Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 9
Claim 1
Independent Claim
186 words
Radially expandable support structure for keeping open a lumen within a body, comprising a tube-shaped body having at least two partial structures, the tube-shaped body having a wall surface that extends between a first and a second end, which has several cut-out areas, which are essentially oriented parallel to a longitudinal axis of the tube-shaped body, at least one of the at least two partial structures extending without interruption in an axial direction generally from the first end to the second end of the tube-shaped body, the at least two partial structures including a first partial structure ( 1 , 2 ) which is expandable at least in a radial direction and has at least one radial-expansion component, whereby individual radial expansion components ( 12 , 13 ) are arranged as rings, and a second partial structure ( 11 ) which is almost rigid in the axial direction, wherein the at least two partial structures ( 1 , 2 ; 11 ) are arranged such that during radial expansion of the tube-shaped body, the second partial structure ( 11 ) receives longitudinal axial forces that arise.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
186 words
Radially expandable support structure for keeping open a lumen within a body, comprising a tube-shaped body having at least two partial structures, the tube-shaped body having a wall surface that extends between a first and a second end, which has several cut-out areas, which are essentially oriented parallel to a longitudinal axis of the tube-shaped body, at least one of the at least two partial structures extending without interruption in an axial direction generally from the first end to the second end of the tube-shaped body, the at least two partial structures including a first partial structure ( 1 , 2 ) which is expandable at least in a radial direction and has at least one radial-expansion component, whereby individual radial expansion components ( 12 , 13 ) are arranged as rings, and a second partial structure ( 11 ) which is almost rigid in the axial direction, wherein the at least two partial structures ( 1 , 2 ; 11 ) are arranged such that during radial expansion of the tube-shaped body, the second partial structure ( 11 ) receives longitudinal axial forces that arise.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
39 words
The support structure according to claim 1 , wherein at least one of the at least two partial structures ( 1 , 2 ; 11 ) has at least one meandering pattern ( 11 ; 12 , 13 ).
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
20 words
The support structure according to claim 2 , wherein the at least one meandering pattern has loops of variable sizes.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
20 words
The support structure according to claim 3 , wherein the at least one meandering pattern is a double meandering pattern.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
20 words
The support structure according to claim 2 , wherein the at least one meandering pattern is a double meandering pattern.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
47 words
The support structure according to claim 5 , wherein the double meandering pattern consists of a first meandering pattern ( 12 ) with loops and a second meandering pattern ( 13 ) with larger or smaller loops in comparison to the loops of the first meandering pattern.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
37 words
The support structure according to claim 1 , wherein at least one connection element ( 10 ) connected to respective longitudinal ends of a first radial expansion component ( 12 ), is constructed as a loop-shaped stay.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
17 words
The support structure according to claim 1 , wherein the wall surface has an essentially uniform thickness.