SELF-ACTIVATING ENDOLUMINAL DEVICE
First Claim
1. A medical device for use in a body lumen, said device comprising:
- a tubular sheath comprising;
a proximal end;
a distal end opposite said proximal end;
at least one reconfigurable section disposed intermediate said proximal and distal ends; and
an elastic bias section disposed proximal relative to said reconfigurable section to vary the axial length thereof; and
an elongate control element defining a proximal end and a distal end, said control element sized to allow longitudinal placement thereof within said sheath, said sheath and control element fixedly attached to one another such that a tensile force imposed by said sheath on said control element through said fixed attachment is sufficient to bias at least a portion of said reconfigurable section in a bent shape that can be overcome by imparting an external force on said sheath through said elastic bias section.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An improved endoluminal device. The device includes at least a control element (such as a guide wire, tube or related structure) connected to a surrounding sheath and an elastic bias section to control changes to a bias force formed between the control element and the sheath. By applying an external force at a proximal end of the device, the shape can change between varying degrees of deformed shapes and an undeformed shape. In this way, both ease of insertion into the body lumen and anchoring to the lumen is promoted. A distal end of the assembly can be made to change shape for improved steerability, anchoring or both. In a particular form, the anchoring section can work as a floating parachute-like device to pull the assembly by means of the flow in the body lumen, while in a more particular form, the floating parachute-like device may be modified to act as a filter for trapping emboli.
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Citations
27 Claims
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1. A medical device for use in a body lumen, said device comprising:
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a tubular sheath comprising; a proximal end; a distal end opposite said proximal end; at least one reconfigurable section disposed intermediate said proximal and distal ends; and an elastic bias section disposed proximal relative to said reconfigurable section to vary the axial length thereof; and an elongate control element defining a proximal end and a distal end, said control element sized to allow longitudinal placement thereof within said sheath, said sheath and control element fixedly attached to one another such that a tensile force imposed by said sheath on said control element through said fixed attachment is sufficient to bias at least a portion of said reconfigurable section in a bent shape that can be overcome by imparting an external force on said sheath through said elastic bias section. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A medical device for use in a body lumen, said device comprising:
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a tubular sheath comprising; a proximal end; a distal end opposite said proximal end; at least one reconfigurable section disposed intermediate said proximal and distal ends; and an elastic bias section disposed proximal relative to said reconfigurable section; and an elongate control element defining a proximal end and a distal end, said control element sized to allow longitudinal placement thereof within said sheath, said sheath and control element fixedly attached to one another such that a tensile force is imposed by said sheath on said control element through said fixed attachment, said tensile force sufficient to bias said reconfigurable section in an deformed first shape that can be overcome by imparting an external force on said sheath through said elastic bias section such that said medical device assumes a second shape different from said first shape, said reconfigurable section and said elastic bias section sized such that they define a substantially similar outer radial profile while in a substantially undeformed form of said second shape. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
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23. An assembly for medical use, said assembly comprising:
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a tubular sheath defining a proximal end, a distal end and a reconfigurable section disposed intermediate said proximal and distal ends, said reconfigurable section comprising a steerable section and an anchoring section; a wire defining a proximal end and a distal end, said wire and said sheath fixedly attached to one another at substantially opposing ends thereof such that a tensile force imposed by said sheath on said wire through said fixed attachment is sufficient to bias at least one of said steerable and anchoring sections in a deformed first shape; and an elastic bias section cooperative with said sheath and configured such that upon application of a variation in said tensile force through movement of said elastic bias section relative to said sheath, at least one of said steerable and anchoring sections assumes a second shape that is at least less deformed than said first shape. - View Dependent Claims (24, 25, 26, 27)
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Specification