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  Interlocking endoluminal deviceUSPTO Application #: 20060161245Title: Interlocking endoluminal device Abstract: An endoluminal device comprises at least a first member and a second member, which may be modular. The first member comprises a first trunk portion, a first midsection comprising a first opening, and a first leg portion. The second member comprises a second trunk portion, a second midsection comprising a second opening, and a second leg portion. The device has an assembled configuration in which the first member and second member are interlocked with one another with the second trunk portion coaxially contained within the first trunk portion, the second leg portion protruding through the first opening, and the second opening facing the first leg portion. The second midsection may have a leg stump portion that protrudes into the first leg portion of the first member in the assembled configuration. A system and method for deploying the device may use identical catheters for deploying the two members. (end of abstract) Agent: Ratner Prestia - Valley Forge, PA, US Inventors: Ronald Rakos, Krzysztof Sowinski USPTO Applicaton #: 20060161245 - Class: 623001350 (USPTO) Related Patent Categories: Prosthesis (i.e., Artificial Body Members), Parts Thereof, Or Aids And Accessories Therefor, Arterial Prosthesis (i.e., Blood Vessel), Bifurcated The Patent Description & Claims data below is from USPTO Patent Application 20060161245. Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS [0001] This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/010,628, filed Nov. 7, 2001, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. TECHNICAL FIELD [0002] This invention relates generally to endoluminal devices and, more specifically, to endoluminal devices such as stents, grafts, and stent-grafts. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0003] A stent is an elongated device used to support an intraluminal wall. In the case of a stenosis, a stent provides an unobstructed conduit through a body lumen in the area of the stenosis. Such a stent may also have a prosthetic graft layer of fabric or covering lining the inside and/or outside thereof. Such a covered stent is commonly referred to in the art as an intraluminal prosthesis, an endoluminal or endovascular graft (EVG), or a stent-graft. As used herein, however, the term "stent" is a shorthand reference referring to a covered or uncovered such device. [0004] A covered stent may be used, for example, to treat a vascular aneurysm by removing the pressure on a weakened part of an artery so as to reduce the risk of rupture. Typically, a stent is implanted in a blood vessel at the site of a stenosis or aneurysm endoluminally, i.e. by so-called "minimally invasive techniques" in which the stent, restrained in a radially compressed configuration by a sheath or catheter, is delivered by a stent delivery system or "introducer" to the site where it is required. The introducer may enter the body from an access location outside the body, such as through the patient's skin, or by a "cut down" technique in which the entry blood vessel is exposed by minor surgical means. The term "proximal" as used herein refers to portions of the stent or delivery system relatively closer to this access location, whereas the term "distal" is used to refer to portions farther from the access location. [0005] When the introducer has been threaded into the body lumen to the stent deployment location, the introducer is manipulated to cause the stent to be ejected from the surrounding sheath or catheter in which it is restrained (or alternatively the surrounding sheath or catheter is retracted from the stent), whereupon the stent expands to a predetermined diameter at the deployment location, and the introducer is withdrawn. Stent expansion may be effected by spring elasticity, balloon expansion, or by the self-expansion of a thermally or stress-induced return of a memory material to a pre-conditioned expanded configuration. [0006] Among the many applications for stent-grafts is for deployment in branching lumen, and more specifically for bifurcated lumen, such as for repair of abdominal aortic aneurysms (AAA). Various stent-graft configurations are known in the art for bifurcated applications, including single-piece ("unitary") designs and modular designs. Bifurcated devices, however, may involve special tooling and procedures for their manufacture that result in high cycle time and low yields, may utilize relatively large-profile delivery systems or specialized delivery systems, and in general may be relatively complex in design and implementation. Modular devices typically also have a risk of leaks in the seals between the modular components. Thus, it is desirable to provide a modular endoluminal device, such as a bifurcated stent-graft, that accommodates a branching flow path yet minimizes drawbacks often associated with bifurcated and/or modular devices. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION [0007] In accordance with this invention, there is provided an endoluminal device comprising a first member and a second member. The first member comprises a first trunk portion, a first midsection comprising a first opening, and a first leg portion. The second member comprises a second trunk portion, a second midsection comprising a second opening, and a second leg portion. The device has an assembled configuration in which the first member and second member are interlocked with one another with the second trunk portion coaxially contained within the first trunk portion, the second leg portion protruding through the first opening, and the second opening facing the first leg portion. The second midsection may further comprise a leg stump portion that protrudes into the first leg portion of the first member in the assembled configuration. [0008] The first member and the second member each may further comprise a stent having a covering inside, outside, or inside and outside of the stent. The covering may comprise a textile, a plastic, or a combination thereof. The first member may comprise an uncovered portion of the stent, such as an uncovered portion adapted to be located at an intersection of a renal lumen with the aorta. The first member may comprise a partial inside covering and the second member may comprise an outside covering, where the first member has no inside covering in an interlocking portion adapted to contact the outside covering of the second member. [0009] The invention also comprises a modular endoluminal device for deployment in a body lumen comprising a main lumen, a first branch lumen, a second branch lumen, and an internal fluid flowing in a first direction from the main lumen into the first and second branch lumens. The device comprises a first member for directing the fluid from the main lumen into the first branch lumen and a second member for directing the fluid from the main lumen into the second branch lumen. The device, therefore, accommodates a branching fluid flow. The first member and the second member are adapted to interlock together such that the fluid flow forces the second member against the first member in a sealing relationship. The second member may comprise at least one impingement area on which the fluid flow impinges to force the second member against the first member. [0010] A system for deployment of an endoluminal device of this invention may comprise a first introducer for deploying the first member into a body lumen and having a first profile; and a second introducer, having a second profile essentially identical to the first profile, for deploying the second member into the body lumen. [0011] The invention also comprises a method of deploying an endoluminal device of the present invention in a deployment location in a branched lumen comprising a main lumen, a first branch lumen, and a second branch lumen. The method comprises the steps of inserting a first introducer containing the first member into the branched lumen from a first proximal location, and deploying the first member with the first trunk portion in the main lumen and the first leg portion in the first branch lumen. A second introducer containing the second member is then inserted into the branched lumen from a second proximal location and the second member is deployed such that the second member is interlocked with the first member in the assembled configuration with the second trunk portion coaxially contained within the first trunk portion, the second leg portion protruding through the first opening into the second branch lumen, and the second opening facing the first leg portion. [0012] It is to be understood that both the foregoing general description and the following detailed description are exemplary, but not restrictive, of the invention. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS [0013] The invention is best understood from the following detailed description when read in connection with the accompanying drawing, in which: [0014] FIG. 1 is a plan view illustration showing an exemplary embodiment of a device of the present invention; [0015] FIG. 2 is a longitudinal section view showing another exemplary embodiment of a device of the present invention; [0016] FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional illustration of a portion of an exemplary wall taken across line 3-3 in FIG. 1; [0017] FIG. 4 is a plan view illustration of an exemplary tapered member of the present invention; and [0018] FIG. 5 is a plan view illustration of an exemplary member of the present invention having a straight leg design. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Continue reading... Full patent description for Interlocking endoluminal device Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims Click on the above for other options relating to this Interlocking endoluminal device patent application. ###  How KEYWORD MONITOR works... a FREE service from FreshPatents1. Sign up (takes 30 seconds). 2. Fill in the keywords to be monitored. 3. Each week you receive an email with patent applications related to your keywords. Start now! - Receive info on patent apps like Interlocking endoluminal device or other areas of interest. ### Previous Patent Application: Vascular graft and deployment system Next Patent Application: Stent for high frequency thermotherapy Industry Class: Prosthesis (i.e., artificial body members), parts thereof, or aids and accessories therefor ### FreshPatents.com Support Thank you for viewing the Interlocking endoluminal device patent info. 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