Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 10
Claim 1
Independent Claim
245 words
A device for fixation in a body cavity, comprising: a stent (16) including generally tubular and coaxial first and second open weave stent segments (20, 22) slidably engaged along respective first and second axially inward portions overlapping one another to form a medial region (24) of the stent (16), said stent segments (20, 22) further including respective non-overlapping first and second axially outward regions (30, 32) including respective and opposite first and second ends (34, 36) of the stent (16); said stent segments (20, 22), at least along said axially inward portions, having a predetermined first diameter and a predetermined first axial length, said stent segments (20, 22) being radially compressible to a second diameter less than said first diameter and to a second axial length longer than said first axial length, to facilitate an axial insertion of said stent (16) into a body cavity for delivery to a selected location therealong and subsequent fixation of the stent (16) within the cavity by effecting an engagement of the stent segments (20, 22) with a tissue wall segment defining said body cavity; and wherein said first and second axially inward portions are capable of sliding relative to one another to reduce the axial length of said medial region (24) as said stent segments (20, 22) radially expand into said engagement under positive fixation of said first and second ends (34,36), thus to maintain a substantially constant axial length of said stent (16) during said radial expansion.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
28 words
The device of Claim 1 wherein: each of said stent segments (20, 22) is an open weave construction of helically wound filaments (18) of a resilient, body-compatible material.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
23 words
The device of Claim 2 further including: a means for fixing said first and second ends (34, 36) to said tissue wall segment.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
37 words
The device of Claim 3 wherein: said stent segments (20, 22) are flexible and have said predetermined first diameter and first axial length when not subject to external force, and are elastically compressible to said second diameter.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
52 words
The device of Claim 4 wherein: said fixing means comprises first and second flared outer end portions of said first and second axially outward regions (30, 32), respectively, whereby said first and second ends (34, 36) have diameters greater than said first diameter when the stent (16) is in the relaxed state.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
27 words
The device of Claim 5 wherein: the diameters of said first and second ends (34, 36) are greater than said first diameter by at least five percent.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
35 words
The device of Claim 6 wherein: the axial length of each of said flared outer end portions is less than one-third of the axial length of its associated one of said stent segments (20, 22).
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
33 words
The device of Claim 4 wherein: said fixing means comprises elastic reinforcing strands connected to said filaments along first and second outer end portions including said first and second ends (34, 36), respectively.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
31 words
The device of Claim 3 wherein: said fixing means comprises first and second pluralities of fixation hooks mounted to the stent (16) at said first and second ends (34, 36), respectively.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
49 words
The device of Claim 1 further including: an elongate, flexible and substantially inextensible member running axially and connected to said first and second stent segments (20, 22) proximate said first and second ends (34, 36), for maintaining the axial length of the stent (16) constant during said radial expansion.