Segmented endoprosthesis
First Claim
1. A segmented endoprosthesis comprising:
- a first annular element;
a second annular element adjacent to the first annular element; and
inter-connector coupled to the first annular element and second annular element, the inter-connector reducing the forces transferred from the first annual element to the second annular element during placement within a body lumen.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Generally, the present invention includes a segmented endoprosthesis for delivery into a lumen of a body. The endoprostheses can be configured to include a plurality of longitudinally-adjacent annular elements joined together with a shock-absorbing inter-connector such that adjacent annular elements can move independently from each other. Also, the segmented endoprosthesis can be comprised of a plurality of sub-endoprostheses that are connected or in contact with each other during delivery, and separate from each other after being deployed. The segmented endoprosthesis can provide improved deliverability, strength, flexibility, and/or functionality during and after deployment. The use of a segmented endoprosthesis can combine the characteristics of multiple small endoprostheses into a standard- or regular-sized endoprosthesis.
169 Citations
33 Claims
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1. A segmented endoprosthesis comprising:
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a first annular element;
a second annular element adjacent to the first annular element; and
inter-connector coupled to the first annular element and second annular element, the inter-connector reducing the forces transferred from the first annual element to the second annular element during placement within a body lumen. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A segmented endoprosthesis comprising:
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a first annular element having a first end, a second annular element having a second end adjacent to the first end of the first annular element; and
a first and second flexibly-resilient inter-connectors coupled to the first annular element and the second annular element;
a second flexibly-resilient inter-connector coupled to the first annular element and the second annular element, the first inter-connector collapsing and the second inter-connector expanding when the endoprosthesis bends in a first direction, and the second inter-connector collapsing and the first inter-connector expanding, when the endoprosthesis bends in a second direction opposite to the first direction. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A segmented endoprosthesis comprising:
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a first annular element having a plurality of first decouplable inter-connectors at a first end; and
a second annular element having a plurality of second decouplable inter-connectors at a second end, wherein at least one of the plurality of second decouplable inter-connectors are releasably coupled with at least one of the plurality of first decouplable inter-connectors when the segmented endoprosthesis is in a delivery orientation. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23)
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24. A segmented endoprosthesis comprising:
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a first annular element having a plurality of first bumpers at a first end; and
a second annular element having a plurality of second bumpers at a second end, wherein at least one of the plurality of second bumpers abuts with at least one of the plurality of first bumpers when the segmented endoprosthesis is in a delivery orientation. - View Dependent Claims (25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33)
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Specification