Secured strand end devices

• US 8,739,382 B2
• Filed: 07/13/2012
• Issued: 06/03/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 10/22/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Idev Technologies, Inc. (Abbott Laboratories Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Idev Technologies, Inc. (Abbott Laboratories Incorporated)
• Inventors: Sheldon, Jeffery, Booth, Richard, Bueche, Ken
• Primary Examiner(s): Bryant, David
• Assistant Examiner(s): YOO, JUN S
• Application Number:
  US13/549,334
• Publication Number:
  US 20120279030A1
• Time in Patent Office: 690 Days
• Field of Search: 294/39, 294/33, 294/37, 294/50, 623/1.11, 623/1.12, 623/1.15, 623/1.2, 623/1.22, 623/1.51, 623/1.53
• US Class Current: 29/439
• CPC Class Codes: A46D 1/0207 Bristles characterised by the choice of material, e.g. metal
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/06 Blood vessels
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/844 folded prior to deployment
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/86 Stents in a form characterised by the wire-like elements; Stents in the form characterised by a net-like or mesh-like structure
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/885 comprising a coil including a plurality of spiral or helical sections with alternate directions around a central axis
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/90 characterised by a net-like or mesh-like structure
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/91 made from perforated sheet material or tubes, e.g. perforated by laser cuts or etched holes
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/915 with bands having a meander structure, adjacent bands being connected to each other
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/95 Instruments specially adapted for placement or removal of stents or stent-grafts
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/966 with relative longitudinal movement between outer sleeve and prosthesis, e.g. using a push rod
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/061 provided with means for allowing access to secondary lumens
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/91591 Locking connectors, e.g. using male-female connections
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/9534 for repositioning of stents
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/9665 with additional retaining means
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2210/0014 using shape memory or superelastic materials, e.g. nitinol
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2220/0058 soldered or brazed or welded
• CPC Class Codes: B23K 2101/32 Wires
• CPC Class Codes: B23K 2103/14 Titanium or alloys thereof
• CPC Class Codes: B23K 26/20 Bonding soldering by means of radiant energy B23K1/005; joining of preformed plastics parts by heating using laser beam B29C65/16
• CPC Class Codes: B23K 26/244 Overlap seam welding
• CPC Class Codes: D03D 3/02 : Tubular fabrics
• CPC Class Codes: D04C 1/06 : Braid or lace serving particular purposes
• CPC Class Codes: D06C 7/00 : Heating or cooling textile fabrics
• CPC Class Codes: D10B 2509/00 : Medical; Hygiene
• CPC Class Codes: D10B 2509/06 : Vascular grafts; stents
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49849 : by wrapping around

Abstract

A woven, self-expanding stent device has one or more strands and is configured for insertion into an anatomical structure. The device includes a coupling structure secured to two different strand end portions that are substantially aligned with each other. The two different strand end portions include nickel and titanium. The coupling structure is not a strand of the device.

Claims

1. A method of forming a self-expanding stent, the method comprising:

forming a first end of the stent by forming a first bend in each of a plurality of strands, each strand including a strand section on both sides of the first bend, each strand section including an end;

weaving the strand sections;

after weaving the strand sections, heat treating the plurality of strands for a first heat treatment time;

forming a second end of the stent by forming a second bend in each of the plurality of strands;

heat treating the plurality of strands for a second heat treatment time; and

securing each of the strand section ends to another of the strand section ends to form pairs of secured ends, wherein securing the pairs of secured ends comprises aligning the pairs of secured ends along an axial direction of the stent.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the second heat treatment time is after forming the second bends.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising, after forming the second bends, backbraiding some of the strand sections, wherein backbraiding some of the strand sections comprises passing the strand sections by at least two strand crossings from the second end of the stent.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein securing the pairs of secured ends comprises spacing each of the pairs of secured ends at least two strand crossings from the second end of the stent.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein securing the pairs of secured ends comprises securing a coupling structure to each of the pairs of secured ends.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein securing the coupling structures comprises welding the coupling structures to the pairs of secured ends.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein welding the coupling structures to the pairs of secured ends comprises laser welding.

8. The method of claim 6, wherein welding the coupling structures to the pairs of secured ends comprises forming at least two welded regions spaced apart from each other.

9. The method of claim 5, wherein securing the coupling structures to the pairs of secured ends comprises positioning each of the coupling structures radially inward of at least one said strand crossing the coupling structure.

10. The method of claim 5, wherein each of the coupling structures includes a passageway having a diameter sized to receive one said strand.

11. The method of claim 1, further comprising, after forming the second bends, trimming at least some of the strand sections.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein, after trimming at least some of the strand sections, the ends of the strand sections are each proximate to one end of the stent.

13. A method of forming a self-expanding stent, the method comprising:

forming a first end of the stent by forming a first bend in each of a plurality of strands, each strand including a strand section on both sides of the first bend, each strand section including an end;

weaving the strand sections;

after weaving the strand sections, heat treating the plurality of strands for a first heat treatment time;

forming a second end of the stent by forming a second bend in each of the plurality of strands;

heat treating the plurality of strands for a second heat treatment time; and

securing each of the strand section ends to another of the strand section ends to form pairs of secured ends, wherein securing the pairs of secured ends comprises securing a coupling structure to each of the pairs of secured ends, and wherein securing the coupling structures to the pairs of secured ends comprises positioning each of the coupling structures radially inward of at least one said strand crossing the coupling structure.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the second heat treatment time is after forming the second bends.

15. The method of claim 13, further comprising, after forming the second bends, backbraiding some of the strand sections, wherein backbraiding some of the strand sections comprises passing the strand sections by at least two strand crossings from the second end of the stent.

16. The method of claim 13, wherein securing the pairs of secured ends comprises offsetting each of the pairs of secured ends around a circumference of the stent.

17. The method of claim 13, wherein securing the pairs of secured ends comprises spacing each of the pairs of secured ends at least two strand crossings from the second end of the stent.

18. The method of claim 13, wherein securing the coupling structures comprises welding the coupling structures to the pairs of secured ends.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein welding the coupling structures to the pairs of secured ends comprises laser welding.

20. The method of claim 18, wherein welding the coupling structures to the pairs of secured ends comprises forming at least two welded regions spaced apart from each other.

21. The method of claim 13, wherein each of the coupling structures includes a passageway having a diameter sized to receive one said strand.

22. The method of claim 13, further comprising, after forming the second bends, trimming at least some of the strand sections.

23. The method of claim 22, wherein, after trimming at least some of the strand sections, the ends of the strand sections are each proximate to one end of the stent.