Expandable stent with sliding and locking radial elements
First Claim
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1. An expandable stent, comprising:
- a tubular member having a circumference which is adjustable between at least a first collapsed diameter and at least a second expanded diameter, said tubular member comprising;
at least two slidably engaged radial elements, wherein each radial element defines a portion of the circumference of the tubular member, and comprises a tab, a locking slot which comprises a stop therein and defines a travel path, and an entry slot configured to allow a tab to fit into and slidably engage the locking slot; and
a frame element that surrounds at least one of the radial elements, the frame element interconnecting with another frame element;
wherein the stop is configured to permit one-way sliding of the tab along the travel path, such that said tubular member can expand from the first collapsed diameter to the second expanded diameter with reduced recoil as the slidably engaged radial elements slide apart from one another.
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Abstract
The present invention provides a lumen support stent with a clear through-lumen for use in a body lumen. The stent is formed from at least one series of sliding and locking radial elements and at least one ratcheting mechanism comprising an articulating element and a plurality of stops. The ratcheting mechanism permits one-way sliding of the radial elements from a collapsed diameter to an expanded diameter, but inhibits radial recoil from the expanded diameter.
432 Citations
30 Claims
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1. An expandable stent, comprising:
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a tubular member having a circumference which is adjustable between at least a first collapsed diameter and at least a second expanded diameter, said tubular member comprising; at least two slidably engaged radial elements, wherein each radial element defines a portion of the circumference of the tubular member, and comprises a tab, a locking slot which comprises a stop therein and defines a travel path, and an entry slot configured to allow a tab to fit into and slidably engage the locking slot; and a frame element that surrounds at least one of the radial elements, the frame element interconnecting with another frame element; wherein the stop is configured to permit one-way sliding of the tab along the travel path, such that said tubular member can expand from the first collapsed diameter to the second expanded diameter with reduced recoil as the slidably engaged radial elements slide apart from one another. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. An expandable stent, comprising:
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a tubular member having a longitudinal length along a longitudinal axis and a circumference adjustable between at least a first collapsed diameter and at least a second expanded diameter, the tubular member comprising; at least two first radial elements being longitudinally and circumferentially offset from each other; and at least two second radial elements being longitudinally and circumferentially offset from each other, the second radial elements being slidably engaged with respective first radial elements to collectively define at least a portion of the circumference of the tubular member; wherein the second radial elements are coupled to each other via a linkage element to form a longitudinal support for maintaining patency of a lumen, the longitudinal support extending in a generally helical direction about the tubular member; wherein the second radial elements each comprise a frame element surrounding the second radial element. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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22. An expandable stent, comprising:
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a tubular member having a circumference which is adjustable between at least a first collapsed diameter and at least a second expanded diameter, said tubular member comprising at least two slidably engaged radial elements, wherein each radial element defines a portion of the circumference of the tubular member, each radial element comprising; a tab having a head portion and a neck portion, the tab being wider at the head portion than at the neck portion thereof; a locking slot formed in the radial element, the locking slot comprising a stop and defining a travel path; and an entry slot configured to allow a head portion of a tab to pass therethrough such that a neck portion of the tab can slidably engage the locking slot as the tab moves relative to the locking slot; and a frame element that surrounds at least one of the radial elements, the frame element interconnecting with another frame element; wherein the tubular member can expand from the first collapsed diameter to the second expanded diameter with reduced recoil as the slidably engaged radial elements slide apart from one another. - View Dependent Claims (23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30)
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Specification