Background

The acute disruption of the ascending aorta (type A dissection of the aorta ascendens) is a serous and life-threatening condition requiring immediate surgery. In acute type A dissections, the tearing of the inner wall of the vessel (intima) is often just above the aortic valve. Therefore, the implant must be placed very close to the aortic valve and the coronary vessels. For this an exact positioning of the implant is indispensable.

Technology Overview

This implant consists of a conventional cylindrical stent graft with 3 additional arcuate arms that anatomically unfold into the sinus of the aortic root. A special delivery device was designed to provide placement accuracy and allows the stent graft to be opened from proximal to distal, without distal movement of the delivery device through the aortic arch. Thus, a further tearing of the lamellar dissection can be prevented distally. Settling in the direction of the blood flow allows a more precise positioning just above the aortic valve.

Benefits

The main advantage is the exact positioning of an ascending stent graft in the antegrade direction. This leads to faster and increased treatment options in high-risk patients without the need for a heart-lung machine and a cardiac arrest.

Applications

Anatomically correct positioning of an ascending stent graft keeping the coronary arteries open
Positioning the stent graft and thus sealing a dissection just above the aortic valve, without affecting their function

Stent Graft and Device for Placing such a Stent Graft in the Ascending Aorta

Patents

IP Status

Seeking