Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 12
Claim 1
Independent Claim
103 words
A stent, comprising: a wire formed into a closed zig-zag configuration including: an endless series of straight sections; a plurality of bends; said straight sections joined by said bends to form the stent; wherein said stent is resiliently depressible into a smaller first shape wherein said straight sections are arranged side-by-side and closely adjacent one another for insertion into a passageway and said bends store stress therein; and, wherein said stent is resiliently expandable, by the release of the stress stored in said bends, into a second shape wherein said straight sections press against the wall of the passageway to maintain it open.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
103 words
A stent, comprising: a wire formed into a closed zig-zag configuration including: an endless series of straight sections; a plurality of bends; said straight sections joined by said bends to form the stent; wherein said stent is resiliently depressible into a smaller first shape wherein said straight sections are arranged side-by-side and closely adjacent one another for insertion into a passageway and said bends store stress therein; and, wherein said stent is resiliently expandable, by the release of the stress stored in said bends, into a second shape wherein said straight sections press against the wall of the passageway to maintain it open.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
24 words
The structure of claim 1 additionally comprising a tubular cartridge having said stent therein, said stent being resiliently depressed into said smaller first shape.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
63 words
The structure of claim 2 additionally comprising a sheath having a lumen therethrough, said sheath having an adapter recess arranged coaxially with said lumen and enlarged in size relative to said lumen, and a flexible member having a closed end and having an outer size sufficiently small to fit within said sheath yet sufficiently large to push said stent out of said sheath.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
15 words
The stent of claim 1 wherein said wire is stainless steel of 0.018 inch O.D.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
21 words
The stent of claim 4 wherein said stent in its second shape is 5.5. cm long and 4 cm in diameter.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
21 words
The stent of claim 4 wherein said stent in its second shape is 3.0 cm long and 2.5 cm in diameter.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
22 words
The stent of claim 4 wherein said bends are relatively sharp and are at a radius of no more than 0.2 cm.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
103 words
A method for inserting a stent which comprises: compressing a stent including a resilient wire formed in a closed zig-zag configuration into a first shape wherein the zig-zag configuration includes side-by-side closely adjacent straight sections joined by bends with a stress therein; moving said compressed wire stent into a sheath; locating the distal end of the sheath in a passageway with the compressed wire within the distal end of the sheath; removing the sheath from the passageway while holding the stent in place whereby the stress in the stent causes it to expand in the passageway to hold the passageway open and enlarged.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
103 words
A method for inserting a stent which comprises: compressing a stent including a resilient wire formed in a closed zig-zag configuration into a first shape wherein the zig-zag configuration includes side-by-side closely adjacent straight sections joined by bends with a stress therein; moving said compressed wire stent into a sheath; locating the distal end of the sheath in a passageway with the compressed wire within the distal end of the sheath; removing the sheath from the passageway while holding the stent in place whereby the stress in the stent causes it to expand in the passageway to hold the passageway open and enlarged.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
30 words
The method of claim 8 wherein more than one stent is put in the passageway by said compressing, moving, locating and removing steps, said more than one sheath being overlapping.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
34 words
The method of claim 8 wherein more than one stent is put in the passageway by said compressing, moving, locating and removing steps, said more than one stent being spaced longitudinally of the passageway.