Gradually self-expanding stent
First Claim
1. A self-expanding stent, comprising:
- a stent structure comprising a first plurality of stent cells, each of said first plurality of stent cells comprising first and second bends, said first and second bends facing each other and being longitudinally spaced apart, a plurality of structural members interconnecting said first and second bends, wherein each structural member has a length, wherein each of said first plurality of stent cells is defined by said first and second bends and said lengths of said plurality of structural members, wherein said stent cells have a compressed configuration and an expanded configuration; and
a biodegradable restraining material attached to said first plurality of stent cells along the entire length of said structural members in said compressed configuration, said restraining material extending across an entirety of an area defined by said first and second bends and said plurality of structural members of each of said first plurality of stent cells, said restraining material thereby extending longitudinally across each of said areas between said first and second bends and circumferentially across each of said areas between said plurality of structural members disposed adjacent each other,whereby said restraining material initially restrains said first plurality of stent cells in said compressed configuration, and wherein as said restraining material biodegrades over time throughout each of said areas, said restraining material releases said plurality of structural members of said first plurality of stent cells over time, thereby allowing said first plurality of stent cells to assume said expanded configuration.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A gradually self-expanding stent includes a first plurality of stent cells including a first plurality of circumferentially adjacent structural members in mechanical communication with each other. The stent also includes a second plurality of stent cells including a second plurality of circumferentially adjacent structural members in mechanical communication with each other. The circumferentially adjacent structural members of the first and second plurality of stent cells have a compressed configuration and an expanded configuration. A restraining material is attached to each of the circumferentially adjacent structural members defining each of the second plurality of stent cells such that it substantially covers an entirety of each of the second plurality of stent cells in the compressed configuration. Over time, the restraining material releases the structural members defining each of the second plurality of stent cells, thereby allowing the second plurality of stent cells to assume the expanded configuration.
74 Citations
26 Claims
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1. A self-expanding stent, comprising:
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a stent structure comprising a first plurality of stent cells, each of said first plurality of stent cells comprising first and second bends, said first and second bends facing each other and being longitudinally spaced apart, a plurality of structural members interconnecting said first and second bends, wherein each structural member has a length, wherein each of said first plurality of stent cells is defined by said first and second bends and said lengths of said plurality of structural members, wherein said stent cells have a compressed configuration and an expanded configuration; and a biodegradable restraining material attached to said first plurality of stent cells along the entire length of said structural members in said compressed configuration, said restraining material extending across an entirety of an area defined by said first and second bends and said plurality of structural members of each of said first plurality of stent cells, said restraining material thereby extending longitudinally across each of said areas between said first and second bends and circumferentially across each of said areas between said plurality of structural members disposed adjacent each other, whereby said restraining material initially restrains said first plurality of stent cells in said compressed configuration, and wherein as said restraining material biodegrades over time throughout each of said areas, said restraining material releases said plurality of structural members of said first plurality of stent cells over time, thereby allowing said first plurality of stent cells to assume said expanded configuration. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A self-expanding stent, comprising:
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a stent structure comprising a plurality of stent cells comprising interconnected structural members, said structural members each having a length; a proximal end portion extending toward a longitudinal center of a said stent structure from a proximal end thereof by an amount based on an overall length of said stent structure; a distal end portion extending toward said longitudinal center of said stent structure from a distal end thereof by an amount based on an overall length of said stent structure; and a central portion disposed between said proximal and distal end portions, wherein stent cells of said proximal and distal end portions are comprised of a first plurality of stent cells, and stent cells of said central portion are comprised of both said first plurality of stent cells and a second plurality of stent cells, wherein each stent cell in said first and second plurality of stent cells comprises first and second bends, said first and second bends facing each other and being longitudinally spaced apart, and being interconnected by said structural members, wherein each of said first and second plurality of stent cells is defined by said first and second bends and said plurality of structural members, wherein said first plurality of stent cells have an open and unrestrained structure, wherein said first and second plurality of stent cells have a compressed configuration and an expanded configuration; and a biodegradable restraining material attached to said second plurality of stent cells along the entire length of said structural members in said compressed configuration, said restraining material extending across an entirety of an area defined by said first and second bends and said plurality of structural members of each of said second plurality of stent cells, said restraining material thereby extending longitudinally across each of said areas between said first and second bends and circumferentially across each of said areas between said plurality of structural members disposed adjacent each other, and wherein said restraining material initially restrains said second plurality of stent cells in said compressed configuration, wherein as said restraining material degrades over time throughout each of said areas, said restraining material releases said plurality of structural members of said second plurality of stent cells over time, thereby allowing said second plurality of stent cells to assume said expanded configuration. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A self-expanding stent, comprising:
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a proximal end portion extending toward a longitudinal center of a stent structure from a proximal end thereof by an amount based on an overall length of said stent structure; a distal end portion extending toward said longitudinal center of said stent structure from a distal end thereof by an amount based on an overall length of said stent structure; and a central portion disposed between said proximal and distal end portions, wherein stent cells of said proximal and distal end portions are comprised of a first plurality of stent cells, and stent cells of said central portion are comprised of both said first plurality of stent cells and a second plurality of stent cells, a proportion of said first plurality of stent cells to said second plurality of stent cells in said central portion being substantially equal, wherein each stent cell in said first and second plurality of stent cells comprises first and second bends, said first and second bends facing each other and being longitudinally spaced apart, a plurality of structural members interconnecting said first and second bends, each structural member having a length, wherein each of said first and second plurality of stent cells is defined by said first and second bends and said plurality of structural members, wherein said first plurality of stent cells have an open and unrestrained structure, wherein said first and second plurality of stent cells have a compressed configuration and an expanded configuration; and a biodegradable restraining material attached to said second plurality of stent cells along the entire length of said structural members in said compressed configuration, said restraining material extending across an entirety of an area defined by said first and second bends and said plurality of structural members of each of said second plurality of stent cells, said restraining material thereby extending longitudinally across each of said areas between said first and second bends and circumferentially across each of said areas between said plurality of structural members disposed adjacent each other, and wherein said restraining material initially restrains said second plurality of stent cells in said compressed configuration, wherein as said restraining material degrades over time throughout each of said areas, said biodegradable material releases said plurality of structural members of said second plurality of stent cells over time thereby allowing said second plurality of stent cells to assume said expanded configuration.
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19. A self-expanding stent, comprising:
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a stent structure comprising braided structural members, said plurality of braided structural members each having a length and forming a first plurality of stent cells, each of said first plurality of stent cells comprising first and second intersections, said first and second intersections facing each other and being longitudinally spaced apart, said plurality of said structural members interconnecting said first and second intersections, wherein each of said first plurality of stent cells is defined by said first and second intersections and said plurality of said structural members, wherein said stent cells have a compressed configuration and an expanded configuration; and a biodegradable restraining material attached to said first plurality of stent cells along the entire length of said structural members in said compressed configuration, said restraining material extending across an entirety of an area defined by said first and second intersections and said plurality of said structural members of each of said first plurality of stent cells, said restraining material thereby extending longitudinally across each of said areas between said first and second bends and circumferentially across each of said areas between said plurality of structural members disposed adjacent each other, wherein said restraining material initially restrains said first plurality of stent cells in said compressed configuration, and wherein as said restraining material biodegrades over time throughout each of said areas, said restraining material releases said plurality of structural members of said first plurality of stent cells over time, thereby allowing said first plurality of stent cells to assume said expanded configuration. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25)
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26. A self-expanding stent, comprising:
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a stent structure comprising a plurality of stent cells, each of said plurality of stent cells comprising first and second bends, said first and second bends facing each other and being longitudinally spaced apart, a plurality of structural members interconnecting said first and second bends, each structural member having a length, wherein each of said first plurality of stent cells is defined by said first and second bends and said plurality of structural members, wherein said stent cells have a compressed configuration and an expanded configuration; and a restraining material attached to said plurality of stent cells along the entire length of said structural members in said compressed configuration, said restraining material extending across an entirety of an area defined by said first and second bends and said plurality of structural members of each of said plurality of stent cells, said restraining material thereby extending longitudinally across each of said areas between said first and second bends and circumferentially across each of said areas between said plurality of structural members disposed adjacent each other, wherein said restraining material initially restrains said plurality of stent cells in said compressed configuration, and wherein said area stretches over time from a restrained area in which said stent cells are in said compressed configuration, to a larger released area in which said stent cells are in said expanded configuration, wherein each of said areas stretches from said restrained area to said released area due to a radially outward force exerted on said restraining material by said plurality of structural members.
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Specification