Axially-radially nested expandable device
First Claim
Patent Images
1. An offset rail stent being expandable from an axially-radially nested unexpanded state to an expanded state, the stent comprising a tubular member having a longitudinal axis, the tubular member comprising:
- a plurality of linkage strands extending in generally parallel directions along the longitudinal axis, each linkage strand having a plurality of frame elements being interconnected in an end-to-end fashion via at least one interconnection element, each frame element comprising at least one rail member having a free end separate from the free ends of rail members on other frame members, each rail member extending from the frame element in a circumferential direction, each frame element further comprising at least one engagement aperture, at least one rail member extending through an engagement aperture of an adjacent linkage strand, wherein each engagement aperture and each rail member are sized such that the at least one rail member can freely pass through a respective engagement aperture; and
a plurality of coupling elements each attached to a free end of a respective rail member extending through the engagement aperture;
a plurality of engagement mechanisms, each comprising at least one of the coupling elements engaged with at least one of the engagement apertures providing one-way movement of the coupling element engaged with a rail member in an expanding direction through the engagement aperture during expansion of the stent from an axially-radially nested unexpanded state to an expanded state and resisting movement of the coupling element engaged with the rail member in a contracting direction, opposite to the expanding direction, through the engagement aperture, thereby preventing contraction of the stent toward an axially-radially nested unexpanded state.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Expandable medical implants for maintaining support of a body lumen are disclosed. These implants comprise an axially-radially nested, diametrically expandable, moveable vascular device for enlarging an occluded portion of a vessel. The device can be configured to allow for motion such as translating and/or slide and lock. One advantage of the axially-radially nested stent is that it maintains the expanded size, without significant recoil.
336 Citations
35 Claims
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1. An offset rail stent being expandable from an axially-radially nested unexpanded state to an expanded state, the stent comprising a tubular member having a longitudinal axis, the tubular member comprising:
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a plurality of linkage strands extending in generally parallel directions along the longitudinal axis, each linkage strand having a plurality of frame elements being interconnected in an end-to-end fashion via at least one interconnection element, each frame element comprising at least one rail member having a free end separate from the free ends of rail members on other frame members, each rail member extending from the frame element in a circumferential direction, each frame element further comprising at least one engagement aperture, at least one rail member extending through an engagement aperture of an adjacent linkage strand, wherein each engagement aperture and each rail member are sized such that the at least one rail member can freely pass through a respective engagement aperture; and a plurality of coupling elements each attached to a free end of a respective rail member extending through the engagement aperture; a plurality of engagement mechanisms, each comprising at least one of the coupling elements engaged with at least one of the engagement apertures providing one-way movement of the coupling element engaged with a rail member in an expanding direction through the engagement aperture during expansion of the stent from an axially-radially nested unexpanded state to an expanded state and resisting movement of the coupling element engaged with the rail member in a contracting direction, opposite to the expanding direction, through the engagement aperture, thereby preventing contraction of the stent toward an axially-radially nested unexpanded state. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 32, 33)
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19. A radially expandable stent comprising a tubular member having a longitudinal axis, wherein the tubular member comprises:
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a plurality of interwoven strands extending along the longitudinal axis, each strand having at least one frame element, each frame element comprising at least one rail member and at least one engagement aperture, the at least one rail member having a free end separate from the free ends of rail members on other frame members and extending circumferentially about the tubular member and through an engagement aperture of an adjacent strand, the at least one engagement aperture and the rail member being sized such that in a first condition the rail member can pass through the engagement aperture in both an expansion direction and a contraction direction, the contraction directing being opposite the expansion direction; and a plurality of coupling elements each connected to a free end of respective ones of the rail members in a second condition, the coupling elements each comprising at least one securing structure and a motion-limiting structure, wherein the securing structure receives at least a portion of a respective rail member and secures the coupling element relative to the respective rail member in at least a circumferential direction, the motion-limiting structure of the coupling element engaging the engagement aperture of a respective frame element to allow one-way movement of the coupling element relative to the respective frame element in only the expansion direction of the interwoven strands with respect to each other and to resist movement of the coupling element relative to the respective frame element in the contraction direction. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 34, 35)
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Specification