Transluminally placed expandable graft prosthesis
First Claim
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1. A transluminally-placed endovascular graft prosthesis, comprising:
- a tubular shaped member having first and second open ends and lumen therethrough, said member sized for transluminal placement within a body blood vessel, said member made of a shape memory material having a transition temperature in a range at or above normal body temperature such that after placement within said body blood vessel and upon heating of said member to a temperature higher than normal body temperature said member expands radially so as to become firmly anchored to the inside wall of said body blood vessel, expansion of said member also expanding the diameter of said lumen.
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Abstract
A transluminally placed endovascular graft prosthesis includes a helically wound coil having a generally tubular shape and is made of a shape memory Nitinol alloy having a transition temperature in the range of 115°-125° F. After placement within a body blood vessel and upon heating of the prosthesis to its transition temperature, the prosthesis expands so as to become firmly anchored to the inside wall of the body blood vessel. After expansion the diameter of the lumen of the prosthesis is approximately equal to the diameter of the body blood vessel passageway. The prosthesis may also be used in other body passageways.
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Citations
14 Claims
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1. A transluminally-placed endovascular graft prosthesis, comprising:
a tubular shaped member having first and second open ends and lumen therethrough, said member sized for transluminal placement within a body blood vessel, said member made of a shape memory material having a transition temperature in a range at or above normal body temperature such that after placement within said body blood vessel and upon heating of said member to a temperature higher than normal body temperature said member expands radially so as to become firmly anchored to the inside wall of said body blood vessel, expansion of said member also expanding the diameter of said lumen. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. A graft prosthesis for placement within a body passageway comprising:
an elongate member having first and second open ends and a lumen therethrough, said member expandable from a first position wherein said member is sized for transluminal placement within said body passageway to a second position wherein said member is larger than said body passageway, said member expanding in response to an increase in temperature such that after placement within said body passageway and upon heating of said member to a temperature equal to or in excess of normal body temperature said member expands radially so as to become firmly anchored in said body passageway, expansion of said member also causing expansion of the diameter of said lumen. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9)
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10. A method for expanding a narrowed segment of a body blood vessel passageway comprising the steps of:
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(1) inserting a vascular prosthesis within a narrowed segment of a blood vessel passageway; and (2) expanding said prosthesis within said narrowed segment of said blood vessel passageway by increasing the temperature of said prosthesis to a level which is in a range at or above normal body temperature thereby expanding the lumen of said prosthesis and also the blood vessel passageway along said narrowed segment. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13)
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14. A method for implanting a prosthesis within a body passageway comprising the steps of:
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(1) inserting said prosthesis within said body passageway by catherization of said passageway; and (2) expanding said prosthesis at a desired location within said body passageway by increasing the temperature of said prosthesis to a level which is in a range at or above normal body temperature thereby expanding the lumen of said prosthesis within said body passageway.
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Specification