Helical formation for a conduit

• US 20060124187A1
• Filed: 11/13/2003
• Published: 06/15/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 11/23/2002
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Tayside Flow Technologies, Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Tayside Flow Technologies, Ltd.
• Inventors: Hood, Robert Gordon, Stonebridge, Peter Arno, Houston, John Graeme
• Application Number:
  US10/535,600
• Publication Number:
  US 20060124187A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 138/39
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/06 Blood vessels
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/07 Stent-grafts
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/88 the wire-like elements formed as helical or spiral coils forming a net-like or mesh-like structure A61F2/90
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/90 characterised by a net-like or mesh-like structure
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/068 Modifying the blood flow model, e.g. by diffuser or deflector
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2206/12 the flow being spirally in a plane, e.g. against a plane side of a membrane filter element
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 39/08 Tubes; Storage means specially adapted therefor
• CPC Class Codes: F15D 1/065 Whereby an element is dispersed in a pipe over the whole length or whereby several elements are regularly distributed in a pipe

Abstract

A helical formation for a conduit (1). The helical formation includes an elongate member (4) defining at least a portion of a helix, the elongate member (4) comprising an inwardly extending portion (6, 7). The inwardly extending portion (6, 7) extends along the length of the elongate member (4) and extends inwardly from the internal side walls of the conduit (1) for a distance equal to between 10% and 80% of the distance (r) from the longitudinal axis (3) of the conduit (1) to an internal side wall (2).

Claims

1. A helical formation for a conduit, the helical formation comprising an elongate member defining at least a portion of a helix, the elongate member comprising an inwardly extending portion, the inwardly extending portion extending along the length of the elongate member and extending inwardly from the internal side walls of the conduit for a distance equal to between 10% and 80% of the distance from the longitudinal axis of the conduit to an internal side wall.

2. A helical formation according to claim 1, wherein the inwardly extending portion extends inwardly for a distance equal to between 40% and 70% of the distance from the longitudinal axis of the conduit to an internal side wall.

3. A helical formation according to claim 2, wherein the inwardly extending portion extends inwardly for a distance equal to between 40% and 60%.

4. A helical formation according to claim 3, wherein the inwardly extending portion extends inwardly for a distance equal to between 45% and 55%.

5. A helical formation according to claim 4, wherein the inwardly extending portion extends inwardly for a distance equal to substantially 50% of the distance from the longitudinal axis of the conduit to an internal side wall.

6. A helical formation according to claim 1, wherein the conduit has a circular cross-section, and the distance that the inwardly extending portion extends inwardly is a percentage of the radius of the conduit.

7. A helical formation according to claim 1, the helical formation comprising two or more inwardly extending formations, arranged in side-by-side relationship extending along the length of the elongate member.

8. A conduit comprising a helical formation according to claim 1, wherein the helical formation is mounted on a side wall of the conduit.

9. A conduit according to claim 8, wherein the helical formation is in the form of an insert adapted to be inserted into the conduit.

10. A conduit according to claim 9, wherein the insert is removable from the conduit.

11. A conduit according to claim 8, wherein the helical formation is an integral part of a side wall of the conduit.

12. A conduit according to claim 11, wherein the helical formation is formed by a deformation of a portion of the side wall of the conduit.

13. A conduit according to claim 8, wherein the conduit comprises blood flow tubing for use in the human or animal body.

14. A conduit according to claim 13, wherein the blood flow tubing may comprise a vascular graft.

15. A conduit according to claim 8, wherein the conduit comprises a stent for insertion into blood flow tubing in the human or animal body.