Axially-radially nested expandable device
First Claim
1. A stent being expandable from an unexpanded state to an expanded state, the stent comprising at least one module having an elongate central portion and a buckle component, the central portion comprising a belt component and at least one guide rail, the belt component and the guide rail being slidably interconnected to form a first expandable mechanism, the first expandable mechanism being configured to permit the module to expand in a circumferential direction, the central portion further comprising a plurality of teeth, wherein the central portion of a first module can be slidably disposed through the buckle component of a second module to provide a second expandable mechanism configured to permit the first and second modules to slide relative to each other from the unexpanded state to the expanded state, the at least one module further comprising a first terminal end and a second terminal end, the first terminal end at one end of the module, the second terminal end at a circumferentially opposite end of the module, wherein at least one flexible member extends generally uninterrupted from the first terminal end to the second terminal end.
2 Assignments
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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.
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Citations
23 Claims
- 1. A stent being expandable from an unexpanded state to an expanded state, the stent comprising at least one module having an elongate central portion and a buckle component, the central portion comprising a belt component and at least one guide rail, the belt component and the guide rail being slidably interconnected to form a first expandable mechanism, the first expandable mechanism being configured to permit the module to expand in a circumferential direction, the central portion further comprising a plurality of teeth, wherein the central portion of a first module can be slidably disposed through the buckle component of a second module to provide a second expandable mechanism configured to permit the first and second modules to slide relative to each other from the unexpanded state to the expanded state, the at least one module further comprising a first terminal end and a second terminal end, the first terminal end at one end of the module, the second terminal end at a circumferentially opposite end of the module, wherein at least one flexible member extends generally uninterrupted from the first terminal end to the second terminal end.
- 15. A stent comprising first and second modules that are slidably interconnected to provide a first mode of expansion to change the circumference of the stent, the first module further comprising a central portion having a belt component and at least one guide rail, the belt component and the guide rail being slidably interconnected to provide a second mode of expansion by which the first module is expandable in a circumferential direction to change the circumference of the stent, the stent being expandable from an unexpanded state to an expanded state upon sequential actuation of the first and second modes of expansion of the stent, wherein the first module comprises a buckle component configured to slidably engage a portion of the second module to provide the first mode of expansion, the portion of the second module comprising a plurality of teeth configured to engage with the buckle component of the first module to permit the first and second modules to slide relative to each other while preventing contraction of the stent toward the unexpanded state, the first module further comprising a first terminal end and a second terminal end, the first terminal end at one end of the first module, the second terminal end at a circumferentially opposite end of the first module, wherein at least one flexible member extends generally uninterrupted from the first terminal end to the second terminal end.
Specification