Methods for Securing Strand Ends and the Resulting Devices

• US 20080290076A1
• Filed: 10/22/2007
• Published: 11/27/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 10/22/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Idev Technologies, Inc. (Abbott Laboratories Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Idev Technologies, Inc. (Abbott Laboratories Incorporated)
• Inventors: Booth, Richard, Sheldon, Jeffery, Bueche, Ken
• Granted Patent: US 9,895,242 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 219/121.64
• CPC Class Codes: A46D 1/0207 Bristles characterised by the choice of material, e.g. metal
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/06 Blood vessels
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/844 folded prior to deployment
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/86 Stents in a form characterised by the wire-like elements; Stents in the form characterised by a net-like or mesh-like structure
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/885 comprising a coil including a plurality of spiral or helical sections with alternate directions around a central axis
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/90 characterised by a net-like or mesh-like structure
• 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 2/95 Instruments specially adapted for placement or removal of stents or stent-grafts
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/966 with relative longitudinal movement between outer sleeve and prosthesis, e.g. using a push rod
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/061 provided with means for allowing access to secondary lumens
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/91591 Locking connectors, e.g. using male-female connections
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/9534 for repositioning of stents
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/9665 with additional retaining means
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2210/0014 using shape memory or superelastic materials, e.g. nitinol
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2220/0058 soldered or brazed or welded
• CPC Class Codes: B23K 2101/32 Wires
• CPC Class Codes: B23K 2103/14 Titanium or alloys thereof
• CPC Class Codes: B23K 26/20 Bonding soldering by means of radiant energy B23K1/005; joining of preformed plastics parts by heating using laser beam B29C65/16
• CPC Class Codes: B23K 26/244 Overlap seam welding
• CPC Class Codes: D03D 3/02 : Tubular fabrics
• CPC Class Codes: D04C 1/06 : Braid or lace serving particular purposes
• CPC Class Codes: D06C 7/00 : Heating or cooling textile fabrics
• CPC Class Codes: D10B 2509/00 : Medical; Hygiene
• CPC Class Codes: D10B 2509/06 : Vascular grafts; stents
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49849 : by wrapping around

Abstract

Methods for securing strand ends of devices configured for insertion into an anatomical structure, and the resulting devices.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

securing a coupling structure to a first strand end portion of a device configured for insertion into an anatomical structure; and

securing the coupling structure to a second strand end portion of the device;

where the first and second strand end portions are substantially aligned, the coupling structure is not a strand of the device, and the device includes one or more strands that include nickel and titanium.

2. The method of claim 1, where the device is a woven, self-expanding stent.

3. The method of claim 1, where the coupling structure has a passageway that exists prior to securing the coupling structure to the first and second strand end portions.

4. The method of claim 1, where the device is a woven, self-expanding stent that includes two or more device ends, where each device end is defined by strand bends, and the strand bends of all the device ends have a substantially similar shape.

5. The method of claim 1, where the coupling structure is secured to the first strand end portion by welding that forms a first welded region, the coupling structure is secured to the second strand end portion by welding that forms a second welded region, and the first and second welded regions are not directly connected to each other by another welded region.

6. The method of claim 5, where the coupling structure is a piece of material that is separate from the first strand end portion and from the second strand end portion, and, prior to the securing steps, the method further comprises:

directly contacting the securing structure with the first strand end portion; and

directly contacting the securing structure with the second strand end portion.

7. The method of claim 1, where the device includes multiple half strands, and each half strand is secured to only one other strand.

8. The method of claim 1, where the coupling structure is positioned beneath a strand of the device that crosses over the coupling structure.

9. The method of claim 1, where the device includes at least two device ends and a longitudinal axis, the coupling structure is nearer to one of the device ends than any other device end, and the coupling structure is spaced apart from the nearest device end along a line substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis by at least one strand crossing.

10. The method of claim 1, where the device includes at least two device ends and a longitudinal axis, the coupling structure is nearer to one of the device ends than any other device end, and the coupling structure is spaced apart from the nearest device end along a line substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis by at least one device opening defined by at least three strand crossings.

11. The method of claim 1, where the coupling structure is secured to the first strand end portion through laser welding.

12. The method of claim 11, where the coupling structure is secured to the second strand end portion through laser welding.

13. The method of claim 12, where the laser welding of the coupling structure to the first and second strand end portions is partially automated.

14. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

securing a second coupling structure to a third strand end portion of the device; and

securing the second coupling structure to a fourth strand end portion of the device.

15. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

securing one coupling structure to each of five other pairs of strand end portions of the device.

16. The method of claim 15, where the coupling structures are aligned in an axial direction.

17. The method of claim 15, where two or more of the coupling structures are offset from each other around the circumference of the device.

18. The method of claim 1, further comprising laser welding one coupling structure to each of five other pairs of strand end portions of the device, where each coupling structure includes nickel and titanium, and each strand end portion includes nickel and titanium.

19. The method of claim 18, where one of the five other pairs comprises strand end portions of two different strands of the device.

20. The method of claim 18, where one of the five other pairs comprises strand end portions of the same strand of the device.

21. The method of claim 18, where the coupling structures are aligned in an axial direction.

22. The method of claim 18, where two or more of the coupling structures are offset from each other around the circumference of the device.

23. The method of claim 1, where the device comprises four different strands, each of which includes nickel and titanium.

25. The method of claim 1, where the device comprises five different strands, each of which includes nickel and titanium.

26. The method of claim 1, where the device comprises six different strands, each of which includes nickel and titanium.

27. A method comprising:

welding a coupling structure to a first strand end portion of a device configured for insertion into an anatomical structure; and

welding the coupling structure to a second strand end portion of the device;

where the coupling structure is not a strand of the device, and the device includes one or more strands that include nickel and titanium.

28. The method of claim 27, where the first strand end portion is substantially aligned with the second strand end portion.

29. The method of claim 27, where the device is a woven, self-expanding stent.

30. The method of claim 27, where the coupling structure has a passageway that exists prior to welding the coupling structure to the first and second strand end portions.

31. The method of claim 27, where the device is a woven, self-expanding stent that includes two or more device ends, where each device end is defined by strand bends, and the strand bends of all the device ends have a substantially similar shape.

32. The method of claim 27, where a first welded region is formed by welding the coupling structure to the first strand end portion, a second welded region is formed by welding the coupling structure to the second strand end portion, and the first and second welded regions are not directly connected to each other by another welded region.

33. The method of claim 32, where the coupling structure is a piece of material that is separate from the first strand end portion and from the second strand end portion, and, prior to the welding steps, the method further comprises:

directly contacting the securing structure with the first strand end portion; and

directly contacting the securing structure with the second strand end portion.

34. The method of claim 27, where the device includes multiple half strands, and no half strand is welded to more than one other half strand.

35. The method of claim 27, where the coupling structure is positioned beneath a strand of the device that crosses over the coupling structure.

36. The method of claim 27, where the device includes at least two device ends and a longitudinal axis, the coupling structure is nearer to one of the device ends than any other device end, and the coupling structure is spaced apart from the nearest device end along a line substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis by at least one strand crossing.

37. The method of claim 27, where the device includes at least two device ends and a longitudinal axis, the coupling structure is nearer to one of the device ends than any other device end, and the coupling structure is spaced apart from the nearest device end along a line substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis by at least one device opening defined by at least three strand crossings.

38. The method of claim 27, where the coupling structure is welded to the first strand end portion through laser welding.

39. The method of claim 38, where the coupling structure is welded to the second strand end portion through laser welding.

40. The method of claim 39, where the laser welding of the coupling structure to the first and second strand end portions is partially automated.

41. The method of claim 27, further comprising:

welding a second coupling structure to a third strand end portion of the device; and

welding the second coupling structure to a fourth strand end portion of the device.

42. The method of claim 27, further comprising:

welding one coupling structure to each of five other pairs of strand end portions of the device.

43. The method of claim 42, where the coupling structures are aligned in an axial direction.

44. The method of claim 42, where two or more of the coupling structures are offset from each other around the circumference of the device.

45. The method of claim 27, further comprising laser welding one coupling structure to each of five other pairs of strand end portions of the device, where each coupling structure includes nickel and titanium, and each strand end portion includes nickel and titanium.

46. The method of claim 45, where one of the five other pairs comprises strand end portions of two different strands of the device.

47. The method of claim 45, where one of the five other pairs comprises strand end portions of the same strand of the device.

48. The method of claim 45, where the coupling structures are aligned in an axial direction.

49. The method of claim 45, where two or more of the coupling structures are offset from each other around the circumference of the device.

50. The method of claim 27, where the device comprises four different strands, each of which includes nickel and titanium.

51. The method of claim 27, where the device comprises five different strands, each of which includes nickel and titanium.

52. The method of claim 27, where the device comprises six different strands, each of which includes nickel and titanium.

68. The device of claim 32, further comprising:

one coupling structure laser welded to each of five other pairs of strand end portions of the device, where each coupling structure includes nickel and titanium, and each strand end portion includes nickel and titanium.

69. The device of claim 68, where one of the five other pairs comprises strand end portions of two different strands of the device.

70. The device of claim 68, where one of the five other pairs comprises strand end portions of the same strand of the device.

71. The device of claim 68, where the coupling structures are aligned in an axial direction.

72. The device of claim 68, where two or more of the coupling structures are offset from each other around the circumference of the device.

88. The device of claim 32, further comprising:

one coupling structure laser welded to each of five other pairs of strand end portions of the device, where each coupling structure includes nickel and titanium, and each strand end portion includes nickel and titanium.

89. The device of claim 88, where one of the five other pairs comprises strand end portions of two different strands of the device.

90. The device of claim 88, where one of the five other pairs comprises strand end portions of the same strand of the device.

91. The device of claim 88, where the coupling structures are aligned in an axial direction.

92. The device of claim 88, where two or more of the coupling structures are offset from each other around the circumference of the device.

53. A device having one or more strands and being configured for insertion into an anatomical structure, the device comprising:

a coupling structure secured to two different strand end portions that are substantially aligned with each other;

where the two different strand end portion includes nickel and titanium, and the coupling structure is not a strand of the device.

54. The device of claim 53 configured as a woven, self-expanding stent.

55. The device of claim 53, where the coupling structure has a passageway in which the two different strand end portions are positioned.

56. The device of claim 53 configured as a woven, self-expanding stent that includes two or more device ends, where each device end is defined by strand bends, and the strand bends of all the device ends have a substantially similar shape.

57. The device of claim 53, where the coupling structure is secured to the first strand end portion by a weld that forms a first welded region, the coupling structure is secured to the second strand end portion by a weld that forms a second welded region, and the first and second welded regions are not directly connected to each other by another welded region.

58. The device of claim 53, where the device includes multiple half strands, and each half strand is secured to only one other strand.

59. The device of claim 53, where the coupling structure is positioned beneath a strand of the device that crosses over the coupling structure.

60. The device of claim 53, where the device includes at least two device ends and a longitudinal axis, the coupling structure is nearer to one of the device ends than any other device end, and the coupling structure is spaced apart from the nearest device end along a line substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis by at least one strand crossing.

61. The device of claim 53, where the device includes at least two device ends and a longitudinal axis, the coupling structure is nearer to one of the device ends than any other device end, and the coupling structure is spaced apart from the nearest device end along a line substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis by at least one device opening defined by at least three strand crossings.

62. The device of claim 53, where the coupling structure is laser welded to the first strand end portion.

63. The device of claim 62, where the coupling structure is laser welded to the second strand end portion.

64. The device of claim 53, further comprising:

a second coupling structure secured to another pair of strand end portions.

65. The device of claim 53, further comprising:

one coupling structure secured to each of five other pairs of strand end portions.

66. The device of claim 65, where the coupling structures are aligned in an axial direction.

67. The device of claim 65, where two or more of the coupling structures are offset from each other around the circumference of the device.

73. A device having one or more strands and being configured for insertion into an anatomical structure, the device comprising:

a coupling structure welded to two different strand end portions;

where the two different strand end portion includes nickel and titanium, and the coupling structure is not a strand of the device.

74. The device of claim 73 configured as a woven, self-expanding stent.

75. The device of claim 73, where the coupling structure has a passageway in which the two different strand end portions are positioned.

76. The device of claim 73 configured as a woven, self-expanding stent that includes two or more device ends, where each device end is defined by strand bends, and the strand bends of all the device ends have a substantially similar shape.

77. The device of claim 73, where the device includes a first welded region formed by the weld securing the first strand end portion to the coupling structure and a second welded regions formed by the weld securing the second strand end portion to the coupling structure, and the first and second welded regions are not directly connected to each other by another welded region.

78. The device of claim 73, where the device includes multiple half strands, and each half strand is secured to only one other strand.

79. The device of claim 73, where the coupling structure is positioned beneath a strand of the device that crosses over the coupling structure.

80. The device of claim 73, where the device includes at least two device ends and a longitudinal axis, the coupling structure is nearer to one of the device ends than any other device end, and the coupling structure is spaced apart from the nearest device end along a line substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis by at least one strand crossing.

81. The device of claim 73, where the device includes at least two device ends and a longitudinal axis, the coupling structure is nearer to one of the device ends than any other device end, and the coupling structure is spaced apart from the nearest device end along a line substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis by at least one device opening defined by at least three strand crossings.

82. The device of claim 73, where the coupling structure is laser welded to the first strand end portion.

83. The device of claim 82, where the coupling structure is laser welded to the second strand end portion.

84. The device of claim 73, further comprising:

a second coupling structure welded to another pair of strand end portions.

85. The device of claim 73, further comprising:

one coupling structure welded to each of five other pairs of strand end portions.

86. The device of claim 85, where the coupling structures are aligned in an axial direction.

87. The device of claim 85, where two or more of the coupling structures are offset from each other around the circumference of the device.