Flexible MEMS actuated controlled expansion stent
First Claim
1. An automatically controlled expansion stent, comprising:
- an expansible stent body;
actuation means for expanding said stent body; and
control means for actively controlling said actuation means.
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Abstract
An automatically controlled expansion stent having an expansible stent body, actuation means for expanding the stent body, and control means for actively controlling the actuation means. The stent body is substantially tubular and includes material layers covering a plurality of radial expansion trusses. The stent employs MEMS motors under the control of a programmable logic device to expand the trusses and the stent body. Force from the motor is communicated to the expansion trusses through interconnects, which pivotally connect the trusses and provide channels for pull wires extending from the motors to the trusses. The trusses comprise a plurality of hinged links which produce symmetrical expansion of the stent body when actuated by the MEMS motor.
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Citations
36 Claims
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1. An automatically controlled expansion stent, comprising:
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an expansible stent body;
actuation means for expanding said stent body; and
control means for actively controlling said actuation means. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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22. A MEMS-actuated controlled expansion stent for intraluminal delivery, comprising:
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a generally tubular stent body defined by a first and a second end and having an inner and outer wall surface, said tubular body having a collapsed configuration, a fully expanded configuration, and wherein said tubular body is capable deforming to assume infinite partially enlarged configurations therebetween;
at least two radial expansion trusses composed of a plurality of hinged links which allow symmetrical expansion of said radial expansion trusses;
a plurality of interconnects interposed between said radial expansion trusses, said trusses and said interconnects forming the superstructure of said tubular body;
at least one Micro Electro Mechanical System (MEMS) operatively connected to at least one of said radial expansion trusses, wherein the MEMS applies force to links in the radial expansion trusses to cause expansion of said trusses;
at least one pressure sensor for monitoring forces exerted on living tissue; and
a programmable logic device in electronic communication with said pressure sensors, wherein said pressure sensor feeds back to said programmable logic device to control the force exerted by the MEMS. - View Dependent Claims (23, 24, 25, 26, 27)
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28. A method of reducing restenosis in vascular tissue when employing a percutaneously introduced prosthetic device, comprising the steps of:
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(a) providing an automatically controlled expansion stent having an expansible stent body, actuation means for expanding the stent body;
(b) providing programmable control means for actively controlling the actuation means;
(c) programming the programmable control means to expand the stent body at a predetermined rate and to a predetermined maximum diameter; and
(d) deploying the stent into a patient'"'"'s body using conventional stenting techniques. - View Dependent Claims (29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36)
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Specification