Thoracic graft and delivery catheter

(54) THORACIC GRAFT AND DELIVERY CATHETER

(75) Inventors: Steve G. Baker, Sunnyvale; Michael D. Dake, Stanford; David C. Dillow, Cupertino; Arnold Escano, San Jose, all of CA (US)

(73) Assignee: Endovascular Technologies, Inc.,

Menlo Park, CA (US)

( * ) Notice: Subject to any disclaimer, the term of this patent is extended or adjusted under 35 U.S.C. 154(b) by 0 days.

(21) Appl. No.: 08/931,323

(22) Filed: Sep. 16, 1997

Related U.S. Application Data

(60) Division of application No. 08/358,067, filed on Dec. 15, 1994, now Pat. No. 5,693,083, which is a continuation-inpart of application No. 08/102,576, filed on Aug. 5, 1993, now abandoned.

(51) Int. CI. A61F 2/00

(52) U.S. CI 623/1.12; 623/1.23

(58) Field of Search 623/1, 11, 12,

623/1.14, 1.36, 1.12, 1.23

(56) References Cited

U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS

5,078,720 A 1/1992 Burton et al.

5,078,726 A * 1/1992 Kreamer 623/1

5,104,399 A 4/1992 Lazarus

5,123,919 A 6/1992 Sauter et al.

5,151,105 A 9/1992 Kwann-Gett

5,207,695 A 5/1993 Trout, III

(List continued on next page.)

FOREIGN PATENT DOCUMENTS

EP 0656 198 A2 2/1991 A61F/2/06

EP 0505 686 Al 9/1992 A61F/2/06

EP 621016 Al 4/1994 A61F/2/06

GB 2 245 495 A 1/1992 A61F/2/04

WO WO 95/01761 7/1994 A61F/2/06

Primary Examiner—Michael J. Milano

(74) Attorney, Agent, or Firm—Fulwider Patton Lee &

Utecht, LLP

(57) ABSTRACT

A delivery catheter having an inner catheter assembly, an inferior capsule catheter, and a capsule jacket assembly for use in deploying a graft having a compressible and expandable attachment systems in the thoracic region of an aorta. The graft is comprised of a tubular member having superior and inferior ends, each having an attachment system with wall engaging members secured thereto and is crimped along its midsection to resist kinking and elongation. The delivery catheter includes an inferior capsule assembly for releasably retaining the inferior attachment system of the graft and a superior capsule assembly for releasably retaining the superior attachment system of the graft as well as a releasing system for maintaining the attachment systems in a compressed configuration and for facilitating expansion of the attachment systems. The delivery catheter also includes an anti-elongation wire attached to the inner catheter assembly to prevent stretching of the delivery catheter during deployment of the graft within the aorta. Upon removing the attachment systems from the capsule, the releasing system functions to allow the attachment systems to assume their expanded configuration and engage the walls of the aorta. The graft and attachment systems remain in the vessel after the delivery catheter is withdrawn.

9 Claims, 9 Drawing Sheets