KINETIC STENT
First Claim
1. A stent for use in a body passage/comprising:
- an expandable tube having a proximal tube end, a distal tube end, and a lumen extending from the proximal tube end to the distal-tube end, the expandable tube being configurable between a large-diameter relaxed state and a small-diameter tension state, the proximal tube end and the distal tube end being separated by a predetermined distance when the expandable tuber is in the large-diameter relaxed state, and the proximal tube end and the distal tube end being separated by a second distance, which is larger than the predetermined distance, when the expandable tube is in the small-diameter tension state; and
a retention member integrally formed with the expandable tube and extending proximally from the distal tube end, the retention member having a large-diameter relaxed shape and a small-diameter tension shape, and having a retention-feature diameter in the large-diameter relaxed shape which is greater than an expandable-tube diameter of the expandable tube when the expandable tube is in the large-diameter relaxed state.
3 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
The disclosed stent is formed of an elongate, flexible duct having a very thin wall and a preformed diameter, length, and shape. The stent is constructed of a woven tubular structure of multiple strands or elements. The woven tubular structure is thermally set to a predetermined diameter and length, so that the “at rest” or natural condition of the tubular structure is predictable. A retention or holding member can be formed at one or both of the ends of the stent. This retention member can be reduced in diameter for insertion into the body passage. The woven tubular structure provides a path for fluids to flow in and around the stent, while a patent lumen is being developed. The woven tubular structure allows the stent to be extended or stretched over a guidewire or other noncompressive member, to thereby reduce the diameter of the stent for insertion of the stent into a body passage.
-
Citations
41 Claims
-
1. A stent for use in a body passage/comprising:
-
an expandable tube having a proximal tube end, a distal tube end, and a lumen extending from the proximal tube end to the distal-tube end, the expandable tube being configurable between a large-diameter relaxed state and a small-diameter tension state, the proximal tube end and the distal tube end being separated by a predetermined distance when the expandable tuber is in the large-diameter relaxed state, and the proximal tube end and the distal tube end being separated by a second distance, which is larger than the predetermined distance, when the expandable tube is in the small-diameter tension state; and
a retention member integrally formed with the expandable tube and extending proximally from the distal tube end, the retention member having a large-diameter relaxed shape and a small-diameter tension shape, and having a retention-feature diameter in the large-diameter relaxed shape which is greater than an expandable-tube diameter of the expandable tube when the expandable tube is in the large-diameter relaxed state. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
-
-
6. A stent for use in a body passage, comprising:
-
a woven tube having a proximal tube end, a distal tube end, and a lumen extending from the proximal tube end to the distal tube end; and
a retention member integrally formed with the woven tube and extending proximally from the distal tube end, the retention member having a diameter which is greater than a diameter of the woven tube. - View Dependent Claims (7)
-
-
8. A stent for use in a body passage, comprising:
-
an expandable tube having a diameter, a proximal tube end, a distal tube end, and a lumen extending from the proximal tube end to the distal tube end; and
activating means adapted for decreasing the diameter of the expandable tube by increasing a distance between the proximal tube end and the distal tube end. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10)
-
-
11. A stent, comprising:
-
a stent body formed of a braided material; and
an enlarged-diameter retention member adjacent to the stent body and integrally formed with the stent body of the braided material. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 24, 25, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31)
-
-
23. A tube operable as a stent, the tube comprising:
-
a proximal tube end;
a distal tube end;
a lumen extending from the proximal tube end to the distal tube end; and
a collar disposed at the distal end, the collar being adapted for receiving a distal force from within the lumen, the tube being transformable from a short-length, large-diameter stent configuration to a long-length, small-diameter insertion configuration when the distal force is applied to the collar, and the tube being transformable back into the short-length, large-diameter stent configuration when the distal force is removed.
-
-
26. A retention member for use in combination with a stent, comprising:
-
a tubular trunk formed of a braided material;
a radially-increasing portion formed in the braided material and disposed adjacent to and integral with the tubular trunk, the radially-increasing portion extending substantially perpendicularly to a surface of the tubular trunk around a circumference of the tubular trunk; and
a radially-decreasing portion formed in the braided material and disposed adjacent to and integral with the tubular trunk.
-
-
32. A stent, comprising:
-
a radially-contractible tube having a proximal tube end, a distal tube end, a diameter, and a lumen extending from the proximal tube end to the distal tube end; and
an actuator disposed within the lumen for increasing a distance between the proximal tube end and the distal tube end, to thereby reduce the diameter of the radially-contractible tube.
-
-
33. A method of accessing a body passage, comprising the following steps:
-
converting a stent into a long-length, small-diameter insertion configuration by applying tension between a proximal end of the stent and a distal end of the stent, to thereby increase a distance between the proximal end of the stent and the distal end of the stent;
inserting the stent into a body passage of a patient;
moving the stent through the body passage of the patient to a desired location; and
converting the stent into a small-length, large-diameter stent configuration by removing the tension to thereby decrease the distance-between the proximal end of the stent and the distal end of the stent. - View Dependent Claims (35, 36, 37, 38, 40, 41)
-
-
34. A method of making an stent, which is transformable between a large-diameter configuration and a small-diameter configuration, the stent being transformable from the large-diameter configuration to the small-diameter configuration upon application from a compression sleeve of a distal force onto a distal end of the stent, the method comprising the following steps:
-
providing a woven tubular structure;
placing the woven tubular structure over a forming tool, the forming tool comprising a cylindrical body having a first diameter corresponding to the large-diameter configuration, and having a second diameter that is smaller than a diameter of the compression sleeve;
irradiating the woven tubular structure with thermal energy, to thereby set a portion of the woven tubular structure at the first diameter and to set a distal end of the woven tubular structure at the second diameter; and
removing a resulting structure from the forming tool.
-
-
39. A method of iteratively increasing a diameter of a lumen of a body passage, comprising the following steps:
-
inserting a stent into a body passage of a patient;
moving the stent through the body passage of the patient to a desired location; and
iteratively increasing a diameter of the stent, a first iterative increase of the diameter of the stent resulting in the diameter, and a second iterative increases of the diameter of the stent resulting in the diameter of the lumen increasing to a second enlarged diameter which is greater than the first enlarged diameter.
-
Specification