Stent with micro-latching hinge joints

• US 20060111772A1
• Filed: 01/17/2006
• Published: 05/25/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 08/06/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Mirus LLC
• Original Assignee: Icon Medical Corp. (ICON Interventional Systems, Inc.)
• Inventors: White, Jason, Stern, David
• Granted Patent: US 7,628,802 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 623/1.150
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/844 folded prior to deployment
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/91 made from perforated sheet material or tubes, e.g. perforated by laser cuts or etched holes
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/915 with bands having a meander structure, adjacent bands being connected to each other
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/91541 Adjacent bands are arranged out of phase
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/91558 connected peak to peak
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/91591 Locking connectors, e.g. using male-female connections
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2220/0091 connected by a hinged linkage mechanism, e.g. of the single-bar or multi-bar linkage type
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 403/32418 Plural distinct positions

Abstract

A stent is constructed using interconnected links having micro-mechanical latching mechanisms. The micro-mechanical latching elements allow relative rotational movement of interconnected links in one rotational direction but restrict relative rotational movement of the two links in the opposite direction. The micro-mechanical latch surface features are formed using micro-electronic mechanical systems (MEMS) manufacturing methods. The male surface of the latching components contains an array of ridges or protrusions, and the receiving surface contains a matching array of recesses. The array of ridges or protrusions and the corresponding recesses have uniformly dissimilar slopes that result in a substantially greater frictional force in one direction than in the opposite direction. The separation distance between the two surfaces is such that the male latch surface is engaged with the receiving surface recesses in the low stress “locked” state, preventing motion in the undesired direction. Each male ridge or protrusion can be underlined by a void that promotes elastic deflection when sliding in the desired direction and recovery into the ‘locked ’ state when aligned with the recesses.

Claims

1-7. -7. (canceled)

8. A method of forming a medical device comprising the step of forming at least one link in a body section of said medical device, said link including at least one link segment, said link segment including a head portion and a support member, said support member having first and second ends, first end of said support member rotatably connected to said head portion, said first end of said support member and said head portion including an engagement arrangement that has at least one engagement surface designed to limit a direction of rotation of said support member in a single direction relative to said head portion.

9. The method as defined in claim 8, wherein said engagement arrangement includes a plurality of engagement surfaces designed to limit a direction of rotation of said support member in a single direction relative to said head portion.

10. The method as defined in claim 9, wherein all said engagement surfaces are designed to limit a direction of rotation of said support member in a single direction relative to said head portion.

11. The method as defined in claim 8, wherein said engagement arrangement includes at least one engagement surface designed to allow rotation of said support member in a plurality of directions and at least one engagement surface designed to limit a direction of rotation of said support member in a single direction relative to said head portion.

12. The method as defined in claim 9, wherein said engagement arrangement includes a plurality engagement surfaces designed to allow rotation of said support member in a plurality of directions and a plurality engagement surfaces designed to limit a direction of rotation of said support member in a single direction relative to said head portion.

13. The method as defined in claim 8, including the step of providing a plurality of said links in said body section, said plurality of said links enabling at least a portion of said body section expand and to restrict contracting once said body section is at least partially expanded.

14. The method as defined in claim 8, including the step of forming a ratcheting arrangement in said engagement, said ratcheting arrangement including a plurality of engagement surfaces at least partially formed from a plurality of teeth and/or bumps and a plurality of recesses.

15. The method as defined in claim 8, including the step of forming a flexible connector between at least two of said links, said connector enabling said links to change in distance from one another when said body section is expanded.

16. The method as defined in claim 8, including the step of forming at least a portion of an engagement member in a second end of at least one support member.

17. The method as defined in claim 16, wherein said engagement member in said second end of said at least one support member designed to limit a direction of rotation of said support member in a single direction relative to another head portion.

18. The method as defined in claim 17, wherein said engagement arrangement on said second end includes a ratcheting arrangement, said ratcheting arrangement including a plurality of engagement surfaces at least partially formed from a plurality of teeth and/or bumps and a plurality of recesses.

19. The method as defined in claim 8, wherein said body portion at least partially forms a stent.

20. The method as defined in claim 8, wherein said body portion is at least partially formed from a biodegradable material.

21. The method as defined in claim 20, wherein said biodegradable material includes a polymer.

22. The method as defined in claim 8, including the step of inserting and/or coating at least a portion of said body portion with a pharmacological agent.

23. The method as defined in claim 8, wherein said step of forming at least one link includes a process selected from the group consisting of micro machining, photo lithography, electroplating, sacrificial molding, vacuum molding, spin coating, or combinations thereof.

24. The method as defined in claim 8, wherein said step of forming at least one link includes the use of a masking technique to buildup a portion of said link and to dissolve away a portion of said link.

25. The method as defined in claim 8, wherein said body section is formed from a plurality of links and including the step of at least partially forming said body portion from said plurality of links in a generally planar configuration and subsequently repositioning said formed links into a body section having a non-planar configuration.

26. The method as defined in claim 25, including the step of connecting at least one free end of a link to another link to at least partially maintain said non-planar configuration of said body section.

27. The method as defined in claim 25, wherein said non-planar configuration of said body section includes a generally cylindrical tubular-shape.

28. The method as defined in claim 8, wherein said engagement arrangement rotary ratchet arrangement having a wheel. with angled teeth formed on its periphery.