Device for collapsing an appliance collapsible for insertion into human organs

• US 5,242,452 A
• Filed: 12/29/1992
• Issued: 09/07/1993
• Est. Priority Date: 10/11/1991
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Kanji Inoue
• Original Assignee: Kanji Inoue
• Inventors: Inoue, Kanji
• Primary Examiner(s): Green, Randall L.
• Assistant Examiner(s): JONES, MARYBETH O
• Application Number:
  US07/998,147
• Time in Patent Office: 252 Days
• Field of Search: 623/1, 623/12, 600/36, 600/37, 606/108, 606/144, 606/148, 606/191, 606/194, 606/198, 604/8, 604/104, 128/838, 128/840
• US Class Current: 606/108
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/12013 for use in minimally invasive surgery, e.g. endoscopic surgery
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/07 Stent-grafts
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/86 Stents in a form characterised by the wire-like elements; Stents in the form characterised by a net-like or mesh-like structure
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/89 the wire-like elements comprising two or more adjacent rings flexibly connected by separate members
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/95 Instruments specially adapted for placement or removal of stents or stent-grafts
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/958 Inflatable balloons for placing stents or stent-grafts
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/966 with relative longitudinal movement between outer sleeve and prosthesis, e.g. using a push rod
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/075 the stent being loosely attached to the graft material, e.g. by stitching
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/825 having longitudinal struts
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/9511 the retaining means being filaments or wires
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/9665 with additional retaining means
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2220/0075 sutured, ligatured or stitched, retained or tied with a rope, string, thread, wire or cable

Abstract

An artificial body vessel to be inserted into a human organ is collapsed and introduced into a catheter, which is brought to a required position in the human organ, where the artificial body vessel is released therefrom. A pair of foldable, elastic wire rings 10 are provided at the opposite ends of the artificial body vessel. A plurality of connecting wire rings bridge the end wire rings 10. A plurality of intermediate wire rings 12 bind and keep the connecting wire rings 11 transformed in a generally elliptical shape. The end wire rings 10, the intermediate wire rings 12 and the connecting wire rings 11 are folded by means of a string passed through loops to collapse the artificial body vessel 7. The collapsed artificial body vessel 7 is inserted into a catheter. At the objective position of the blood vessel the artificial body vessel 7 is released, so that the resiliency of the end wire rings 10, the intermediate wire rings 12 and the connecting wire rings 11 restores the artificial body vessel 7 to its original tubular shape. The artificial body vessel 7 is released by means of a tube, formed with a side window adjacent its front end, containing a wire which extends along the side window.

Claims

1. A device for introducing a medium into a human body comprising:

a tube having a front end, wherein said tube is formed with a side window adjacent its front end, said tube to be inserted through said medium;

a wire inserted through said tube and through said front end of said tube so as to extend along said side window of said tube; and

at least one string, said at least one string having a first end, said first end of said string being fixed to said tube adjacent said side window, said string being arranged so as to be passed through said medium and wound around said wire where said wire extends along said side window of said tube.

2. A device for introducing a medium into a human body, as described in claim 1, further comprising a flexible guide tube connected to said front end of said tube.

3. A device for introducing a medium into a human body, as described in claim 2, wherein said flexible guide tube further comprises a coil spring.

4. A device for introducing a medium into a human body, as described in claim 1, further comprising a short flexible guide tube connected to said front end of said tube and a long flexible guide tube connected to a rear end of said tube.

5. A device for introducing a medium into a human body, as described in claim 4, wherein said short flexible guide tube further comprises a coil spring, and wherein said long flexible guide tube further comprises a coil spring.

6. A device for introducing a medium into a human body, as described in claim 1, wherein said medium has a front opening provided with at least one loop through which said string is passed.

7. A device for introducing a medium into a human body, as described in claim 1, wherein said at least one string is wound about said wire at said side window, and wherein said at least one string further comprises a second end, said second end being nipped between said tube and said wire so as to be held by said tube and said wire.

8. A device for introducing a medium into a human body, as described in claim 7, wherein said second end of said at least one string is formed into a knot.

9. A device for introducing a medium into a human body, as described in claim 1, wherein said at least one string further comprises a second end wherein said second end is fixed to said tube adjacent said side window so as to form a loop through which said wire is passed.

10. A device for introducing a medium into a human body, as described in claim 9, wherein said first end of said string and said second end of said string are twisted together.