Curable fiber composite stent and delivery system
First Claim
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1. A stent for supporting a selected portion of a body lumen, comprising at least one flexible fiber composite which is formed to engage the wall of a body lumen, wherein the fiber composite comprises a plurality of fibers and a curable material in contact with the fibers, wherein said stent positioned within the body lumen and, upon curing of the curable material, the fibers are bonded together to form a rigid support structure.
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Abstract
A stent for supporting a selected portion of a body lumen, comprising a fibrous material which is treated with a curable material to form a curable fiber composite. The fiber composite is positioned within a body lumen and, upon curing of the curable material, forms a rigid support structure.
422 Citations
25 Claims
- 1. A stent for supporting a selected portion of a body lumen, comprising at least one flexible fiber composite which is formed to engage the wall of a body lumen, wherein the fiber composite comprises a plurality of fibers and a curable material in contact with the fibers, wherein said stent positioned within the body lumen and, upon curing of the curable material, the fibers are bonded together to form a rigid support structure.
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17. An apparatus for forming a stent inside a body lumen comprising:
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a flexible elongated tube having a light transmitting expandable balloon attached to its distal end; at least one fiber composite desposed about the expandable balloon, the fiber composite comprising a plurality of fibers and a curable material in contact with the fibers; catheter means connected to said flexible tube and said balloon for inflating the balloon; and energy conducting means for transmitting radiation from an outside source to the interior of the balloon, the radiation being of a sufficient energy to cause curing of the curable material, thereby bonding together the fibers of the fiber composite, resulting in the formation of a rigid support structure. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19)
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20. A method of forming a stent, comprising the steps of:
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applying a curable material to a plurality of fibers, thereby forming a curable fiber composite; shaping the fiber composite into a form suitable for insertion inside a body lumen; mounting the shaped fiber composite over an expandable member; disposing the expandable member in an unexpanded state inside a body lumen; locating the expandable member adjacent to a selected region of the body lumen; inflating the expandable member so as to bring the fiber composite into contact with the surrounding lumen wall; and curing the curable material so as to bond together the fibers of the fiber composite, thereby forming a rigid support structure. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22, 23, 24, 25)
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Specification