fig1 a shows the two - part prosthesis comprising of an expandable sponge structure 1 and an expandable tubular mesh structure 2 placed in an abdominal aortic aneurysm 3 located in the infra - renal aorta not involving the iliac arteries . fig1 b shows a bifurcated version of the expandable tubular mesh structure 2 and the expandable sponge structure 1 in an abdominal aortic aneurysm located in the infra - renal aorta and involving both iliac arteries . fig1 c shows an expandable tubular mesh structure 2 placed across an aneurysm commonly found in cerebral arteries and the expandable sponge structure 1 filling up the aneurysm . the expandable sponge structure 1 is placed through the expandable tubular mesh structure 2 into the aneurysm , filling up the aneurysmal sac which provides a barrier between the thin fragile wall of the aneurysm and the pressurized pulsating blood . the tubular mesh structure 2 keeps the expanded sponge 1 within the confines of the aneurysm and away from the flow path . the expandable sponge structure 1 is preferably made of common medical grade polymers or natural substances like collagen which can be manufactured into a sponge structure . the sponge structure can be processed in such a way so that it can be compressed to a dry condition size substantially smaller than the wet condition size , exhibiting huge expansion ratio . the expanded sponge structure can take various forms . fig2 a - 2c show the various expanded cross - sections that the expandable sponge structure 1 can be . fig2 a shows a circular cross section , fig2 b shows a square cross section , and fig2 c show a triangular cross section . any cross section can be used . the most important requirement is that it cannot escape from the aneurysm sac through a cell of the expandable tubular mesh structure 2 . the length of the expandable sponge structure 1 can vary as well . fig3 a shows a long continuous structure 1 . and fig3 b shows multiple short structures 1 . one method of delivering the sponge filler 1 into the aneurysm sac is shown by the catheter - based delivery system in fig4 . the catheter 4 can hold the compressed sponge 1 within its lumen , and when pushed out with the plunger 5 into the blood filled aneurysm sac , the sponge will expand out to a substantially larger size . the expanded size of the sponge filler is preferably larger than the largest opening of the tubular mesh structure as to prevent the sponge from escaping the aneurysm sac . fig5 shows an example of a curved delivery catheter 4 , where the tip is placed through a cell of the tubular mesh structure 2 and the expandable sponge structure 1 is being deployed into the aneurysm sac . it is important that the tip of the delivery catheter is through a cell of the tubular mesh structure into the aneurysm because the expandable sponge will expand very quickly after being exposed to the blood and being unconstrained by a catheter . fig6 shows a method of ensuring that the delivery catheter &# 39 ; s 4 tip stays inside the aneurysm sac by having a balloon 6 on the tip of it , and when inflated after the tip is within the aneurysm sac it will prevent the catheter tip from backing out of the aneurysm sac . fig7 a shows an expandable basket - like structure 7 and fig7 b shows an expandable braid - like structure 8 which are alternatives to having a balloon 6 on the tip of the catheter 4 . the expandable tubular mesh structure 2 can be made of a metal or of a polymer . the versions made of a metal can be self - expanding from a smaller compressed state or balloon expandable from a smaller compressed or as - cut state . the self - expanding version may be made of metals which exhibit large amounts of elasticity ( i . e . nickel - titanium , spring steel , mp - 35n and elgiloy ) such that when they are compressed down from their expanded state to the compressed state to load into a delivery catheter , they will substantially return to their expanded condition when released from the catheter . alternatively , shape memory metals like nickel - titanium can be used to provide large expansion ratios . the balloon expandable version may be made of metals which exhibit large permanent deformations without significantly compromising the mechanical performance . the following are some common medical grade metals which are well suited for this purpose : stainless steel , titanium , tantalum , and martensitic nickel titanium . in either the self - expanding or the balloon expandable case , the intent is to deliver the expandable tubular mesh 2 to the target site in a smaller or compressed condition via a catheter - based delivery system so that the target site can be accessed through a remote vascular access point which is conducive to a percutaneous or minimally invasive approach . the expandable tubular mesh structure 2 shown in fig1 a , 1 b , 1 c , 5 , and 6 represent a generic mesh structure . fig8 shows an expandable tubular mesh structure where long continuous struts 9 are connected to anchoring end members 10 . this allows the structure to be very low in profile in the compressed state , and the durability of this type of structure can be optimized because no radial element exists in the longitudinal struts 9 . fig9 show an alternate expandable tubular mesh structure preferably made from a polymer such as ptfe , polyester , polyurethane , and the like . the structure has relatively large holes 11 to give access to the expandable sponge delivery catheter . the ends incorporate an anchoring member 12 , either self - expanding or balloon expandable . fig1 shows a delivery catheter 4 which has been tracked over a guidewire 14 , which has been placed into the aneurysm sac through an opening 15 of an existing endoluminal stent - graft 13 which developed a leak . the balloon 6 on the delivery catheter 4 was inflated after the delivery catheter 4 was positioned within the aneurysm sac . fig1 shows the guidewire 14 removed , and the expandable sponge structure 1 being delivered through the delivery catheter 4 . fig1 shows a section view of a tubular balloon graft 19 positioned across an infra - renal aortic aneurysm blocking off the flow to the aneurysm sac . the tubular balloon graft &# 39 ; s 19 wall is made of an inner wall 16 , an outer wall 17 and a chamber 18 between them . the chamber 18 can be filled with various materials to dictate the mechanical properties of the prosthesis . fig1 shows a bifurcated tubular balloon graft 20 positioned across an infra - renal aortic aneurysm with bi - lateral iliac involvement . the tubular balloon implant can be made of the various biocompatible materials used to make balloon catheters . those materials include p . e . t . ( polyester ), nylon , urethane , and silicone . it can also be made of other implant grade materials such as eptfe . one method of making such a device is to start with two thin walled tubes of differing diameters . the difference between the diameters of the tubes will dictate the volume of the balloon chamber . the ends of the tubes can be sealed together with adhesive or by heat to form the balloon chamber . a communication port will be necessary to be able to fill the port with the injected material . the injected material can be an epoxy , a uv - curable epoxy , silicone , urethane or other type of biocompatible materials such as albumin , collagen , and gelatin glue which is injected into the balloon , and then cured in situ . or , the injected material doesn &# 39 ; t necessarily have to be cured . the as - delivered state may provide the appropriate mechanical properties for the application . therefore , substances like sterile saline , biocompatible oils , or biocompatible adhesives can be left in the tubular balloon in the as - delivered state . the tubular balloon graft can be non - porous to very porous . fig1 shows a version where the tubular balloon graft has a porous outer wall 24 . the chamber 21 of the tubular balloon graft can be used to deliver an aneurysm sac filling substance such as uv curable adhesive 22 . the holes 23 which dictate the porosity of the tubular balloon graft can be created with laser drilling , etching , and other methods . the porosity can be varied in select areas of the graft . fig1 shows a tubular balloon graft with only the ends of the graft have porosity to either promote cellular in - growth or to inject an adhesive which allows secure attachment of the graft ends to the vessel wall . fig1 shows a tubular balloon graft 19 which is being expanded from a folded condition ( not shown ) by a balloon catheter 25 . once expanded , the chamber 18 of the tubular balloon graft 19 can be filled with the desired substance through the chamber access port 26 . fig1 shows a tubular balloon graft 19 being expanded by an inflation process or filling the chamber 18 of the tubular balloon graft 19 through the chamber access port 26 . fig1 shows a version of the tubular balloon graft with an outer wall 17 which is substantially bulged out so that it fills some or all of the aneurysm sac . fig1 shows a vascular graft 27 which has an integrated balloon 28 attached to the outside surface of the graft . the balloon can be pre - bulged and folded down for delivery , or it can be a very compliant material like silicone , urethane , or latex so that it has no folds whether compressed or expanded . fig2 a shows the same type of implant , a graft 27 with an external balloon 28 , used in a cerebral vessel aneurysm 29 . fig2 b show the same implant as 20 a , except that the implant balloon does not fully fill the aneurysm , which can be acceptable because the graft 27 excludes the aneurysm from the blood flow , and the primary purpose of the balloon 28 is to prevent migration of the graft 27 . the graft 27 can be made of commonly used implant polymers such as ptfe , polyester , polyurethane , etc . the balloon 28 surrounding the graft can be made of the same commonly used vascular implant materials as well . the graft and balloon materials can be different , but it is commonly known that using the same material for both would facilitate processing / manufacturing . the theory is that the balloon 28 would preferentially only deploy into the aneurysm sac where the resistance to expansion is minimal as compared to the vessel wall . the graft 27 would provide the primary barrier between the pressurized blood and the thin wall of the aneurysm . secondarily , the balloon itself provides a buffer from the pressurized blood . the balloon &# 39 ; s 28 primary function , however , is to hold the graft 27 in place . since the expanded section of the implant is “ locked ” into the aneurysm , the graft 27 should not migrate . also , the balloon 28 , in the filled state , will provide hoop strength to the graft 27 . fig2 a - 21e demonstrate one method of delivering a graft with an external balloon to the target site . fig2 a shows the implant loaded onto a balloon delivery catheter 30 with an outer sheath 32 and positioned over a guide wire 31 at the aneurysm target site . fig2 b shows that once in position , the outer sheath 32 is withdrawn . fig2 c shows the balloon delivery catheter 33 being inflated , pushing the implant 34 against the healthy vessel walls on both sides of the aneurysm . fig2 d shows that the balloon delivery catheter 30 may also have an implant balloon inflation port 35 which can now be used to fill up the implant balloon 28 with a biocompatible substance . the substance can be sterile saline , contrast agent , hydrogel , and uv cure adhesive to name a few . most likely , low inflation pressures would be used to fill the implant balloon 28 . fig2 e shows that once the implant balloon 28 is filled , the implant balloon inflation port 35 can be detached and the delivery catheter 30 removed .
the present invention relates to devices and methods for the treatment of diseases in the vasculature , and more specifically , devices and methods for treatment of aneurysms found in blood vessels . in a first embodiment of the present invention , a two part prostheses , where one part is an expandable sponge structure and the other part is an expandable tubular mesh structure , is provided . in the first embodiment , the expandable sponge structure is intended to fill the aneurysm cavity to prevent further dilatation of the vessel wall by creating a buffer or barrier between the pressurized pulsating blood flow and the thinning vessel wall . in the first embodiment , the expandable tubular mesh structure is placed across the aneurysm , contacting the inner wall of healthy vessel proximal and distal to the aneurysm .