STENTS WITH ATTACHED LOOPED ENDS

• US 20100161034A1
• Filed: 12/30/2009
• Published: 06/24/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 05/23/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Boston Scientific Scimed, Inc. (Boston Scientific Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Boston Scientific Scimed, Inc. (Boston Scientific Corporation)
• Inventors: Brady, Peter, Molloy, Dean, Leanna, Gary J., Norton, Paul K., Zupkofska, Michael E.
• Granted Patent: US 8,109,988 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 623/1.160
• 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 2002/9534 for repositioning of stents
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2230/0013 Horseshoe-shaped, e.g. crescent-shaped, C-shaped, U-shaped
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2230/0017 Angular shapes
• CPC Class Codes: D04C 1/06 Braid or lace serving particular purposes
• CPC Class Codes: D04C 3/48 Auxiliary devices
• CPC Class Codes: D10B 2509/06 Vascular grafts; stents
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49863 with prestressing of part
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49906 Metal deforming with nonmetallic bonding
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49908 Joining by deforming

Abstract

An open frame prosthesis is formed with looped end terminations at its proximal and distal ends. At one end of the prosthesis, the filaments or strands are welded together in pairs to form strand couplings. A plurality of loop segments are connected to the strand couplings, one loop segment for each pair of adjacent strand couplings. In one version of the prosthesis, strands at the opposite end are bent to form looped ends. In another version, loop segments are connected to pairs of strand couplings at both ends of the prosthesis. The loop segments can be connected to the couplings by welding, fusion bonds, or tubes, which are either crimped or heat shrunk.

Claims

1-44. -44. (canceled)

45. A method for forming an atraumatic end in a body implantable device, comprising:

(a) providing a plurality of elongate structural strands;

(b) providing a mandrel having first and second opposed mandrel ends and having pins disposed only at said first and second opposed mandrel ends;

(c) interbraiding the plurality of elongate structural strands between said first and second opposed mandrel ends and between said pins to form an open-frame tubular interbraided structure having first and second opposed ends;

(d) along said second opposed end of said mandrel,

extending one of the elongate structural strands beyond the pins, and

bending the one of the elongate structural strands over the pins to form a loop segment having an arcuate region and opposed axially extending legs;

(e) integrally coupling different ones of the elongate structural strands which have not been bent around the pins at said second opposed end of said mandrel together with the opposed axially extending legs of the one of the elongate structural strand which has been bent around the pins; and

(f) repeating steps (d) and (e) until all ends of said plurality of elongate structural strands are coupled to provide an atraumatic end at said second opposed end of said interbraided structure.

46. The method of claim 45, further comprising:

bending a portion of each of aid plurality of elongate structural strands around said pins along said second opposed end of said mandrel to provide bends defining an atraumatic end at said first opposed end of said interbraided structure.

47. The method of claim 46, wherein the number of loop segments at said second opposed end is one half the number of bends at said first opposed end.

48. The method of claim 46, wherein said tubular interbraided structure consists essentially of said plurality of elongate structural strands.

49. The method of claim 45, wherein the step integrally coupling the elongate strands comprises welding, fusion bonding, adhesive bonding, or securing with hypotubes.

50. The method of claim 45, wherein said plurality of elongate structural strands comprise metallic strands.

51. The method of claim 45, wherein said plurality of elongate structural strands comprise polymeric strands.

52. The method of claim 46, wherein said plurality of elongate structural strands comprise shape memory strands.

53. The method of claim 46, wherein said shape memory strands comprise nitinol strands.

54. The method of claim 52, further comprising:

heat setting the shape memory strands with the interbraided structure being disposed on the mandrel.

55. A body implantable device having an atraumatic end formed by the method of claim 45.

56. A body implantable device having opposed atraumatic ends formed by the method of claim 46.

57. An implantable prosthesis, comprising:

a plurality of elongate strands interbraided to form an open-frame tubular structure having opposed first and second atraumatic ends;

wherein all of the strands are bent to form bends at said first atraumatic end;

wherein some of the elongate strands are looped to form loops along said second atraumatic end of the tubular structure;

wherein all of the elongate strands are coupled to the tubular structure at said second atraumatic end; and

wherein a number of loops members at said second atraumatic end is less than a number of bends at said first atraumatic end.

58. The implantable prosthesis of claim 57, wherein the number of loops members at said second atraumatic end is one half the number of bends at said first atraumatic end.

59. The implantable prosthesis of claim 57, wherein said open-frame tubular structure consists essentially of said plurality of elongate strands.

60. The implantable prosthesis of claim 57, wherein said plurality of elongate structural strands comprise metallic strands.

61. The implantable prosthesis of claim 57, wherein said plurality of elongate structural strands comprise polymeric strands.

62. The implantable prosthesis of claim 57, wherein said plurality of elongate structural strands comprise shape memory strands.

63. The implantable prosthesis of claim 62, wherein said shape memory strands comprise nitinol strands.