Self constraining radially expandable medical devices

• US 9,526,641 B2
• Filed: 01/14/2015
• Issued: 12/27/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 07/15/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: W. L. Gore & Associates (W.L. Gore & Associates)
• Original Assignee: W. L. Gore & Associates (W.L. Gore & Associates)
• Inventors: Irwin, Craig W., Silverman, James D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen, Victor
• Application Number:
  US14/596,412
• Publication Number:
  US 20150134043A1
• Time in Patent Office: 713 Days
• Field of Search: 623/1.15, 623/1.11, 623/1.23
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/01 Filters implantable into blood vessels
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/07 Stent-grafts
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/88 the wire-like elements formed as helical or spiral coils forming a net-like or mesh-like structure A61F2/90
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/90 characterised by a net-like or mesh-like structure
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/016 made from wire-like elements
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 31/022 Metals or alloys
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2025/0024 Expandable catheters or sheaths

Abstract

The current invention employs 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.

Claims

1. A tubular construct comprising:

a first helical element having a first pitch angle;

a second helical element having a second pitch angle;

said second helical element being attached in part to the first helical element;

wherein when a portion of the tubular construct is rotated, the first pitch angle and the second pitch angle change relative to each other; and

wherein at least a segment of the tubular construct has a given diameter, and wherein when a portion of the tubular construct is rotated so as to change the first pitch angle and the second pitch angle relative to each other, the diameter of the at least a segment of the tubular construct changes.

2. The tubular structure of claim 1, wherein said tubular construct has about the same length before and after expansion.

3. The tubular structure of claim 1, wherein said first and second elements comprise metal, polymer or a combination thereof.

4. The tubular structure of claim 1, wherein said tubular structure is a stent.

5. The tubular structure of claim 4, wherein said stent further comprises a graft.

6. The tubular structure of claim 1, wherein said tubular structure is a filter.