Self-expandable helical intravascular stent and stent-graft
First Claim
1. A method for introducing a stent to a desired site in a body lumen comprising the steps of:
- providing a generally tubular stent which is self-expandable from a collapsed state toward an uncollapsed state and which includes a member arranged in a helical configuration with multiple helical turns coupled with a flexible link and having multiple undulations, each having an unconfined apex;
introducing said self-expanding stent to a selected site in a body lumen with said stent in said collapsed state; and
releasing the collapsed self-expanding stent at the selected site so as to allow the collapsed stent to expand toward said uncollapsed state with undulations in adjacent turns being maintained generally in phase with one another with said flexible link and allowing said flexible link to move between any location within a substantial portion of a respective undulation and its corresponding apex in an unconfined manner.
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Accused Products
Abstract
This invention is a medical device and a method of using it. The device is a foldable stent or stent-graft which may be percutaneously delivered with (or on) an endovascular catheter or via surgical techniques or using other suitable techniques. The expandable stent structure utilizes at least one torsional member having an undulating shape which is helically deployed to form the generally cylindrical shape used as the stent. The helical winding desirably is aligned to allow those undulating shapes in adjacent turns of the helix to be in phase. The adjacent undulating shapes may be held in phased relationship using a flexible linkage, often made of a polymeric material. The stent may be flared on at least one of its ends to promote smooth blood flow at that flare and to assure that the stent will remain in the chosen position within the body. The stent'"'"'s configuration allows it to be folded or collapsed to a very small diameter prior to deployment without changing the length of the stent. The stent may be expanded with the use of an installation device such as a balloon but preferably is used as a self-expandable device.
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Citations
18 Claims
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1. A method for introducing a stent to a desired site in a body lumen comprising the steps of:
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providing a generally tubular stent which is self-expandable from a collapsed state toward an uncollapsed state and which includes a member arranged in a helical configuration with multiple helical turns coupled with a flexible link and having multiple undulations, each having an unconfined apex; introducing said self-expanding stent to a selected site in a body lumen with said stent in said collapsed state; and releasing the collapsed self-expanding stent at the selected site so as to allow the collapsed stent to expand toward said uncollapsed state with undulations in adjacent turns being maintained generally in phase with one another with said flexible link and allowing said flexible link to move between any location within a substantial portion of a respective undulation and its corresponding apex in an unconfined manner. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A method for delivering a prosthetic device in a mammal comprising the steps of:
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providing a generally tubular stent which is self-expandable from a collapsed state toward an uncollapsed state and which includes a member which is arranged in a helical configuration with multiple helical turns coupled with a flexible link and which has multiple undulations, each having an unconfined apex; delivering said stent to a selected site in a body lumen with the stent in said collapsed state; and bending the stent along its longitudinal axis as it is being delivered to the selected site, while maintaining undulations in adjacent turns generally in-phase with one another with said flexible link and allowing said flexible link to move between any location within a substantial portion of a respective undulation and its corresponding apex in an unconfined manner.
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18. A method for delivering a prosthetic device in a mammal comprising the steps of:
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providing a generally tubular stent which is self-expandable from a collapsed state toward an uncollapsed state and which includes a member which is arranged in a helical configuration with multiple helical turns, said member having multiple undulations, each having an unconfined apex; delivering the stent to a selected site in a body lumen with the stent in said collapsed state; and bending the stent along its longitudinal axis as it is being delivered to the selected site, and allowing apexes in one turn to move toward apexes in an adjacent turn in a substantially unrestricted manner.
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Specification