Method of manufacturing an expandable member with substantially uniform profile
First Claim
1. A method, comprising:
- heating a first portion of a tubular member to a first temperature greater than a temperature of a second portion of the tubular member, the first portion of the tubular member being different from the second portion of the tubular member;
stretching the tubular member after the heating; and
after the heating and the stretching, disposing the tubular member within a mold cavity at least until the first portion of the tubular member has a second temperature less than the first temperature and such that an outer diameter of the tubular member in a collapsed configuration is substantially constant along a longitudinal length of the tubular member.
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0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A method includes heating a first portion of a tubular member to a first temperature greater than a temperature of a second portion of the tubular member. The first portion of the tubular member is different from the second portion of the tubular member. The tubular member is stretched after the heating such that a length of the first portion of the tubular member is associated with a width of an anulus of an intervertebral disc. After the heating and the stretching, the tubular member is disposed within a mold cavity at least until the first portion of the tubular member has a second temperature less than the first temperature and such that an outer diameter of the tubular member in a collapsed configuration is substantially constant along a longitudinal length of the tubular member.
129 Citations
28 Claims
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1. A method, comprising:
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heating a first portion of a tubular member to a first temperature greater than a temperature of a second portion of the tubular member, the first portion of the tubular member being different from the second portion of the tubular member;
stretching the tubular member after the heating; and
after the heating and the stretching, disposing the tubular member within a mold cavity at least until the first portion of the tubular member has a second temperature less than the first temperature and such that an outer diameter of the tubular member in a collapsed configuration is substantially constant along a longitudinal length of the tubular member. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 26)
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12. An apparatus, comprising:
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an elongate body defining a lumen and including a first portion, a second portion and a third portion, the second portion is disposed between the first portion and the third portion along a longitudinal length of the elongate body, an outer diameter of the elongate body in a collapsed configuration being substantially constant along the longitudinal length of the elongate body, when in the collapsed configuration, at least a portion of the lumen associated with the second portion having a diameter larger than the diameter of the portion of the lumen associated with the first portion and the diameter of the portion of the lumen associated with the third portion. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 27)
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20. A manufacturing kit, comprising:
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a heating device configured to heat a first portion of an outer surface of a tubular body to a first temperature greater than a temperature of a second portion of the tubular body;
a stretching device configured to apply a tensile force on opposite end portions of the tubular body; and
a mold having a cavity configured to maintain a position of the tubular body while disposed within the mold at least until the first portion of an outer surface of the tubular body has a second temperature less than the first temperature and such that an outer diameter of the tubular body in a collapsed configuration is substantially constant along a longitudinal length of the tubular body. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 28)
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Specification