Self-expanding prosthesis having stable axial length
First Claim
1. A device for fixation in a body cavity, comprising:
- a stent including generally tubular and coaxial first and second open weave stent segments slidably engaged along respective first and second axially inward portions overlapping one another to form a medial region of the stent, said stent segments further including respective non-overlapping first and second axially outward regions including respective and opposite first and second ends of the stent;
said stent segments, at least along said axially inward portions, having a predetermined first diameter and a predetermined first axial length, said stent segments being radially compressible to a second diameter less than said first diameter and to a second axial length longer than said first axial length, to facilitate an axial insertion of said stent into a body cavity for delivery to a selected location therealong and subsequent fixation of the stent within the cavity by effecting an engagement of the stent segments with a tissue wall segment defining said body cavity; and
wherein said first and second axially inward portions slide relative to one another to reduce the axial length of said medial region as said stent segments radially expand into said engagement, thus to maintain a substantially constant axial length of said stent during said radial expansion.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A body implantable stent consists of two or more generally tubular, coaxial and slidably connected stent segments. Each of the stent segments is of open weave construction, formed of multiple braided, helically wound strands of resilient material. The stent is elastically deformed to a reduced radius when deployed. When released after positioning, the stent self-expands radially into contact with a tissue wall segment defining a blood vessel or other body cavity. As each stent segment expands radially, it contracts in the axial direction. To preserve a consistent length of the stent in spite of axial contraction of the segments, the axially outward and non-overlapping portions of the stent can be designed for secure fixation to the tissue wall segment, for example as radially outward flares. Accordingly, axial contraction occurs as a reduction in the length of the medial regions where adjacent stent segments overlap. Alternative approaches to maintain axial length include the addition of reinforcing filaments near the stent opposite ends to increase the restoring force, the provision of fixation hooks at opposite ends of the stent, and securing an elongate, axially directed, flexible and inextensible wire to the opposite ends of the stent.
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Citations
26 Claims
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1. A device for fixation in a body cavity, comprising:
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a stent including generally tubular and coaxial first and second open weave stent segments slidably engaged along respective first and second axially inward portions overlapping one another to form a medial region of the stent, said stent segments further including respective non-overlapping first and second axially outward regions including respective and opposite first and second ends of the stent; said stent segments, at least along said axially inward portions, having a predetermined first diameter and a predetermined first axial length, said stent segments being radially compressible to a second diameter less than said first diameter and to a second axial length longer than said first axial length, to facilitate an axial insertion of said stent into a body cavity for delivery to a selected location therealong and subsequent fixation of the stent within the cavity by effecting an engagement of the stent segments with a tissue wall segment defining said body cavity; and wherein said first and second axially inward portions slide relative to one another to reduce the axial length of said medial region as said stent segments radially expand into said engagement, thus to maintain a substantially constant axial length of said stent during said radial expansion. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A device for fixation in a body cavity, comprising:
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a stent including a plurality of generally tubular and coaxial open weave stent segments, serially arranged, with adjacent stent segments slidably engaged and overlapping one another to form a plurality of intermediate overlapping regions between proximal and distal ends of said stent; said stent segments having a predetermined first diameter and a predetermined first axial length, said stent segments further being radially compressible to a second diameter less than the first diameter and to a second axial length longer than the first axial length, to facilitate an axial insertion of said stent into a body cavity for delivery to a selected location therealong and subsequent fixation of the stent within the cavity by effecting an engagement of the stent segments with a tissue wall segment defining said body cavity; and wherein said stent segments slide relative to one another along said intermediate overlapping regions to reduce the axial length of said intermediate regions as the stent segments radially expand into said engagement, thus to maintain a substantially constant axial length of the stent during said radial expansion. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24)
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25. A process for fixing a prosthesis within a body cavity, comprising the steps of:
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slidably interconnecting a plurality of open weave stent segments to form a stent having at least one intermediate region of overlapping adjacent stent segments between proximal and distal ends of said stent; radially compressing the stent segments into a predetermined first diameter and first axial length, axially inserting the stent into a body cavity, and delivering the stent to a selected location along the body cavity; and with said stent at said selected location, radially expanding and axially contracting the stent segments until the stent segments engage a tissue wall segment defining the body cavity to fix the stent within the body cavity, while maintaining the distance between said proximal and distal ends substantially constant. - View Dependent Claims (26)
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Specification