US6004261A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Formed-in-place endovascular stent and delivery system
Assignee: Medtronic Vascular Inc
•
Filing: 1997-02-13
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Granted: 1999-12-21
•
Expires: 2017-02-13
Abstract
Abstract An uncured or partially cured, collagen-based material is delivered to a selected site in a blood vessel and is crosslinked in the blood vessel by laser energy or other suitable energy to form an endovascular stent. The collagen-based material can be delivered to the blood vessel as a coating on an inflatable balloon mounted on the distal end of a catheter. The collagen-based material can also be delivered to the blood vessel in liquid form. The liquid collagen-based material is forced through a porous balloon to form either an imperforate tubular configuration or a tubular mesh configuration. The collagen-based material is preferably crosslinked by laser radiation carried through an optical fiber to a diffusing tip located within the balloon.
Inventors
- 👤 Edward L. Sinofsky
- 👤 Scott J. Solano
- 👤 James F. Crittenden
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 17:57
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61F; A61F2/00; A61F2/95; A61F2/958; A61B; A61B17/00; A61B17/00491
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 38
Claim 1
Independent Claim
74 words
A method for treating a selected region of a blood vessel, comprising the steps of: positioning a material in the blood vessel, said material being in a state that is less than fully crosslinked, the step of positioning a material including the step of forming the material into a desired shape having a lumen therethrough; and applying energy to the material to cause crosslinking thereof and formation of a stent in the blood vessel.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
74 words
A method for treating a selected region of a blood vessel, comprising the steps of: positioning a material in the blood vessel, said material being in a state that is less than fully crosslinked, the step of positioning a material including the step of forming the material into a desired shape having a lumen therethrough; and applying energy to the material to cause crosslinking thereof and formation of a stent in the blood vessel.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
20 words
A method as defined in claim 1 wherein the material in the positioning and forming steps is a collagen-based material.
Claim 4
Independent Claim
25 words
A method as defined in any one of claims 1 or 2 wherein the step of applying energy includes the step of applying light energy.
Claim 5
Independent Claim
25 words
A method as defined in any one of claims 1 or 2 wherein the step of applying energy includes the step of applying laser energy.
Claim 6
Independent Claim
25 words
A method as defined in any one of claims 1 or 2 wherein the step of applying energy includes the step of applying thermal energy.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
76 words
Apparatus for treating a selected region of a blood vessel, comprising: a material that can be crosslinked by the application of radiation; means for positioning the material on a wall of a blood vessel in an uncured or partially cured state; and means for applying radiation to cause said material to become more rigid and thereby form in the blood vessel a stent having a structure and sufficient rigidity to support the blood vessel from within.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
76 words
Apparatus for treating a selected region of a blood vessel, comprising: a material that can be crosslinked by the application of radiation; means for positioning the material on a wall of a blood vessel in an uncured or partially cured state; and means for applying radiation to cause said material to become more rigid and thereby form in the blood vessel a stent having a structure and sufficient rigidity to support the blood vessel from within.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
23 words
An apparatus as defined in claim 6 wherein the material that can be crosslinked by the application of radiation is a collagen-based material.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
110 words
A combination of a stent and an apparatus for placing a stent in a selected region of a blood vessel, comprising; a flexible, elongated tube having an inflatable balloon at or near its distal end; a material that can be crosslinked by the application of radiation, said material being releaseably adhered to the outer surface of said balloon; means for inflating said balloon to thereby urge said material to contact with an inside surface of said blood vessel; and means for applying radiation through said balloon to said material with said balloon inflated to cause said material to become more rigid and thereby form a stent in the blood vessel.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
110 words
A combination of a stent and an apparatus for placing a stent in a selected region of a blood vessel, comprising; a flexible, elongated tube having an inflatable balloon at or near its distal end; a material that can be crosslinked by the application of radiation, said material being releaseably adhered to the outer surface of said balloon; means for inflating said balloon to thereby urge said material to contact with an inside surface of said blood vessel; and means for applying radiation through said balloon to said material with said balloon inflated to cause said material to become more rigid and thereby form a stent in the blood vessel.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
48 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 8 wherein said means for applying radiation includes an optical diffusing tip in said balloon and an optical fiber for carrying laser energy from an external laser source to said diffusing tip, whereby laser energy is applied to said material through said balloon.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
23 words
An apparatus as defined in claim 8 wherein the material than can be crosslinked by the application of radiation is a collagen-based material.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
121 words
Apparatus for placing a material in a selected region of a blood vessel, comprising: a flexible, elongated tube having a distal end and a proximal end; an outer balloon having a plurality of openings affixed to said tube at or near the distal end thereof; an inflatable inner balloon located within said outer balloon; means for inflating said inner balloon to thereby force a material located between said inner and outer balloon through said openings; and means for applying radiation through said inner balloon and said outer balloon to said material after delivery through said openings, said radiation being selected to cure said material and form a stent having a structure and sufficient rigidity to support said blood vessel from within.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
121 words
Apparatus for placing a material in a selected region of a blood vessel, comprising: a flexible, elongated tube having a distal end and a proximal end; an outer balloon having a plurality of openings affixed to said tube at or near the distal end thereof; an inflatable inner balloon located within said outer balloon; means for inflating said inner balloon to thereby force a material located between said inner and outer balloon through said openings; and means for applying radiation through said inner balloon and said outer balloon to said material after delivery through said openings, said radiation being selected to cure said material and form a stent having a structure and sufficient rigidity to support said blood vessel from within.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
52 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 11 wherein said means for applying radiation includes an optical diffusing tip in said inner balloon and an optical fiber for carrying laser energy from an external laser source to said diffusing tip, whereby laser energy is applied to said material through said inner and outer balloons.
Claim 17
Independent Claim
72 words
A method for placing a stent in a selected region of a blood vessel, comprising the steps of: advancing a collagen-based material through the blood vessel to the selected region in an uncured or partially uncured state; applying the collagen-based material to the wall of the blood vessel in the selected region; and applying energy to the collagen-based material to cause curing thereof and formation of a stent in the selected region.
Claim 18
Independent Claim
72 words
A method for placing a stent in a selected region of a blood vessel, comprising the steps of: advancing a collagen-based material through the blood vessel to the selected region in an uncured or partially uncured state; applying the collagen-based material to the wall of the blood vessel in the selected region; and applying energy to the collagen-based material to cause curing thereof and formation of a stent in the selected region.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
20 words
A method as defined in claim 13 wherein the step of applying energy includes the step of applying laser energy.
Claim 20
Independent Claim
74 words
A method for treating a selected region of a blood vessel, comprising the steps of: positioning a material in the blood vessel, said material being in a state that is less than fully crosslinked; forming the material into a desired shape for support of the blood vessel from within; and applying energy to the material in the desired shape to cause the material to have sufficient rigidity to support the blood vessel from within.
Claim 21
Independent Claim
74 words
A method for treating a selected region of a blood vessel, comprising the steps of: positioning a material in the blood vessel, said material being in a state that is less than fully crosslinked; forming the material into a desired shape for support of the blood vessel from within; and applying energy to the material in the desired shape to cause the material to have sufficient rigidity to support the blood vessel from within.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
22 words
A method as defined in claim 15 wherein the material in the positioning, forming, and applying energy steps is a collagen-based material.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
76 words
Apparatus for treating a selected region of a blood vessel comprising: a material being in a state that is less than fully crosslinked; means for positioning the material in the blood vessel; means for forming the material into a desired shape for support of the blood vessel from within; and means for applying energy to the material in the desired shape to cause the material to have sufficient rigidity to support the blood vessel from within.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
76 words
Apparatus for treating a selected region of a blood vessel comprising: a material being in a state that is less than fully crosslinked; means for positioning the material in the blood vessel; means for forming the material into a desired shape for support of the blood vessel from within; and means for applying energy to the material in the desired shape to cause the material to have sufficient rigidity to support the blood vessel from within.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
14 words
An apparatus as defined in claim 17 wherein the material is a collagen-based material.
Claim 26
Independent Claim
102 words
A method for treating a selected region of a blood vessel, comprising the steps of: positioning a material in the blood vessel, said material being in a state that is less than fully crosslinked, the step of positioning the material including the step of advancing a catheter having an inflatable balloon at or near its distal end through the blood vessel to the selected region, said catheter carrying the material in a state that is less than fully crosslinked to the selected region; and applying energy to the material to cause crosslinking thereof and formation of a stent in the blood vessel.
Claim 27
Independent Claim
102 words
A method for treating a selected region of a blood vessel, comprising the steps of: positioning a material in the blood vessel, said material being in a state that is less than fully crosslinked, the step of positioning the material including the step of advancing a catheter having an inflatable balloon at or near its distal end through the blood vessel to the selected region, said catheter carrying the material in a state that is less than fully crosslinked to the selected region; and applying energy to the material to cause crosslinking thereof and formation of a stent in the blood vessel.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
27 words
A method as defined in claim 19 wherein in the steps of positioning a material and applying energy to the material, the material is a collagen-based material.
Claim 29
Independent Claim
36 words
A method as defined in any one of claims 11 or 12 wherein the step of advancing a catheter includes the step of depositing a layer of said material to an outer surface of said balloon.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
29 words
A method as defined in claim 21 wherein the step of positioning a material further includes the step of inflating said balloon prior to the step of applying energy.
Claim 31
Independent Claim
42 words
A method as defined in any one of claims 11 or 12 wherein the step of advancing a catheter includes the step of advancing a catheter having an outer balloon surrounding said inflatable balloon, said outer balloon having a plurality of openings.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
43 words
A method as defined in claim 23 wherein the step of positioning a material further includes the steps of delivering said material to a space between said inflatable balloon and said outer balloon, and forcing said material through said openings in said balloon.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
25 words
A method as defined in claim 24 wherein the step of forcing said material through said openings includes the step of inflating an inner balloon.
Claim 34
Independent Claim
41 words
A method as defined in any one of claims 19 or 20 wherein the step of applying energy includes the step of directing laser energy through an optical fiber terminated in a diffusing tip that is positioned in said inflatable balloon.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
47 words
A crosslinked endovascular stent placed in a selected region of a blood vessel comprising a pliable body having a lumen therethrough, said pliable body having a sufficient rigidity to support the blood vessel from within after being crosslinked at the selected region by the application of energy.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
47 words
A crosslinked endovascular stent placed in a selected region of a blood vessel comprising a pliable body having a lumen therethrough, said pliable body having a sufficient rigidity to support the blood vessel from within after being crosslinked at the selected region by the application of energy.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
18 words
An endovascular stent as defined in claim 27 wherein the pliable body is made of a collagen-based material.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
29 words
An endovascular stent as defined in any one of claims 27 or 28 wherein said body is fabricated of a collagen that is crosslinked when irradiated by laser energy.
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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) | 2002-12-20 | 2003-06-21 | 2003-12-21 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2006-12-20 | 2007-06-21 | 2007-12-21 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2010-12-20 | 2011-06-21 | 2011-12-21 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |