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Tissue supporting devices

  • US 6,451,052 B1
  • Filed: 10/14/1998
  • Issued: 09/17/2002
  • Est. Priority Date: 05/19/1994
  • Status: Expired due to Term
First Claim
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1. A tissue supporting device comprising a constrainable, self-expanding member of generally tubular shape, said member comprising a first layer of a resilient self-expandable material and a second layer of a deformable and substantially less resilient material than the first layer, said second layer being deformable by an external force but being non-self-expandable;

  • the member being constrainable to a deployable diameter in preparation for insertion into a patient;

    the member being self-expanding when unconstrained to an initially deployed diameter due to the transformation of the first layer from a martensitic to an austenitic state;

    the first and second layers being affixed to each other or braided;

    the first and second layers being so associated with respect to each other such that the device may be further expanded due to the deformability of the second layer by an external force to radially enlarge the member to an enlarged self sustained fully deployed diameter for providing tissue support.

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