat of a reduced friction compound.   
     
     
       5. The graft as defined in claim 1, wherein: (a) said resilient material has an anticoagulent effect.   
     
     
       6. The graft as defined in claim 1, wherein: (a) said resilient material resists the formation of atherosclerotic plaque.   
     
     
       7. The graft as defined in claim 1, further comprising: (a) a radio-opaque indicator(s) on said graft element to assist in radiographic location of the graft inside the vessel.   
     
     
       8. The graft as defined in claim 4, wherein: (a) said reduced friction compound is a polytetrafluoroethylene compound.   
     
     
       9. The support as defined in claim 1, wherein: (a) the damaged section of the vessel is occluded at least partially by .[.atheriosclerotic.]. .Iadd.atherosclerotic .Iaddend.plaque; and   (b) said graft in its expanded diameter opens said vessel to reduce said occlusion. .Iadd.   
     
     
       10.  An intralumenal support as defined in claim 1 wherein the graft is suitable for long term residence. .Iaddend.