Balloon-expandable, crush resistant locking stent and method of loading the same
First Claim
1. A process for loading a crush resistant stent onto a balloon portion of a catheter, comprising the method steps of:
- providing a plurality of resilient, substantially parallel zig-zag struts extending from a base section and curved to form a hoop, wherein each zig-zag strut defines a large amplitude when the strut is in an unstretched state and a small amplitude when the strut is in a stretched state;
providing a plurality of openings within the base section corresponding to each of the zig-zag struts, each opening having a width that is less than the large amplitude;
stretching the struts to obtain the small amplitude;
passing the struts through the corresponding openings to form a closed hoop;
inserting the balloon portion into the hoop; and
releasing the struts so that the struts return to the unstretched state and assume the large amplitude.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An intraluminal, crush resistant stent for implantation in a body lumen is disclosed. The crush resistant stent is made from a base section having a plurality of resilient, parallel, coplanar struts having a zig-zag configuration extending therefrom wherein the zig-zag struts are curved and pass through corresponding slots in the base section to form a continuous, cylindrical hoop. Each zig-zag strut has an amplitude that decreases when the zig-zag strut is placed under tension and an amplitude that increases when the zig-zag strut is unstressed or is placed under compression. Accordingly, each zig-zag strut can be pulled through the respective slot in the base section, but under compression the zig-zag struts assume the larger amplitude and cannot pass through the corresponding slot thereby maintaining the diameter of the stent constant.
242 Citations
14 Claims
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1. A process for loading a crush resistant stent onto a balloon portion of a catheter, comprising the method steps of:
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providing a plurality of resilient, substantially parallel zig-zag struts extending from a base section and curved to form a hoop, wherein each zig-zag strut defines a large amplitude when the strut is in an unstretched state and a small amplitude when the strut is in a stretched state; providing a plurality of openings within the base section corresponding to each of the zig-zag struts, each opening having a width that is less than the large amplitude; stretching the struts to obtain the small amplitude; passing the struts through the corresponding openings to form a closed hoop; inserting the balloon portion into the hoop; and releasing the struts so that the struts return to the unstretched state and assume the large amplitude. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
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6. A method for loading a crush resistant stent onto a balloon portion of a catheter, comprising the steps of:
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providing a plurality of resilient, zig-zag struts extending from a base section and curved into a hoop, wherein each zig-zag strut defines a first amplitude when the strut is in a less than tensile state and a second amplitude when the strut is in a tensile state; providing a plurality of openings in the base section corresponding to each zig-zag strut, wherein the openings are smaller than the first amplitude; applying a tension to the struts so that they at least partially pass through the corresponding openings in the base section to form a hoop; inserting the balloon portion into the hoop; and at least partially removing the tension to the struts so that the struts are in the less than tensile state. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A method for loading a crush resistant stent onto a balloon catheter, comprising the steps of:
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providing a plurality of resilient, zig-zag struts extending from a base section and curved into a hoop, wherein each zig-zag strut is defined by an amplitude that varies as the strut is stretched or relaxed; providing a plurality of openings in the base section corresponding to each zig-zag strut, wherein the openings are smaller than the amplitudes of the struts when they are relaxed; stretching the struts at least partially through the corresponding openings in the base section to close the hoop; inserting the balloon catheter into the hoop; and relaxing the struts. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14)
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Specification