Metal structure compatible with MRI imaging, and method of manufacturing such a structure
First Claim
1. A tubular radially expansible metal structure, comprising:
- a wall comprising an abluminal major wall surface, a luminal major wall surface and a radial wall thickness therebetween, the wall having struts defining through-apertures therein; and
a plurality of expansible rings arranged adjacent one another along a longitudinal axis of the structure, each of the rings defining at least one bridge strut and each of the rings having a first electrical conductivity, adjacent rings linked by at least one bridge formed by cooperation between adjacent bridge struts on adjacent rings;
each bridge including a portion having a second electrical conductivity at least an order of magnitude lower than the first electrical conductivity, the bridges distributed throughout the length of the tubular structure and configured and arranged to divide the tubular structure into axially spaced and electrically insulated sections.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
The present invention relates to tubular radially expansible metal structures, having an abluminal wall, a luminal wall and a radial wall thickness therebetween with struts defining through-apertures in the wall, the structure further defining a plurality of expansible rings arranged adjacent one another along the longitudinal axis of the structure, each of the rings defining at least one bridge strut, and adjacent rings being linked by a bridge extending between adjacent bridge struts on adjacent rings. The bridges, a plurality of which are distributed throughout the length of the tubular structure and are configured and arranged to divide the tubular structure into axially spaced and electrically insulated sections, advantageously exhibit reduced electrical conductivity throughout their wall thickness. The present invention relates furthermore to a method of manufacturing such a tubular structure, as well as a method of visualizing a bodily lumen supported by such a tubular structure deployed therein.
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Citations
35 Claims
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1. A tubular radially expansible metal structure, comprising:
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a wall comprising an abluminal major wall surface, a luminal major wall surface and a radial wall thickness therebetween, the wall having struts defining through-apertures therein; and a plurality of expansible rings arranged adjacent one another along a longitudinal axis of the structure, each of the rings defining at least one bridge strut and each of the rings having a first electrical conductivity, adjacent rings linked by at least one bridge formed by cooperation between adjacent bridge struts on adjacent rings; each bridge including a portion having a second electrical conductivity at least an order of magnitude lower than the first electrical conductivity, the bridges distributed throughout the length of the tubular structure and configured and arranged to divide the tubular structure into axially spaced and electrically insulated sections. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35)
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20. A method of manufacturing a tubular radially expansible metal structure having an abluminal major wall surface, a luminal major wall surface and a radial wall thickness therebetween, comprising the steps of:
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forming a plurality of expansible rings so that the rings are arranged adjacent one another along the longitudinal axis of the structure, each of the rings defining at least one bridge strut and each of the rings having a first electrical conductivity; forming bridges between adjacent rings by approximating respective bridge struts of adjacent rings; and furnishing said bridges between each ring and its adjacent ring with a portion having a second electrical conductivity at least an order of magnitude lower than the first electrical conductivity, the bridges distributed throughout the length of the tubular structure, arranged and configured to divide the tubular structure into axially spaced and electrically insulated sections. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28)
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Specification