Expandable stent with sliding and locking radial elements
First Claim
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1. An expandable stent, comprising:
- a tubular member having a circumference which is adjustable between at least a first collapsed diameter and at least a second expanded diameter, said tubular member comprising;
at least two slidably engaged radial elements, wherein each radial element defines a portion of the circumference of the tubular member, and comprises a tab, a locking slot which comprises a stop therein and defines a travel path, and an entry slot configured to allow a tab to fit into and slidably engage the locking slot, wherein the stop is configured to permit one-way sliding of the tab along the travel path, such that said tubular member can expand from the first collapsed diameter to the second expanded diameter with reduced recoil as the slidably engaged radial elements slide apart from one another.
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Abstract
The present invention provides a lumen support stent with a clear through-lumen for use in a body lumen. The stent is formed from at least one series of sliding and locking radial elements and at least one ratcheting mechanism comprising an articulating element and a plurality of stops. The ratcheting mechanism permits one-way sliding of the radial elements from a collapsed diameter to an expanded diameter, but inhibits radial recoil from the expanded diameter.
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Citations
14 Claims
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1. An expandable stent, comprising:
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a tubular member having a circumference which is adjustable between at least a first collapsed diameter and at least a second expanded diameter, said tubular member comprising;
at least two slidably engaged radial elements, wherein each radial element defines a portion of the circumference of the tubular member, and comprises a tab, a locking slot which comprises a stop therein and defines a travel path, and an entry slot configured to allow a tab to fit into and slidably engage the locking slot, wherein the stop is configured to permit one-way sliding of the tab along the travel path, such that said tubular member can expand from the first collapsed diameter to the second expanded diameter with reduced recoil as the slidably engaged radial elements slide apart from one another. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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Specification