Endoprostheses and methods of manufacture
First Claim
1. An endoprosthesis comprising one or more fibers, said one or more fibers comprising a braid comprising one or more points of intersection, said endoprosthesis further defining a generally tubular structure, a delivery configuration and a deployed configuration, and said one or more fibers comprising one or more locking elements proximate said one or more points of intersection, wherein said one or more locking elements engage upon deployment to maintain said endoprosthesis in said deployed configuration, without requiring an additional locking member or axial element.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Improved endoprostheses comprising a delivery configuration and a deployed configuration and methods of manufacture are disclosed. Some embodiments according to the invention comprise woven tubular structures and means for maintaining said structures in their expanded configurations. In one embodiment of the invention, locking elements disposed on one or more fibers maintain said endoprosthesis in its deployed configuration. In alternative embodiments, one or more axial members may maintain said endoprosthesis in its deployed configuration. In yet additional alternative embodiments, a chemical bond or thermocouple may maintain said endoprosthesis in its deployed configuration. Some embodiments according to the invention may comprise erodible material.
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Citations
24 Claims
- 1. An endoprosthesis comprising one or more fibers, said one or more fibers comprising a braid comprising one or more points of intersection, said endoprosthesis further defining a generally tubular structure, a delivery configuration and a deployed configuration, and said one or more fibers comprising one or more locking elements proximate said one or more points of intersection, wherein said one or more locking elements engage upon deployment to maintain said endoprosthesis in said deployed configuration, without requiring an additional locking member or axial element.
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11. A method of treatment of a stenosis of a body lumen comprising the steps of:
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providing a generally tubular endoprosthesis comprising a delivery configuration and a deployed configuration and formed from one or more fibers comprising one or more locking elements and one or more points of intersection between said one or more fibers, whereby said locking elements engage said fibers proximate said one or more points of intersection in order to maintain said endoprosthesis in said deployed configuration without requiring an additional locking member or axial element;
placing said endprosthesis in a body lumen;
deploying said endoprosthesis, thereby engaging said locking elements. - View Dependent Claims (12, 15)
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- 13. A woven erodible endoprosthesis capable of withstanding 300 mm Hg pressure radially within a body lumen, said endoprosthesis comprising a delivery configuration and a deployment configuration, said endoprosthesis comprising means for locking said endoprosthesis in said deployment configuration.
- 16. An endoprosthesis comprising one or more fibers comprising one or more points of intersection, said endoprosthesis defining a generally tubular structure, a delivery configuration and a deployed configuration, said endoprosthesis further comprising means for maintaining said endoprosthesis in said deployed configuration, wherein said means for maintaining said endoprosthesis in said deployed configuration comprises a chemical bond at said one or more points of intersection when said endoprosthesis is in said deployed configuration.
- 18. An endoprosthesis comprising one or more fibers comprising one or more points of intersection, said endoprosthesis defining a generally tubular structure, a delivery configuration and a deployed configuration, said endoprosthesis further comprising means for maintaining said endoprosthesis in said deployed configuration, wherein said means for maintaining said endoprosthesis in said deployed configuration comprises one or more thermocoupling element.
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20. An endoprosthesis comprising one or more fibers defining a generally tubular structure, said endoprosthesis comprising a delivery configuration and a deployed configuration, said endoprosthesis further comprising means for maintaining said endoprosthesis in said deployed configuration, and wherein said endoprosthesis comprises a therapeutic agent incorporated into or upon said endoprosthesis utilizing a solvent in a supercritical state.
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21. A method of treatment of a stenosis of a body lumen comprising the steps of:
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providing a generally tubular endoprosthesis comprising a delivery configuration and a deployed configuration and formed from one or more fibers comprising one or more locking elements and one or more points of intersection between said one or more fibers, said locking elements comprising one or more thermocouples, whereby said locking elements engage said fibers when said endoprosthesis is in said deployed configuration;
placing said endoprosthesis in a body lumen;
deploying said endoprosthesis;
heating said one or more of said thermocoupling element, thereby engaging said thermocoupling element. - View Dependent Claims (22)
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- 23. A woven erodible endoprosthesis capable of withstanding 300 mm Hg pressure radially within a body lumen, said endoprosthesis comprising a delivery configuration and a deployment configuration and comprising means for locking said endoprosthesis in said deployment configuration, wherein said means for locking said endoprosthesis in said deployment configuration comprises a directional locking engagement mechanism, said mechanism requiring less than 0.25 pound of force to engage and exhibiting greater than 1.0 pound force to disengage.
Specification