IMPLANTABLE EXPANDABLE MEDICAL DEVICES HAVING REGIONS OF DIFFERENTIAL MECHANICAL PROPERTIES AND METHODS OF MAKING SAME

Abstract

An implantable expandable medical device in which selected regions of the device are in a martensite phase and selected regions are in an austenite phase. The martensitic regions exhibit pseudoplastic behavior in vivo and may be deformed without recovery under in vivo body conditions. In contrast the austenitic regions exhibit superelastic behavior in vivo and will recover their pre-programmed configuration upon deformation or release of an applied strain.

Claims

1. An implantable medical device, comprising a generally tubular member having a plurality of interconnected structural members in spaced apart relationship and a plurality of interstitial openings passing through a wall surface of the generally tubular member, at least some of the plurality of interconnected structural members being interconnected in articulated fashion defining hinge regions such that the generally tubular member is circumferentially expansible and longitudinally flexible, wherein at least some of the hinge regions comprise first hinge regions that operate to permit at least one of elastic or pseudoelastic circumferential expansion in vivo and at least some of the hinge regions comprise second hinge regions that operate to permit at least one of plastic or pseudoplastic deformation along the longitudinal axis of the device in vivo.

2. The implantable medical device according to claim 1, wherein the generally tubular member further comprises a nickel-titanium alloy.

3. The implantable medical device according to claim 1, wherein the first hinge regions further comprise regions that are sufficiently austenitic under in vivo conditions to allow at least about 90% recovery of an unstrained configuration of the device.

4. The implantable medical device according to claim 1, wherein the second hinge regions further have a higher transition temperature than the remainder of the generally tubular member.

5. The implantable medical device according to claim 1, wherein at least some of the structural members comprise a material selected from the group consisting of biocompatible metals, metal alloys and pseudometals that are capable of behaving elastically or pseudoelastically in vivo.

6. The implantable medical device according to claim 1, wherein at least some of the plurality of structural members comprise a material selected from the group consisting of biocompatible metals, metal alloys and pseudometals that are capable of behaving plastically or pseudoplastically in vivo.

7. An implantable, geometrically expandable, generally tubular, nickel-titanium medical device, comprising: a. a plurality of circumferentially self-expansible members; b. a plurality of interconnecting members interconnecting adjacent pairs of circumferentially self-expansible members; c. a plurality of first hinge regions within each of the plurality of circumferentially self-expansible members, each of the plurality of first hinge regions permitting circumferential expansion of the device by at least one of elastic or pseudoelastic deformation in vivo; and d. a plurality of second hinge regions formed in the interconnecting members, each of the plurality of second hinge regions being capable of deforming by at least one of plastic or pseudoplastic deformation along a longitudinal axis of the device in vivo under the influence of a flexing load.

8. The device according to claim 7, wherein each of the plurality of circumferentially self-expansible members further comprises a ring member having of a plurality of generally linear structural members interconnected at opposing ends thereof by one of the plurality of first hinge regions.

9. The device according to claim 8, wherein each of the plurality of generally linear structural members and each of the plurality of first hinge regions further comprise a nickel-titanium alloy in a sufficiently austenite phase to behave pseudoelastically in vivo.

10. The device according to claim 9, wherein each of the plurality of interconnecting members have regions thereof that are in a sufficiently austenitic phase to operate in at least one of an elastic or pseudoelastic manner in vivo.

11. The device according to claim 7, wherein each of the plurality of circumferentially self-expansible members further comprises a material selected from the group consisting of biocompatible metals, metal alloys and pseudometals that are capable of behaving elastically or pseudoelastically in vivo.

12. The device according to claim 11, wherein each of the plurality of interconnecting members further comprises a material selected from the group consisting of biocompatible metals, metal alloys and pseudometals that are capable of behaving plastically or pseudoplastically in vivo.

13. An implantable, expandable medical device comprising: a. a plurality of circumferential ring members, each having a plurality of generally linear members interconnected by a plurality of first hinge members; and b. a plurality of interconnecting members each having at least one second hinge member disposed between non-hinge regions, wherein the interconnecting members interconnect adjacent pairs of the circumferential ring members; wherein at least some of the second hinge members comprise a martensitic region, while the non-hinge regions of the interconnecting members are generally austenitic, wherein the second hinge members are substantially non-collinear with the non-hinge regions of the interconnecting members when the device is in an expanded state.

14. The device according to claim 13, wherein each of the plurality of interconnecting members further comprises a material having a martensite-austenite phase gradient therein.

15. The device according to claim 13, wherein each of the plurality of circumferential ring members further comprises a material selected from the group consisting of elastically or pseudoelastically deformable biocompatible metals, metal alloys and pseudometals.

16. The device according to claim 13, wherein each of the plurality of interconnecting members further are in a sufficiently austenite phase to behave pseudoelastically in vivo.

17. The device according to claim 13, wherein each of the plurality of interconnecting members further comprise a shape memory alloy in a sufficiently martensite phase to behave pseudoplastically in vivo.

18. The device according to claim 13, wherein each of the plurality of interconnecting members further comprises a material selected from the group consisting of plastically or pseudoplastically deformable biocompatible metals, metal alloys and pseudometals.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0028] In the accompanying figures, like elements are identified by like reference numerals among the several preferred embodiments of the present invention.

[0029] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an implantable stent in accordance with the present invention in its unexpanded diameter.

[0030] FIG. 2 is a plan view of a longitudinal section of the implantable stent in its unexpanded state.

[0031] FIG. 3 is a plan view of a longitudinal section of the implantable stent in its expanded state.

[0032] FIG. 4 is a stress-strain curve illustrating the stress-strain behavior of an inventive device including a curve M for the martensitic regions of the device and a curve A for the austenitic regions of the device.

[0033] FIG. 5 is a process flow diagram depicting the method of fabricating the inventive implantable medical devices.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0034] The foregoing and other features and advantages of the invention are apparent from the following detailed description of exemplary embodiments, read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. The detailed description and drawings are merely illustrative of the invention rather than limiting, the scope of the invention being defined by the appended claims and equivalents thereof.

[0035] Generally speaking, the present invention pertains generally to self-expanding endoluminal devices and methods for their production, and more particularly to implantable self-expanding medical devices, such as endoluminal stents, having a generally tubular configuration formed of a plurality of structural support members in which geometric deformation of the plurality of structural support members causes a geometric expansion of the implantable medical device.

[0036] The endoluminal devices are made of biocompatible metals or pseudometals. Preferably, the endoluminal devices are fabricated so that they exhibit circumferential self-expansion, plastic or pseudoplastic flexibility in the longitudinal axis of the device and have negligible longitudinal elastic recoil, i.e., less than 20%, when the device is flexed along its longitudinal axis. Suitable biocompatible materials for use with the present invention include, for example, titanium, vanadium, aluminum, nickel, tantalum, zirconium, chromium, silver, gold, silicon, magnesium, niobium, scandium, platinum, cobalt, palladium, manganese, molybdenum and alloys thereof, such as zirconium-titanium-tantalum alloys, nitinol, and stainless steel. In accordance with the best mode presently contemplated for the present invention, the inventive implantable medical devices are fabricated of shape memory materials, such as nickel-titanium alloys or nitinol.

[0037] Turning to FIGS. 1-3, there is illustrated an endoluminal stent 10 in accordance with the present invention. Endoluminal stent 10 has a plurality of strut members 12 each of which is interconnected with an adjacent strut member 12 by a first hinge member 14. The plurality of strut members 12 are interconnected by first hinge members 14 in end-to-end fashion forming a zig-zag, sinusoidal or undulating array, with the first hinge members forming successive peaks and valleys of the array. An entire array of strut members 12 interconnected by first hinge members 14 forms a circumferential ring member 11.

[0038] A plurality of circumferential ring members 11 are interconnected by interconnection members 16 that interconnect adjacent pairs of circumferential ring members 11. Connection points 18 interconnect the interconnection members 16 to the first hinge members 14 of the circumferential ring members 11. The interconnection members may have a generally linear geometry, may be curvilinear, may have a V- or U-shape, or be sinusoidal in shape. At least some of the interconnection members 16, and preferably all or substantially all of the interconnection members 16 further have at least one second hinge member 20 positioned along a length of the interconnection member 16.

[0039] In accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the endoluminal stent 10 is fabricated of nickel-titanium alloy and the first hinge members 14 are sufficiently austenitic at zero strain and body temperature conditions to behave pseudoelastically in vivo. In this manner, the first hinge members 14 act in a circumferentially self-expansive manner in vivo to diametrically expand the circumferential ring members 11 from a smaller delivery diameter depicted in FIGS. 1 and 2 to the enlarged diameter depicted in FIG. 3. The second hinge members 20 are preferably sufficiently martensitic to behave pseudoplastically under in vivo conditions and have an A.sub.S transition temperature above body temperature. By deforming pseudoplastically in vivo, the second hinge members 20 permit longitudinal flexibility of the device, effectively isolate stress transmission between adjacent pairs of circumferential ring members, and remain longitudinally deformable after a flexion load is released.

[0040] In accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the first hinge members 14 are sufficiently austenitic under in vivo conditions to allow at least about 90% recovery, preferably at least about 95% recovery, of an unstrained configuration of the device.

[0041] Additionally, the second hinge members 20 are sufficiently martensitic under in vivo conditions to exhibit a substantially non-recoverable deformation of less than 1% upon application of a deforming load. Each of the interconnecting members 16 that have a second hinge member 20 therein will preferably have a martensite-austenite phase gradient, such that the second hinge member 20 is generally martensitic while the remaining non-hinge regions of the interconnecting member 16 are generally austenitic. It will be recognized that because the second hinge member 20 may be considered a region of the interconnection member 16, there are differential mechanical and material properties along the length of the interconnection member 16.

[0042] Alternatively, the second hinge members 20 may be configured to be sufficiently austenitic to behave pseudoelastically in vivo. Where the second hinge members 20 behave pseudoelastically, they are also capable of shape memory self-expansion, and may be used, for example, to compensate for any foreshortening by circumferential expansion of the stent 10.

[0043] While an endoluminal stent is depicted in the accompanying figures, it will be understood that this particular device, and the particular geometry of the device is for illustrative purposes only, and that other types of implantable self-expanding medical devices that require geometric deformation when implanted, such as stent-grafts, covered stents, grafts, embolic filters, valves, occluders, or the like are specifically contemplated by the present invention. Virtually any type of endoluminal self-expanding implantable medical device will benefit from the present invention. So long as the endoluminal self-expanding device relies upon circumferential expansion and has a component of longitudinal flexibility for delivery and implantation, differentiating function regions as plastic or pseudoplastic and elastic or pseudoelastic will aid in the deliverability, reducing luminal trauma and in vivo performance of the device. It will also be appreciated by those skilled in the art that depending upon the indication for the particular device, alternate geometries of the device are dictated by the particular indication, function and properties for the particular device.

[0044] FIG. 4 is a prototypical stress-strain curve at constant temperature and depicts the stress-strain behavior of martensite in Curve M and austenite Curve A regions of a device under the same stress-strain conditions. It will be readily understood that the behavior of the martensite regions and the behavior of the austenite regions under for a given applied stress, results in vastly different strain being developed in the material. For example, the austenite phase stress-strain curve, Curve A, is loaded to 8% strain with a loading plateau at 600 MPa, while it is fully recoverable by unloading to 0% strain with an unloading plateau at 300 MPa. In contrast, the martensite phase stress-strain curve exhibits loading to 8% with a loading plateau at about 200 MPa and a peak loading at about 400-600 MPa, while on unloading the material, there remains a residual strain in of about 7% in the material. Thus, under the same stress-strain and temperature conditions, the martensitic regions will behave pseudoplastically, while the austenite regions will behave superelastically.

[0045] The method 50 of the present invention is depicted in FIG. 5. In accordance with the best mode for practicing the invention, The general method for vacuum depositing shape memory materials and fabricating implantable medical devices is set forth in co-pending, commonly assigned U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/211,489, filed Aug. 2, 2002, and is hereby incorporated by reference. In accordance with the inventive method, a shape memory material, such as nitinol, is vacuum deposited onto a substrate in step 52. Vacuum deposition is preferably sputtering from either a nickel-titanium alloy target or a target having nickel and titanium elements onto a substrate. The substrate may be planar, cylindrical or have such other geometric shape as is desired for the implantable medical device. A pattern is imparted to the film on the substrate in step 54. The pattern may either be formed by selective deposition through a patterning mask, or by selective removal, such as by etching, of unwanted regions of the deposited film. Once the pattern is formed, martensitic regions may be formed in the pattern either by heat treatment at step 56 or by altering the chemical stoichiometry of a region at step 58. Local heat treatment may be accomplished in step 56 by applying focal heat to the desired region, such as by resistive heating applied through a point source, such as a soldering iron, or by laser focal heat treatment. Heat treatment causes nickel precipitation out of the grains. In order to achieve a maximum precipitation rate, heat treatment at 425 C. for between about 5 to 10 minutes has been found useful. Conversely, regions of the device may be heat treated at higher temperatures to drive nickel precipitates back into solution in the grain structure, thereby, altering the chemical stoichiometry and the transition temperature of the heat treated region. It has been found that heat treatment above 500 C. for between about 5 to 10 minutes will drive nickel precipitates back into solution in nickel-titanium alloys and reduce the transition temperature of the heat treated region.

[0046] Alternatively, the chemical stoichiometry of a region may be altered by either increasing the titanium content or lowering the nickel content of a selected region of the pattern to increase the transition temperature at the regions and have the martensite phase predominate at the operating temperature of the device. This may be accomplished by interposing a mask corresponding to the selected regions and vacuum depositing from a titanium-rich target through the mask and onto the substrate.

[0047] During deposition, the chamber pressure, the deposition pressure and the partial pressure of the process gases are controlled to optimize deposition of the desired species onto the substrate. As is known in the microelectronic fabrication, nano-fabrication and vacuum coating arts, both the reactive and non-reactive gases are controlled and the inert or non-reactive gaseous species introduced into the deposition chamber are typically argon and nitrogen. The substrate may be either stationary or moveable, either rotated about its longitudinal axis, or moved in an X-Y plane within the reactor to facilitate deposition or patterning of the deposited material onto the substrate. The deposited material may be deposited either as a uniform solid film onto the substrate, or patterned by (a) imparting either a positive or negative pattern onto the substrate, such as by etching or photolithography techniques applied to the substrate surface to create a positive or negative image of the desired pattern or (b) using a mask or set of masks which are either stationary or moveable relative to the substrate to define the pattern applied to the substrate. Patterning may be employed to achieve complex finished geometries of the resultant stent, both in the context of spatial orientation of the pattern as well as the material thickness at different regions of the deposited film, such as by varying the wall thickness of the material over its length to thicken sections at proximal and distal ends of the stent to prevent flaring of the stent ends upon radial expansion of the stent.

[0048] The stent may be removed from the substrate after stent formation by any of a variety of methods at step 60. For example, the substrate may be removed by chemical means, such as etching or dissolution, by ablation, by machining or by ultrasonic energy. Alternatively, a sacrificial layer of a material, such as carbon or aluminum, may be deposited intermediate the substrate and the stent and the sacrificial layer removed by melting, chemical means, ablation, machining or other suitable means to free the stent from the substrate.

[0049] The resulting stent may then be subjected to post-deposition processing to modify the crystalline structure, such as by annealing, or to modify the surface topography, such as by etching to affect and control heterogeneities on the blood flow surface of the stent. However, by fabricating the disclosed stents using vapor deposition techniques, the need for post-deposition processing of the patterned endoluminal stent, e.g., modifying the surface of the stent by mechanical, electrical, thermal or chemical machining or polishing is minimized or eliminated.

[0050] Physical vapor deposition fabrication of the inventive endoluminal implantable devices offers many advantages, including, for example, the ability to fabricate stents of complex geometries, ultra-fine dimensional tolerances on the order of Angstroms, the ability to control fatigue life, corrosion resistance, corrosion fatigue, inter- and intra-granular precipitates and their effect on corrosion resistance and corrosion fatigue, bulk material composition, bulk and surface material properties, radioopacity, and the ability to vary the transverse profiles, Z-axis thickness and X-Y-axis surface area of the stent structural elements in manners that affect the longitudinal flexibility, hoop strength, and radial expansion behavior and profile of the stent. Bulk material composition may be adjusted to employ elemental fractions in alloy compositions that are not feasible when using conventionally formed metals. This results in achieving the ability to tailor the alloy compositions in a manner that optimizes the alloy composition for a desired material or mechanical property. For example, nickel-titanium tubes exhibiting shape memory and/or superelastic properties were made employing in excess of 51.5 atomic percent nickel, which is not achievable using conventional working techniques due to high plateau stresses exhibited by the material. Specifically, the present inventors have fabricated nickel-titanium alloy tubes employing the method of the present invention that contain between 51.5 and 55 atomic percent nickel.

[0051] In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the A.sub.S temperature of the martensitic regions of the inventive implantable medical device are preferably above body temperature so that a strain applied to the martensitic regions will invoke a pseudoplastic deformation. The austenite region preferably has an A.sub.F temperature below body temperature so that they remain austenitic in vivo to preserve their pseudoelastic properties in the body.

[0052] In loading the inventive implantable device for delivery using a delivery catheter, it is desirable that the device be brought to a temperature below M.sub.F and loaded into the catheter at a temperature below A.sub.S. In this manner, the regions that will be austenitic in vivo exist in a thermally induced martensitic phase before in vivo delivery.

[0053] The present invention provides, therefore, an implantable expandable medical device in which selected regions of the device are plastically deformable or sufficiently martensitic to behave pseudoplastically in vivo, and other regions are elastically deformable or are sufficiently austenitic to behave pseudoelastically in vivo. It is preferable that the regions of the device that are responsible for circumferential expansion be elastically or pseudoelastically deformable in order to effectuate circumferential self-expansion in vivo, while the regions of the device that are responsible for longitudinal flexibility be either plastically or pseudoplastically deformable in order to be compliant with the anatomical geometry both during and after delivery, without exerting an elastic recoil against the anatomical geometry.

[0054] While the present invention has been described with reference to its preferred embodiments, those skilled in the art will understand that the present invention has application across a broad range of expansible implantable medical devices that require expansion from a first smaller geometry to a second larger geometry and those that may benefit from having differential mechanical properties in different regions of the device material.