Self-expanding prosthesis
First Claim
1. A resilient, elastic self-expanding prosthesis comprising a flexible tubular body defining a diameter and terminating at opposite ends, the diametr of which is variable under axial movement of ends of the body relative to each other, said body comprising of several individual resiliently flexible thread elements with spring properties each of which extends in helix configuration relative to a center line of the body as a common axis, a plurality of said thread elements having a common direction of winding but being axially displaced relative to each other and crossing a further plurality of said thread elements also axially displaced relative to each other but having a common opposite direction of winding to form a braided structure, the crossing of the elements occurring at an area of contact between the elements, wherein tension of the thread elements as they form the structural elements of the tubular body, at least at end sections thereof, is such that the diameter of the individual unloaded helix-shaped thread element is not more then about 60% greater than the diameter of said body in an unloaded state, whereby the body at the ends thereof in an unloaded condition is conically widened up to a diameter about 20% greater than the diameter of a main portion of the body.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A resilient, elastic self-expanding prosthesis comprising a flexible tubular body, the diameter of which is variable under axial movement of the ends of the body relative to each other, said body being composed of several individual rigid but resiliently flexible thread elements with spring properties each of which extends in helix configuration with the center line of the body as a common axis, a number of elements having same direction of winding but being axially displaced relative to each other crossing a number of elements also axially displaced relative to each other but having the opposite direction of winding to form a braided structure, characterized in that the residual tension of the thread elements as they form the structural elements of the tubular body, at least at the end sections thereof, is such that the diameter of the unloaded helix-shaped thread element, at least at the end sections thereof, when removed from the other elements forming the tubular body is not more than about 60% and preferably at most about 30% greater than the diameter of the said body in an unloaded state; and processes for the manufacture of such self-expanding prosthesis.
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Citations
30 Claims
- 1. A resilient, elastic self-expanding prosthesis comprising a flexible tubular body defining a diameter and terminating at opposite ends, the diametr of which is variable under axial movement of ends of the body relative to each other, said body comprising of several individual resiliently flexible thread elements with spring properties each of which extends in helix configuration relative to a center line of the body as a common axis, a plurality of said thread elements having a common direction of winding but being axially displaced relative to each other and crossing a further plurality of said thread elements also axially displaced relative to each other but having a common opposite direction of winding to form a braided structure, the crossing of the elements occurring at an area of contact between the elements, wherein tension of the thread elements as they form the structural elements of the tubular body, at least at end sections thereof, is such that the diameter of the individual unloaded helix-shaped thread element is not more then about 60% greater than the diameter of said body in an unloaded state, whereby the body at the ends thereof in an unloaded condition is conically widened up to a diameter about 20% greater than the diameter of a main portion of the body.
- 15. A resilient, elastic self-expanding prosthesis comprising a flexible tubular body defining a diameter and terminating at opposite ends, the diameter of which is variable under axial movement of ends of the body relative to each other, said body comprising of serveral individual resiliently flexible thread elements with spring properties each of which extends in helix configuration relative to a center line of the body as a common axis, a plurality of said thread elements having a common direction of winding but being axially displaced relative to each other and crossing a further plurality of said thread elements also axially displaced relative to each other but having an opposite direction of winding to form a braided structure, the crossing of the elements occurring at an area of contact between the elements, wherein residual tension of the thread elements as they form the structural elements of the tubular body, at least at end sections thereof, is such that the diameter of the individual unloaded helix-shaped thread element, at least at the end sections thereof, is not more than about 60% greater than the diameter of said body in an unloaded state, at least one of the thread elements at each said area of contact being deformed so as to embrace the other thread element, whereby the body at the ends thereof in an unloaded condition is conically widened up to a diameter of about 20% greater than the diameter of a main portion of the body.
- 16. A resilient, elastic self-expanding prosthesis comprising a flexible tubular body defining a diameter and terminating at opposite ends, the diameter of which is variable under axial movement of ends of the body relative to each other, siad body comprising several individual resiliently flexible thread elements with spring properties each of which extends in helix configuration relative to a center line of the body as a common axis, a plurality of said thread elements having a common direction of winding but being axially displaced relative to each other and crossing a further plurality of said thread elements also axially displaced relative to each other but having an opposite direction of winding to from a braided sturcture, alternating inner and outer threads the crossing of the elements occurring at an area of contact between the elements, wherein tension of the thread elements as they form the structural elements of the tubular body, at least at end sections thereof, is such that the diameter of the individual unloaded helix-shaped thread element, at least at the end sections thereof, is not more than about 60% greater than the diameter of said body in an unloaded state, and both thread elements at the area of contact are oppositely deformed, whereby the body at the ends thereof is an unloaded condition is conically widened up to a diameter about 20% greater than the diameter of a main portion of the body.
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18. A prosthesis according to clim 15, wherein said thread elements include at least an outer thread element at each said area of contact deformed by being bent over an inner thread elements at the area of contact between the two elements.
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30. a resilient, elastic self-expanding prosthesis comprising a flexible tubular body defining a diameter and terminating at opposite ends, the diameter of which is variable under axial movement of ends of the body relative to each other, said body comprising serveral individually resiliently flexible thread elements with spring properties each of which extends in helix configuration relative to a center line of the body as a common axis, a plurality of said thread elements having a common direction of winding but being axially displaced relative to each other and crossing a further plurality of said thread elements also axially displaced relative to each other but having a common opposite direction of winding to form a braided structure, the crossing of the elements occurring at an area of contact between the elements wherein tension of the thread elements as they form the structural elements of the tubular body, at least at end sections thereof, is such that the diameter of the individual unloaded helix-shaped thread element is not more than about 60% greater than the diameter of said body in an unloaded state, said body having at least one end with a diameter which decreases with respect to a main portion of the body, defined between the ends of the body, so as to act as a filter.
Specification