US5078736A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method and apparatus for maintaining patency in the body passages
Assignee: Covidien LP
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Filing: 1990-05-04
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Granted: 1992-01-07
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Expires: 2010-05-04
Abstract
Abstract An intraluminal stent for maintaining patency in body passages subject to invasive tissue growth includes a cylindrical wall having radial passages therethrough. A mechanism is provided for disrupting cellular growth which penetrates through the passages. The mechanism may provide for mechanical disruption, thermal disruption, or preferably for excision using radio frequency energy. In a specific embodiment, the cylindrical wall is defined by a tubular mesh, and the mechanism for disrupting cellular growth comprises parallel wires within the mesh. The wires are connected to an external radio frequency source and act as electrodes in effecting excision using the radio frequency energy.
Inventors
- 👤 Robert S. Behl
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 14:51
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61F; A61F2/00; A61F2/82; A61F2/86; A61F2/88; A61F2/90; A61F2/91; A61F2/0077; A61F2/02; A61F2/04; A61F2/06; A61F2/07; A61F2/95; A61F2/958; A61F2002/075
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 29
Claim 1
Independent Claim
53 words
A stent for maintaining patency in a body passage, said stent comprising: a generally cylindrical wall structure having apertures which allow tissue growth to penetrate therethrough; and means for intermittently applying energy directly to the stent to disrupt tissue growth penetrating through said apertures without substantial damage to tissue surrounding the wall structure.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
53 words
A stent for maintaining patency in a body passage, said stent comprising: a generally cylindrical wall structure having apertures which allow tissue growth to penetrate therethrough; and means for intermittently applying energy directly to the stent to disrupt tissue growth penetrating through said apertures without substantial damage to tissue surrounding the wall structure.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
13 words
A stent as in claim 1, wherein the cylindrical wall structure is expandable.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
20 words
A stent as in claim 2, wherein the passages are slots which open as the cylindrical wall structure is expanded.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
14 words
A stent as in claim 2, wherein the cylindrical wall structure is a mesh.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
35 words
A stent as in claim 1, wherein the means for disrupting tissue growth includes an electrically conductive element which can be inductively heated and thermal insulation disposed over the exterior of said electrically conductive element.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
35 words
A stent as in claim 1, wherein the means for disrupting tissue growth includes an electrically conductive element which can be resistively heated and thermal insulation disposed over the exterior of said electrically conductive element.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
45 words
A stent as in claim 1, wherein the means for disrupting tissue growth includes pairs of electrically conductive spaced-apart elements located on opposite sides of the apertures in the cylindrical wall and means for coupling said pairs of elements to a radio frequency energy source.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
57 words
A stent for maintaining patency in a body passage, said stent comprising: a generally cylindrical wall structure having apertures which allow tissue growth therethrough, said wall being electrically and thermally insulating; and means disposed on an interior lumen surface of the wall structure for supplying energy directly from the stent to disrupt tissue growth through said apertures.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
57 words
A stent for maintaining patency in a body passage, said stent comprising: a generally cylindrical wall structure having apertures which allow tissue growth therethrough, said wall being electrically and thermally insulating; and means disposed on an interior lumen surface of the wall structure for supplying energy directly from the stent to disrupt tissue growth through said apertures.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
40 words
A stent as in claim 8, wherein the cylindrical wall structure includes a plurality of generally axially aligned slots which allow diametric expansion of the wall and which define at least some of the passages when the wall is expanded.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
24 words
A stent as in claim 8, wherein the means for applying energy comprises an electrically conductive sleeve which can be inductively or resistively heated.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
46 words
A stent as in claim 10, wherein both the cylindrical wall structure and the electrically conductive sleeve include a plurality of generally axially aligned slots which allow diametric expansion of the wall and which define at least some of the passages when the wall is expanded.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
49 words
A stent as in claim 8, wherein the means for applying energy includes pairs of electrically conductive spaced-apart elements and means for coupling said pairs of elements to a radio frequency energy source, wherein said spaced-apart elements are located on opposite sides of the apertures in the cylindrical wall.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
27 words
A stent as in claim 12, wherein the pairs of electrically conductive elements are arranged generally axially on the internal lumen surface of the cylindrical wall structure.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
23 words
A stent as in claim 10, wherein the means for coupling the conductive sleeve to an external power source comprises an inductive loop.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
19 words
A stent as in claim 12, wherein the means for coupling the pairs of elements comprises a plug connector.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
62 words
A stent for maintaining patency in a body passage, said stent comprising: a generally cylindrical mesh structure including multiple pairs of electrically conductive spaced-apart wires, wherein the wires of each pair are electrically isolated from each other; and means for coupling said pairs of spaced-apart wires to a radio frequency energy source, whereby energy is directed to tissue penetrating between said wires.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
62 words
A stent for maintaining patency in a body passage, said stent comprising: a generally cylindrical mesh structure including multiple pairs of electrically conductive spaced-apart wires, wherein the wires of each pair are electrically isolated from each other; and means for coupling said pairs of spaced-apart wires to a radio frequency energy source, whereby energy is directed to tissue penetrating between said wires.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
11 words
A stent as in claim 16, wherein the mesh is expandable.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
60 words
A stent as in claim 17, wherein the mesh structure comprises a first plurality of resilient elements would helically in one direction and a second plurality of resilient elements would helically in the opposite direction, wherein at least some of the elements of one plurality form the electrically conductive wires and the elements of the second plurality are electrically insulated.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
19 words
A stent as in claim 16, wherein the means for coupling the pairs of wires comprises a plug connector.
Claim 23
Independent Claim
67 words
A method for maintaining patency in a body passage subject to occlusion resulting from excessive tissue growth, said method comprising: positioning a stent having a cylindrical wall structure within the body passage, said cylindrical wall having apertures therethrough; allowing tissue growth through said apertures in the cylindrical wall structure of the stent; and periodically applying energy directly to the stent to disrupt tissue growth through said apertures.
Claim 24
Independent Claim
67 words
A method for maintaining patency in a body passage subject to occlusion resulting from excessive tissue growth, said method comprising: positioning a stent having a cylindrical wall structure within the body passage, said cylindrical wall having apertures therethrough; allowing tissue growth through said apertures in the cylindrical wall structure of the stent; and periodically applying energy directly to the stent to disrupt tissue growth through said apertures.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
32 words
A method as in claim 20, wherein the stent is positioned within a body passage selected from the group consisting of the ureter, biliary duct, pancreatic duct, respiratory passages, and lymphatic duct.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
14 words
A method as in claim 21, further comprising diametrically expanding the stent after positioning.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
14 words
A method as in claim 20, wherein mechanical energy is applied to the stent.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
14 words
A method as in claim 20, wherein heat energy is applied to the stent.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
15 words
A method as in claim 20, wherein radio frequency energy is applied to the stent.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1995-01-06 | 1995-07-08 | 1996-01-07 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1999-01-06 | 1999-07-08 | 2000-01-07 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2003-01-06 | 2003-07-08 | 2004-01-07 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |