Repositionable endoluminal support structure and its applications
First Claim
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1. A method of treating a patient, comprising:
- controllably expanding a stent in a substantially uniform fashion by applying one or more pairs of first and second axially-opposing forces to struts of the stent, wherein a sum of the one or more pairs of first and second axially-opposing forces is applied asymmetrically around a circumference of the stent; and
applying a rotational force to a rotatable actuator by a rotatable shaft of a catheter, wherein the rotatable actuator is coupled to radially-inwardly facing portions of the struts at a location radially offset from an axially-extending and radially centrally-disposed longitudinal axis of the stent, wherein the rotational force is converted into the one or more pairs of first and second axially-opposing forces by the rotatable actuator.
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Abstract
An endoluminal support structure includes strut members interconnected by swivel joints to form a series of linked scissor mechanisms. The structure can be remotely actuated to compress or expand its shape by adjusting the scissor joints within a range of motion. In particular, the support structure can be repositioned within the body lumen or retrieved from the lumen. The support structure can be employed to introduce and support a prosthetic valve within a body lumen.
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Citations
14 Claims
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1. A method of treating a patient, comprising:
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controllably expanding a stent in a substantially uniform fashion by applying one or more pairs of first and second axially-opposing forces to struts of the stent, wherein a sum of the one or more pairs of first and second axially-opposing forces is applied asymmetrically around a circumference of the stent; and applying a rotational force to a rotatable actuator by a rotatable shaft of a catheter, wherein the rotatable actuator is coupled to radially-inwardly facing portions of the struts at a location radially offset from an axially-extending and radially centrally-disposed longitudinal axis of the stent, wherein the rotational force is converted into the one or more pairs of first and second axially-opposing forces by the rotatable actuator. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4)
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5. A method of treating a patient, comprising:
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controllably expanding and controllably contracting a stent in a substantially uniform fashion by applying one or more pairs of axial forces to the stent by one or more actuators, each pair of the one or more pairs of axial forces including a proximally-directed force and a distally-directed force, and wherein a sum of the one or more pairs of axial forces is asymmetrically applied around a circumference of the stent by the one or more actuators, wherein the stent comprises a plurality of pivotably-connected strut members having proximal and distal end portions, wherein the one or more actuators are coupled to radially-inwardly facing portions of the strut members at locations radially offset from an axially-extending and radially centrally-disposed longitudinal axis of the stent, wherein controllably expanding the stent includes applying the distally-directed forces to the proximal end portions of the strut members and applying the proximally-directed forces to the distal end portions of the strut members, and wherein controllably contracting the stent includes applying the proximally-directed forces to the proximal end portions of the strut members and applying the distally-directed forces to the distal end portions of the strut members. - View Dependent Claims (6, 7, 8, 9)
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- 10. A method of treating a patient, comprising controllably expanding a stent in a substantially uniform fashion using only one pair of first and second axially-opposing forces applied to struts of the stent by an actuator, the actuator being coupled to the struts, wherein the actuator is disposed radially inwardly relative to the struts and radially offset from an axially-extending and radially centrally-disposed longitudinal axis of the stent, wherein a first axially-opposing force of the one pair of first and second axially-opposing forces is applied to a first axial end portion of the stent at a first circumferential location, and wherein a second axially-opposing force of the one pair of first and second axially-opposing forces is applied to a second axial end portion of the stent at a second circumferential location, the second circumferential location being axially aligned with the first circumferential location along a circumference of the stent.
Specification