Expandable device having bistable spring construction
First Claim
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1. A method of applying a radial force against a surface of a passageway with an expandable device, comprising:
- providing an expandable device with a plurality of cells comprising a generally longitudinal wave-like first member and a generally longitudinal wave-like second member, at least one cell capable of being expanded between a stable contracted state in which the first and second members are generally in phase and at least one stable expanded state in which the first and second members are generally out of phase;
radially expanding the expandable device to expand the plurality of cells to a transition point defining a geometry of the plurality of cells at which no additional force is necessary to further expand the plurality of cells; and
permitting the plurality of cells to continue to expand beyond the transition point to the at least one expanded state without the application of additional force so that the expandable device expands against a surface of the passageway;
wherein;
one of the first and second members substantially retains its shape when the cell transitions from the contracted to the at least one expanded shape.
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Abstract
The present invention is directed to bistable cells and their use in devices, particularly medical devices such as stents, clamps and valves. An expandable stent formed of a plurality of bistable cells is described. The stent has two or more stable configurations, including a first stable configuration with a first diameter and a second stable configuration with a second, larger diameter. A valve comprising a bistable cell for use in eliminating incontinence is also disclosed.
60 Citations
40 Claims
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1. A method of applying a radial force against a surface of a passageway with an expandable device, comprising:
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providing an expandable device with a plurality of cells comprising a generally longitudinal wave-like first member and a generally longitudinal wave-like second member, at least one cell capable of being expanded between a stable contracted state in which the first and second members are generally in phase and at least one stable expanded state in which the first and second members are generally out of phase; radially expanding the expandable device to expand the plurality of cells to a transition point defining a geometry of the plurality of cells at which no additional force is necessary to further expand the plurality of cells; and permitting the plurality of cells to continue to expand beyond the transition point to the at least one expanded state without the application of additional force so that the expandable device expands against a surface of the passageway; wherein; one of the first and second members substantially retains its shape when the cell transitions from the contracted to the at least one expanded shape. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 19)
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10. A method of stabilizing an unsupported section of a passageway, comprising:
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providing an expandable device having one or more cells, each of the cells comprising first and second arcuate members; placing the device at a position in the passageway while in a first stable state; applying a radially outward force to the expandable device to expand the one or more cells to a transition point defining a geometry of the one or more cells at which no additional force is necessary to further expand the one or more cells; and permitting the one or more cells to continue to expand beyond the transition point without the application of additional force; wherein at least a portion of the first arcuate member changes from a generally concave shape to a generally convex shape when the one or more cells expand beyond the transition point. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 20)
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21. A method of isolating a portion of a passageway, comprising:
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inserting within the passageway an expandable multistable device formed by one or more of cells that permit the expandable device to be selectively actuated between a contracted state and at least one expanded state, each of the cells comprising first and second wave-like portions; expanding the one or more cells from a stable collapsed configuration in which the first and second wave-like portions are in phase to a transition point defining a geometry of the one or more cells at which no additional force is necessary to further expand the one or more cells; permitting the one or more cells to continue to expand beyond the transition point to a stable expanded configuration without the application of additional force, in which the first and second wave-like portions are out of phase, wherein there are no stable configurations between the stable collapsed configuration and the stable expanded configuration; and isolating a portion of the passageway with the expandable device. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24, 25, 26)
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27. A method of expanding an expandable device in a passage way, comprising:
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providing an expandable device having at least one cell, the at least one cell comprising first and second members, at least a portion of the second member(s) being more pliable than the first member(s); positioning the expandable device in a passage way; applying a radially outward force to the expandable device to expand the at least one cell to a transition point of the at least one cell defining a geometry of the at least one cell beyond which no additional force is needed to further expand the least one cell, at least a portion of the at least one cell moving between a generally concave state and a generally convex state at the transition point; and permitting the at least one cell to continue to expand beyond the transition point without the application of additional force. - View Dependent Claims (28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40)
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Specification