Selectively expandable and releasable stent

• US 20030208262A1
• Filed: 03/21/2003
• Published: 11/06/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 05/17/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Xtent Medical Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Xtent Medical Incorporated
• Inventors: Gaber, Benny
• Granted Patent: US 7,175,653 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 623/1.17
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/92 Stents in the form of a rolled-up sheet expanding after insertion into the vessel , e.g. with a spiral shape in cross-section
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/95 Instruments specially adapted for placement or removal of stents or stent-grafts
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/9517 handle assemblies therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/9511 the retaining means being filaments or wires
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2250/0007 for adjusting length
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2250/001 for adjusting a diameter

Abstract

A stent including a plurality of loops, each of the loops includes an arcuately formed wire with a first end and a second end, the first end being attached to an inner elongate member and the second end being attached to an outer elongate member, the inner and the outer elongate members being arranged to slide with respect to each other along a common longitudinal axis, wherein sliding of the inner and the outer elongate members with respect to each other changes a cross-sectional area of each of the loops, characterized in that the inner and outer elongate members are attached to inner and outer coupler tubes, and are selectively releasable from the inner and outer coupler tubes, the inner coupler tube being nested inside the outer coupler tube.

Claims

1. A stent comprising:

a plurality of loops, each of said loops comprising an arcuately formed wire with a first end and a second end, said first end being attached to an inner elongate member and said second end being attached to an outer elongate member, said inner and said outer elongate members being arranged to slide with respect to each other along a common longitudinal axis, wherein sliding of said inner and said outer elongate members with respect to each other changes a cross-sectional area of each of said loops;

characterized in that said inner and outer elongate members are attached to inner and outer coupler tubes, and are selectively releasable from said inner and outer coupler tubes, said inner coupler tube being nested inside said outer coupler tube.

2. The stent according to claim 1 wherein said inner coupler tube is formed with a bendable tab which is inserted through a first aperture formed in said inner elongate member.

3. The stent according to claim 1 or claim 2 wherein said outer coupler tube is formed with a bendable tab which is inserted through a second aperture formed in said inner elongate member.

4. The stent according to any of claims 1-3 wherein said outer coupler tube is formed with a tongue which is inserted through an aperture formed in said outer elongate member.

5. The stent according to claim 4 wherein said outer coupler tube comprises an expandable, resilient portion from which extends said tongue.

6. The stent according to claim 5 wherein said outer coupler tube is nested in a flexible manipulator tube (49).

7. The stent according to claim 6 wherein said tongue passes through a pair of apertures formed in said manipulator tube.

8. The stent according to any of the preceding claims wherein said inner and outer coupler tubes are constructed of a flexible plastic material.

9. The stent according to claim 8 wherein said flexible plastic material includes embedded reinforced wires.

10. The stent according to any of the preceding claims 1-5 wherein said inner and outer coupler tubes are constructed of a flexible metal.

11. The stent according to any of the preceding claims wherein said inner and outer coupler tubes are constructed with multiple openings formed on circumferences thereof.

12. The stent according to any of the preceding claims and further comprising a guide wire over which said stent is slid.

13. The stent according to any of the preceding claims 1-11 and further comprising a guide wire to which said stent is attached.

14. The stent according to claim 6 wherein pulling said inner coupler tube generally proximally pulls said tab of said inner coupler tube out of said first aperture, thereby releasing said inner coupler tube from said inner elongate member.

15. The stent according to claim 14 wherein pushing said manipulator tube generally distally pushes said outer coupler tube generally distally, and pushes said tab of said outer coupler tube out of said second aperture, thereby releasing said outer coupler tube from said inner elongate member.

16. The stent according to claim 15 wherein pulling said inner and outer coupler tubes generally proximally releases said tongue from said apertures of said outer elongate member, thereby allowing proximally-directed removal of said inner and outer coupler tubes and said manipulator tube.

17. The stent according to any of the preceding claims wherein said loops cross over each other in a braided arrangement.

18. A stent comprising:

a plurality of loops, each of said loops comprising an arcuately formed wire with a first end and a second end, said first end being attached to an inner elongate member and said second end being attached to an outer elongate member, said inner and said outer elongate members being arranged to slide with respect to each other along a common longitudinal axis, wherein sliding of said inner and said outer elongate members with respect to each other changes a cross-sectional area of each of said loops;

characterized in that said loops cross over each other in a braided arrangement.