Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 19
Claim 1
Independent Claim
161 words
A stent assembly for placement in a body lumen including an inner wall, said stent assembly comprising: a) a cylindrical shell including an outer wall; and b) a plurality of circular coils embedded within said shell, said assembly being changeable from a first unexpanded state for placement of said stent assembly within the body lumen to a second expanded state in which said outer wall of said cylindrical shell contacts the inner wall of the body lumen and said plurality of coils are each expanded to be substantially C-shaped in form for holding the body lumen open, wherein each of said plurality of coils are formed from cut rings, the cut in each of said plurality of coils forming first and second ends, said first and second ends being separated to form a gap therebetween, said plurality of gaps being staggered to cover a 360 degree rotation about said cylindrical shell when said stent assembly is in said second expanded state.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
161 words
A stent assembly for placement in a body lumen including an inner wall, said stent assembly comprising: a) a cylindrical shell including an outer wall; and b) a plurality of circular coils embedded within said shell, said assembly being changeable from a first unexpanded state for placement of said stent assembly within the body lumen to a second expanded state in which said outer wall of said cylindrical shell contacts the inner wall of the body lumen and said plurality of coils are each expanded to be substantially C-shaped in form for holding the body lumen open, wherein each of said plurality of coils are formed from cut rings, the cut in each of said plurality of coils forming first and second ends, said first and second ends being separated to form a gap therebetween, said plurality of gaps being staggered to cover a 360 degree rotation about said cylindrical shell when said stent assembly is in said second expanded state.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
37 words
A stent assembly as recited in claim 1, further comprising a plurality of ridges connected to said outer wall for engaging the inner wall of the lumen when said stent assembly is in said second expanded state.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
16 words
A stent assembly as recited in claim 1, wherein said cylindrical shell is made of polytetrafluoroethylene.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
19 words
A stent assembly as recited in claim 1, wherein said plurality of coils are made of a metallic substance.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
17 words
A stent assembly as recited in claim 3, wherein said cylindrical shell has a smooth, adherent surface.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
29 words
A stent assembly as recited in claim 1, further comprising a valve assembly connected to said cylindrical shell for regulating a flow of bodily fluid through said stent assembly.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
56 words
A stent assembly as recited in claim 1, wherein each of said plurality of coils are formed from cut rings, the cut in said plurality of coils producing a first and second free end, said first and second free ends being positioned in an overlapped fashion when said stent assembly is in said first unexpanded state.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
40 words
A stent assembly as recited in claim 1, wherein said cylindrical shell has a length and said plurality of coils are spaced throughout said length, each of said plurality of coils being spaced from adjacent coils by approximately 2-3 mm.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
62 words
A stent assembly as recited in claim 1, wherein said cylindrical shell includes first and second ends and first and second edges, said first and second edges each positioned at a respective one of said first and second ends and first and second coils of said plurality of coils are spaced by approximately 1 mm. from said first and second edges respectively.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
189 words
A stent assembly for placement in a body lumen including an inner wall, said stent assembly comprising: a) a cylindrical shell including an outer wall; and b) a plurality of circular coils embedded within said cylindrical shell, each of said plurality of coils being formed from a cut ring and including a circumference, a first free end and a second free end, wherein said stent assembly is changeable from a first unexpanded state for placement of said stent assembly within the body lumen wherein said first and second free ends of each coil are positioned in an overlapped manner to a second expanded state in which said outer wall of said cylindrical shell contacts the inner wall of the body lumen, said circumference of each of said plurality of coils is increased and said first and second free ends are separated to form a substantially C-shaped coil for holding the body lumen open, wherein said first and second ends form a gap therebetween when said stent assembly is in said second expanded state, said plurality of gaps being staggered to cover a 360 degree rotation about said cylindrical shell.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
189 words
A stent assembly for placement in a body lumen including an inner wall, said stent assembly comprising: a) a cylindrical shell including an outer wall; and b) a plurality of circular coils embedded within said cylindrical shell, each of said plurality of coils being formed from a cut ring and including a circumference, a first free end and a second free end, wherein said stent assembly is changeable from a first unexpanded state for placement of said stent assembly within the body lumen wherein said first and second free ends of each coil are positioned in an overlapped manner to a second expanded state in which said outer wall of said cylindrical shell contacts the inner wall of the body lumen, said circumference of each of said plurality of coils is increased and said first and second free ends are separated to form a substantially C-shaped coil for holding the body lumen open, wherein said first and second ends form a gap therebetween when said stent assembly is in said second expanded state, said plurality of gaps being staggered to cover a 360 degree rotation about said cylindrical shell.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
37 words
A stent assembly as recited in claim 10, further comprising a plurality of ridges connected to said outer wall for engaging the inner wall of the lumen when said stent assembly is in said second expanded state.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
16 words
A stent assembly as recited in claim 10, wherein said cylindrical shell is made of polytetrafluoroethylene.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
17 words
A stent assembly as recited in claim 12, wherein said cylindrical shell has a smooth, adherent surface.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
19 words
A stent assembly as recited in claim 10, wherein said plurality of coils are made of a metallic substance.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
29 words
A stent assembly as recited in claim 10, further comprising a valve assembly connected to said cylindrical shell for regulating a flow of bodily fluid through said stent assembly.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
40 words
A stent assembly as recited in claim 10, wherein said cylindrical shell has a length and said plurality of coils are spaced throughout said length, each of said plurality of coils being spaced from adjacent coils by approximately 2-3 mm.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
62 words
A stent assembly as recited in claim 10, wherein said cylindrical shell includes first and second ends and first and second edges, said first and second edges each positioned at a respective one of said first and second ends and first and second coils of said plurality of coils are spaced by approximately 1 mm. from said first and second edges respectively.