Self-expanding prosthesis
First Claim
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1. A method of expanding a prosthesis within a body comprising:
- delivering a prosthesis formed of a shape memory material to a desired location within a body, the prosthesis having a first tubular portion and a second tubular portion connected to one another by an intermediate portion having a plurality of axially arranged members, the intermediate portion formed unitary with the first and second tubular portions;
passing a current directly through the shape memory material of the first tubular portion and the intermediate portion such that the first tubular portion acts as a heating element and a temperature of the first tubular portion independently increases to a temperature above a human body temperature to change a phase of the shape memory material, thereby radially expanding said first tubular portion from a reduced diameter delivery state to an expanded state;
passing a current directly through the shape memory material of the second tubular portion and the intermediate portion such that the second tubular portion acts as a heating element and a temperature of the second tubular portion independently increases to a temperature above a human body temperature to change the phase of the shape memory material, thereby radially expanding said second tubular portion from a reduced diameter delivery state to an expanded state; and
decreasing said temperatures of the first and second tubular portions to the human body temperature while maintaining said expanded states.
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Accused Products
Abstract
In one preferred embodiment, a prosthesis is provided that can be selectively expanded by increasing the temperature of the prosthesis within the patient. The prosthesis is composed of a shape memory material that expands when heated to a temperature greater than an average body temperature, allowing the user to selectively heat and therefore expand the prosthesis at a desired location.
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Citations
9 Claims
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1. A method of expanding a prosthesis within a body comprising:
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delivering a prosthesis formed of a shape memory material to a desired location within a body, the prosthesis having a first tubular portion and a second tubular portion connected to one another by an intermediate portion having a plurality of axially arranged members, the intermediate portion formed unitary with the first and second tubular portions; passing a current directly through the shape memory material of the first tubular portion and the intermediate portion such that the first tubular portion acts as a heating element and a temperature of the first tubular portion independently increases to a temperature above a human body temperature to change a phase of the shape memory material, thereby radially expanding said first tubular portion from a reduced diameter delivery state to an expanded state; passing a current directly through the shape memory material of the second tubular portion and the intermediate portion such that the second tubular portion acts as a heating element and a temperature of the second tubular portion independently increases to a temperature above a human body temperature to change the phase of the shape memory material, thereby radially expanding said second tubular portion from a reduced diameter delivery state to an expanded state; and decreasing said temperatures of the first and second tubular portions to the human body temperature while maintaining said expanded states. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. A prosthesis delivery system comprising:
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a delivery tool shaped to enter a body; a prosthesis removably disposed on said delivery tool, the prosthesis comprising a pair of independently radially expandable tubular regions; a first tubular region and a second tubular region of said pair of independently radially expandable tubular regions connected to one another by an intermediate region having a plurality of axially arranged members, the intermediate region formed unitary with said first and second tubular region of said pair of independently radially expandable tubular regions; the first tubular region of said pair of independently radially expandable tubular regions and the intermediate region forming a portion of a first independent electrical circuit through which a current passes so as to heat said first tubular region independently of the second tubular region; the second tubular region of said pair of independently radially expandable tubular regions and the intermediate region forming a portion of a second independent electrical circuit through which a current passes so as to heat said second tubular region independently of the first tubular region; each of the first and second tubular regions of the pair of independently radially expandable tubular regions configured to remain in a Martensite phase having a delivery diameter after exposure to a target area and to transition to an Austenite phase having an expanded diameter larger than the delivery diameter after heating to a temperature above 37 degrees Celsius. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9)
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Specification