Self constraining radially expandable medical devices
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A tubular structure having a longitudinal axis comprisinga first element oriented at a first angle of θ
- and a separate second element oriented at a second angle of γ
, wherein;
a. θ
does not equal γ
;
b. θ and
γ
are formed at an angle of between about +/−
90 degrees relative to the axis of the tubular structure; and
c. wherein when a first length section of the tubular structure is displaced rotationally relative to a second length section of the tubular structure, both θ and
γ
change relative to the longitudinal axis and produce a change in diameter of at least a portion of the tubular structure, andwherein said tubular structure has a pre-expansion length that is the same as a post-expansion length.
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Abstract
The current invention discloses tubes that can be constrained and expanded by either axial or torsional strain. By torsionally displacing the tube in a direction counter to the biased helices and angularly displacing the lower angle helix to an angle equal to, but opposite, the starting angle, the tube is expanded diametrically with no significant change in length after expansion of the tube. These tubes find utility in medical and non medical applications.
118 Citations
14 Claims
-
1. A tubular structure having a longitudinal axis comprising
a first element oriented at a first angle of θ - and a separate second element oriented at a second angle of γ
, wherein;a. θ
does not equal γ
;b. θ and
γ
are formed at an angle of between about +/−
90 degrees relative to the axis of the tubular structure; andc. wherein when a first length section of the tubular structure is displaced rotationally relative to a second length section of the tubular structure, both θ and
γ
change relative to the longitudinal axis and produce a change in diameter of at least a portion of the tubular structure, andwherein said tubular structure has a pre-expansion length that is the same as a post-expansion length. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
- and a separate second element oriented at a second angle of γ
Specification