Device for application in blood vessels or other difficultly accessible locations and its use
First Claim
1. A device of the type including a helically shaped spring of a predetermined length and pitch provided with first and second ends and means for expanding the spring from a first state of a certain diameter to a second state of a larger diameter and vice versa, the improvement comprising:
- an arrangement of said expanding means to rotate the ends of the spring relative to each other solely by means of mechanical actuation of said expanding means so as to maintain said predetermined length of the spring, transition from said first state to said second state effected by reduction of a number of spring turns in the length of the spring with a simultaneous increase in the pitch of the spring.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Device comprising a helically shaped spiral spring and means for bringing the spring to expand from a first state of a certain diameter to a second state of larger diameter and vice versa, characterized thereby that said means are arranged to rotate the ends of the spring relative to each other with maintained length of the spring so that the transition from said first state to said second state takes place by reducing the number of spring turns within said length and the corresponding increase of the pitch of the spring, or to supply to a given length of the spring further spring material at at least one end of the said length of the spring so that the transition from said first state to said second state takes place independent of pitch and number of spring turns within the said length; and a method for transluminal implantation of an intravascular prosthesis using the said device.
972 Citations
19 Claims
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1. A device of the type including a helically shaped spring of a predetermined length and pitch provided with first and second ends and means for expanding the spring from a first state of a certain diameter to a second state of a larger diameter and vice versa, the improvement comprising:
- an arrangement of said expanding means to rotate the ends of the spring relative to each other solely by means of mechanical actuation of said expanding means so as to maintain said predetermined length of the spring, transition from said first state to said second state effected by reduction of a number of spring turns in the length of the spring with a simultaneous increase in the pitch of the spring.
- View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A method for transluminal implantation of an intravascular prosthesis, said prosthesis comprising a helically shaped spring in a contracted state with a predetermined length and pitch provided with first and second ends and means for expanding the spring from a first state of a certain diameter to a second state of a large diameter and vice versa, the method including the steps of:
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rotating the ends of the spring by said means for expanding the spring, maintaining the predetermined length of the spring during said rotation, reducing the number of spring turns while rotating said spring, and effecting a simultaneous increase in the pitch of the spring solely by means of mechanical actuation. - View Dependent Claims (18)
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19. A spring of the type comprising a predetermined length of helical spirals provided with a predetermined width and defined by a predetermined pitch and provided with first and second ends, said helically shaped spirals defining openings circumferentially spaced along the length of the spring, said openings defined within said predetermined width and spaced in an interrupted pattern along said predetermined length, said interruption provided by axially extending sections of the spring.
Specification