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Shape memory tubular stent

  • US 6,635,079 B2
  • Filed: 09/27/2001
  • Issued: 10/21/2003
  • Est. Priority Date: 08/21/1998
  • Status: Expired due to Fees
First Claim
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1. A stent deployment system, comprising:

  • at least one radially expandable stent means having a proximal end, a distal end and a lumen, each said stent mean comprising a hollow, generally cylindrical member having a side surface comprising a mesh having a plurality of openings, said mesh being formed by at least one elongate member comprised of a material having shape memory characteristics, said at least on elongate member having a memorized shape which is recovered when said elongate ember is heated to a temperature above body temperature, said at least one elongate member having a lumen;

    delivery means adapted convey the at least one stent means to a lumen of a vessel;

    heating means adapted to heat at least a portion of said at least one elongate member to said temperature above body temperature to at least partially recover said memorized shape, the heating means comprising at least one optical fiber, each said optical fiber extending into the lumen of a respective one of said elongate members and being adapted to transmit photothermal energy onto at least part of an inner surface of the elongate member; and

    sealing means to inhibit all or partly the flow of fluids or blood through the walls of the stent;

    wherein said memorized shape is selected so that shape recovery of said at least one elongate member results in radial expansion of said at least one stent means inside the lumen of the vessel.

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