Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 15
Claim 1
Independent Claim
105 words
An intraluminal, crush resistant stent for implantation in a body lumen, comprising: at least one resilient, zig-zag shaped strut curved to form a hoop, wherein each zig-zag has an amplitude that varies as the strut is stretched or relaxed; a base section disposed on the hoop having an opening for receiving the strut therethrough to close the hoop, wherein the opening has a dimension sufficiently large to accommodate the amplitude entirely when the strut is stretched whereby the curved strut passes through the base section and stretching the strut minimizes the amplitude to pass through the opening, which stretching defines a diameter of the hoop.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
105 words
An intraluminal, crush resistant stent for implantation in a body lumen, comprising: at least one resilient, zig-zag shaped strut curved to form a hoop, wherein each zig-zag has an amplitude that varies as the strut is stretched or relaxed; a base section disposed on the hoop having an opening for receiving the strut therethrough to close the hoop, wherein the opening has a dimension sufficiently large to accommodate the amplitude entirely when the strut is stretched whereby the curved strut passes through the base section and stretching the strut minimizes the amplitude to pass through the opening, which stretching defines a diameter of the hoop.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
22 words
The crush resistant stent of claim 1, wherein the amplitude of the stretched strut is smaller than a width of the opening.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
34 words
The crush resistant stent of claim 1, wherein the stretched strut defines a small amplitude and an unstretched strut defines a large amplitude, and wherein the small amplitude is less than the large amplitude.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
73 words
An intraluminal, crush resistant stent for implantation in a body lumen, comprising: at least one resilient, zig-zag shaped strut curved to form a hoop, wherein each zig-zag has an amplitude that decreases or increases as the strut is stretched or relaxed, respectively; a base section disposed on the hoop having an opening sized sufficiently large to accommodate the amplitude entirely as defined by the zig-zag strut when it is stretched and passed therethrough.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
73 words
An intraluminal, crush resistant stent for implantation in a body lumen, comprising: at least one resilient, zig-zag shaped strut curved to form a hoop, wherein each zig-zag has an amplitude that decreases or increases as the strut is stretched or relaxed, respectively; a base section disposed on the hoop having an opening sized sufficiently large to accommodate the amplitude entirely as defined by the zig-zag strut when it is stretched and passed therethrough.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
36 words
The crush resistant stent of claim 4, wherein the opening has a rectangular shape having a width dimension that is sufficiently large to accommodate the entire amplitude defined by the zig-zag strut when it is stretched.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
23 words
The crush resistant stent of claim 4, wherein the opening has a depth sufficient to contain a full cycle of the zig-zag strut.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
15 words
The crush resistant stent of claim 4, wherein the struts each includes a saw-tooth profile.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
107 words
An intraluminal, crush resistant stent for implantation in a body lumen, comprising: at least one resilient, zig-zag waveform strut having a proximal end and a free distal end, wherein the strut is curved to form a hoop, and wherein each zig-zag waveform has an amplitude that decreases or increases as the strut is stretched or relaxed, respectively; a base section extending from the proximal end, having at least one opening for passing the distal end of the strut therethrough to close the hoop, wherein the opening has an interior dimension that simultaneously engages adjacent maximum and minimum peak amplitudes of the waveform when the strut is stretched.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
107 words
An intraluminal, crush resistant stent for implantation in a body lumen, comprising: at least one resilient, zig-zag waveform strut having a proximal end and a free distal end, wherein the strut is curved to form a hoop, and wherein each zig-zag waveform has an amplitude that decreases or increases as the strut is stretched or relaxed, respectively; a base section extending from the proximal end, having at least one opening for passing the distal end of the strut therethrough to close the hoop, wherein the opening has an interior dimension that simultaneously engages adjacent maximum and minimum peak amplitudes of the waveform when the strut is stretched.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
41 words
The crush resistant stent of claim 8, wherein the stent includes a plurality of zig-zag waveforn struts each curled to be concentric with each other, and wherein the base section includes a plurality of openings corresponding to each zig-zag waveform strut.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
24 words
The crush resistant stent of claim 8, wherein the opening in the base section has a depth approximating one cycle of the zig-zag waveform.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
14 words
The crush resistant stent of claim 8, wherein the stent includes a shape-memory alloy.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
16 words
The crush resistant stent of claim 8, wherein the plurality of zig-zag waveforms are in phase.