Stent with micro-latching hinge joints
First Claim
1. A method of forming a permanently an expandable medical device, said medical device having a body section that is expandable from a first unexpanded diameter to a second expanded diameter, said second diameter greater than said first diameter, said method comprising the step of forming first and second links in said body section of said medical device, each of said links including at least one link segment, said link segment including a head portion and a support member, said support member having first and second ends, said first end of said support member rotatably connected to said head portion, said first end of said support member and said head portion including an engagement arrangement that has a plurality of engagement surfaces designed to incrementally limit a direction of rotation of said support member in a single direction relative to said head portion, said plurality of engagement surfaces allowing at least a portion of said body section to expand from said first to said second diameter of aid body section and to prevent at least a portion of said expanded body section from contracting in diameter once said support member has rotated a predetermined distance relative to said head portion, wherein said body section at least partially forms a stent.
4 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A stent is constructed using interconnected links having micro-mechanical latching mechanisms. The micro-mechanical latching elements allow relative rotational movement of interconnected links in one rotational direction but restrict relative rotational movement of the two links in the opposite direction. The micro-mechanical latch surface features are formed using micro-electronic mechanical systems (MEMS) manufacturing methods. The male surface of the latching components contains an array of ridges or protrusions, and the receiving surface contains a matching array of recesses. The array of ridges or protrusions and the corresponding recesses have uniformly dissimilar slopes that result in a substantially greater frictional force in one direction than in the opposite direction. The separation distance between the two surfaces is such that the male latch surface is engaged with the receiving surface recesses in the low stress “locked” state, preventing motion in the undesired direction. Each male ridge or protrusion can be underlined by a void that promotes elastic deflection when sliding in the desired direction and recovery into the ‘locked ’ state when aligned with the recesses.
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Citations
34 Claims
- 1. A method of forming a permanently an expandable medical device, said medical device having a body section that is expandable from a first unexpanded diameter to a second expanded diameter, said second diameter greater than said first diameter, said method comprising the step of forming first and second links in said body section of said medical device, each of said links including at least one link segment, said link segment including a head portion and a support member, said support member having first and second ends, said first end of said support member rotatably connected to said head portion, said first end of said support member and said head portion including an engagement arrangement that has a plurality of engagement surfaces designed to incrementally limit a direction of rotation of said support member in a single direction relative to said head portion, said plurality of engagement surfaces allowing at least a portion of said body section to expand from said first to said second diameter of aid body section and to prevent at least a portion of said expanded body section from contracting in diameter once said support member has rotated a predetermined distance relative to said head portion, wherein said body section at least partially forms a stent.
- 18. A method of forming an expandable medical device, said medical device in the form of a stent having a body section that is expandable from a first unexpanded diameter to a second expanded diameter, said second diameter greater than said first diameter, said method comprising the step of forming first and second links in said body section of said medical device, each of said links including at least one link segment, said link segment including a head portion and a support member, said support member having first and second ends, said first end of said support member rotatably connected to said head portion, said first end of said support member and said head portion including an engagement arrangement having a plurality of engagement surfaces, a plurality of said engagement surfaces designed to incrementally limit a direction of rotation of said support member in a single direction relative to said head portion, said plurality of engagement surfaces allowing at least a portion of said body section to expand from said first to said second diameter of said body section and to prevent at least a portion of said expanded body section from contracting in diameter once said support member has rotated a predetermined distance relative to said head portion, said engagement arrangement of said first and second links including a ratcheting arrangement, said ratcheting arrangement including a plurality of engagement surfaces at least partially formed from a plurality of teeth, bumps, and combinations thereof and a plurality of recesses, at least a portion of said ratcheting arrangement designed to limit a direction of rotation of said support member in a single direction relative to said head portion.
Specification