Expandable device
First Claim
1. An expandable device for insertion into a passage, said expandable device comprising:
- a. a body formed of at least one flexible material, said body being convertible from a collapsed condition in which it is of a size to be inserted into the passage into an expanded condition in which the body is fixed relative to the passage, b. passage means in said body, said passage means including a main channel in communication with a purality of channels extending transversely from the main channel, extending over at least a region of the body, and being spaced by portions of the body, c. inlet means communicating with said passage means, and d. flowable rigidifying material introducable into the passage means, the material rigidifyin within the passage means to thereby maintain the body in the expanded condition.
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0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An expandable device, e.g. a stent for insertion into a passage, e.g. a blood vessel or artery, is disclosed. The device has a body (20) formed of a flexible material. The body is convertible from a collapsed condition in which it is of a size to be inserted into the passage into an expanded condition in which the body (20) is fixed relative to the passage. A passage (28) is provided within the body so as to extend over at least a region of the latter. An inlet (32) is provided in the body (20) in communication with the passage therein. The inlet (32) enables a rigidifying material to be introduced into the passage (28) in the body (20) so that at least the region of the body (20) in which the passage is provided can be rigidified whereby to maintain the body in its expanded condition.
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Citations
30 Claims
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1. An expandable device for insertion into a passage, said expandable device comprising:
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a. a body formed of at least one flexible material, said body being convertible from a collapsed condition in which it is of a size to be inserted into the passage into an expanded condition in which the body is fixed relative to the passage, b. passage means in said body, said passage means including a main channel in communication with a purality of channels extending transversely from the main channel, extending over at least a region of the body, and being spaced by portions of the body, c. inlet means communicating with said passage means, and d. flowable rigidifying material introducable into the passage means, the material rigidifyin within the passage means to thereby maintain the body in the expanded condition. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
a. a polymerizable monomer; and
b. a pre-polymer.
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7. The expandable device of claim 1 wherein the flowable rigidifying material includes at least one of:
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a. epoxy resin;
b. a silicon elastomer;
c. a cyanoacrylate; and
d. a methacrylate.
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8. The expandable device of claim 1 wherein the flowable rigidifying material comprises at least two components wherein the components rigidify after their combination occurs.
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9. The expandable device of claim 1 wherein the body is tubular, with an interior passage extending between opposing ends of the body when the body is in the expanded condition.
- 10. A device for insertion in a body passage comprising a thin fabric formed with a plurality of flexible channels discretely spaced from each other and having a first condition in which said thin fabric is collapsed and a second condition in which said thin fabric is expanded to conform to a shape of at least a part of said passage when said thin fabric is disposed within said passage, said channels including a main channel in communication with subsidiary channels transversely extending from said main channel and said channel having a flowable rigidifying material therein, wherein rigidification of the material fixes the channels surrounding the material against flexion.
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15. An expandable device for insertion into a lumen, the device:
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a. being formed of flexible material;
b. being convertible;
(1) from a collapsed condition wherein the device is insertable into the lumen, (2) into an expanded condition wherein the device extends over and supports the surface of the lumen, and wherein the device at least partially encircles an interior passage extending along the lumen; and
c. having areas thereon spaced by expandable channels, said channels including a main channel in communication with subsidiary channels extending transversely from said main channel, wherein the expandable channels have fluid rigidifying material therein which maintains the device in the expanded condition, the material rigidifying to fix the device in the expanded condition. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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21. An expandable device for insertion into a lumen, the device:
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a. including one or more flexible channels expandable;
(1) from a collapsed state, to (2) an expanded state wherein the channels define a framework which at least partially surrounds an interior passage extending along the lumen; and
b. webs of flexible material spacing the channels, wherein the device may be drawn through the lumen when the channels are in the collapsed state, and the channels may subsequently be put in their expanded state to have the framework and webs extend about and support the surface of the lumen, and wherein the channels are filled with fluid rigidify material, the material flowing to inflate the channels to their expanded state and subsequently rigidifying into a nonflowing state to fix the channels against collapse. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24, 25)
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26. An expandable device for insertion into a lumen, the device:
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a. including expandable channels having widths spaced by one or more areas of flexible material, and wherein the spacing between the expandable channels is at least as great as their widths, and b. being convertible between;
(1) a collapsed state wherein the expandable channels are at least substantially empty and the device is movable within the lumen, and (2) an expanded state wherein the expandable channels are filled with flowable rigidifying material to extend along and support the surface of the lumen, with the expandable channels at least partially encircling and maintaining a passage within the lumen, and wherein the rigidifying material rigidifies to a non-flowine state to fix the channels in place. - View Dependent Claims (27, 28, 29, 30)
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Specification