Patent US6355057B1 successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US6355057B1
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Staggered endoluminal stent
Assignee: Medtronic Inc
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Filing: 1999-04-06
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Granted: 2002-03-12
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Expires: 2019-04-06
Abstract
Abstract Endoluminal prostheses, prosthetic systems, and methods for preparation and use of endoluminal prostheses for treatment of diseased body lumens make use of endoluminal prosthetic frame structures having circumferentially interspersed large and small expansible elements. These expansible elements, which are typically diamond-shaped, will generally decrease in length as the tubular frame expands radially. The prosthesis will often include a tubular liner supported by an axial series of ring frames having alternating large and small diamond elements, and can be loaded in a delivery catheter with the axial apices of the large diamond-shaped elements aligned with a small diamond-shaped element of an adjacent frame ring. To maintain adequate column strength, the adjacent ring frames may be attached to the liner so that the ring frames rotate relative to each other during expansion. The large diamond-shaped elements of adjacent ring frames can be aligned together once the prosthesis is expanded in the body lumen to enhance column strength.
Inventors
- 👤 Denise M. Demarais
- 👤 Darin C. Gittings
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 21:59
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61F; A61F2/00; A61F2/82; A61F2/86; A61F2/90; A61F2/91; A61F2/915; A61F2/89; A61F2/95; A61F2/02; A61F2/04; A61F2/06; A61F2002/065; A61F2/07; A61F2002/075; A61F2002/828; A61F2002/91508; A61F2002/91533; A61F2002/91541; A61F2002/9155; A61F2002/91558; A61F2220/00; A61F2220/0025; A61F2220/005; A61F2220/0058; A61F2220/0075; A61F2230/00; A61F2230/0002; A61F2230/0028; A61F2230/005; A61F2230/0054
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 24
Claim 1
Independent Claim
99 words
An endoluminal prosthesis comprising a tubular frame having a proximal end, a distal end, and an axis therebetween, the tubular frame being radially expansible from a small diameter configuration to a large diameter configuration for deployment within a body lumen, the tubular frame comprising a first circumferentially oriented frame loop and a second circumferentially oriented frame loop, the first and the second frame loops each defining a plurality of short, axially oriented apices and a plurality of long, axially oriented apices, the long apices extending axially beyond the short apices, the long apices alternatingly interspersed with the short apices.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
99 words
An endoluminal prosthesis comprising a tubular frame having a proximal end, a distal end, and an axis therebetween, the tubular frame being radially expansible from a small diameter configuration to a large diameter configuration for deployment within a body lumen, the tubular frame comprising a first circumferentially oriented frame loop and a second circumferentially oriented frame loop, the first and the second frame loops each defining a plurality of short, axially oriented apices and a plurality of long, axially oriented apices, the long apices extending axially beyond the short apices, the long apices alternatingly interspersed with the short apices.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
45 words
The endoluminal prosthesis of claim 1 , wherein the long apices of the first and the second frame loops are axially adjacent and axially aligned so as to enhance column strength of the tubular frame when the tubular frame is in the large diameter configuration.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
36 words
The endoluminal prosthesis of claim 2 , wherein the short apices of the first frame loop are aligned with the long apices of the second frame loop when the frame is in the small diameter configuration.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
64 words
The endoluminal prosthesis of claim 3 , wherein t he long apices are defined by intersections of long frame members, and wherein centerlines of the first and second frame loops are separated by a separation distance which is less than a combined length of the adjacent long frame members of the first and second frame loops when the frame is in the small configuration.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
53 words
The endoluminal prosthesis of claim 4 , wherein the long apices of the first frame loop are disposed circumferentially between the long frame members of the second frame loop when the frame is in the small configuration, the long apices decreasing in axial length when the frame expands radially to the large configuration.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
17 words
The endoluminal prosthesis of claim 3 , further comprising a tubular liner supported by the tubular frame.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
33 words
The endoluminal prosthesis of claim 6 , wherein the first and second frame loops rotate relative to each other when the frame expands from the small diameter configuration to the large diameter configuration.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
38 words
The endoluminal prosthesis of claim 7 , further comprising stitches fastening the tubular liner to the first and second frame loops, the stitches engaging the first and second frame loops so that the stitches help effect the rotation.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
33 words
The endoluminal prosthesis of claim 1 , wherein the first and the second frame loops comprise a circumferential series of diamond-shaped frame elements, the diamond-shaped elements having circumferentially alternating large and small sizes.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
77 words
The endoluminal prosthesis of claim 1 , wherein at least one long apex of the first frame loop is affixed to an associated long apex of the second frame loop, at least one long apex of the first frame loop being axially aligned with an associated short apex of the second frame loop and at least one short apex of the first frame loop is axially aligned with an associated long apex of the second frame loop.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
29 words
The endoluminal prosthesis of claim 10 , wherein the affixed long apices bend and the associated long and short apices do not interfere when the tubular frame flexes axially.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
150 words
An endoluminal prosthesis comprising: a first frame loop defining axial and circumferential orientations, the first frame loop including interspersed large and small expandable elements, the large elements being axially longer than the small elements; a second frame loop aligned coaxially with the first frame loop, the second frame loop being circumferentially expandable and including interspersed large and small expandable elements, the large expandable elements being larger than the small expandable elements; wherein at least one of the large elements of the first frame loop is axially aligned with an associated small element of the second frame loop when the first and second frame loops are in a small profile configuration; and wherein at least one of the large elements of the first frame loop is axially aligned with an associated large element of the second frame loop when the first and second frame loops are in a large profile configuration.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
150 words
An endoluminal prosthesis comprising: a first frame loop defining axial and circumferential orientations, the first frame loop including interspersed large and small expandable elements, the large elements being axially longer than the small elements; a second frame loop aligned coaxially with the first frame loop, the second frame loop being circumferentially expandable and including interspersed large and small expandable elements, the large expandable elements being larger than the small expandable elements; wherein at least one of the large elements of the first frame loop is axially aligned with an associated small element of the second frame loop when the first and second frame loops are in a small profile configuration; and wherein at least one of the large elements of the first frame loop is axially aligned with an associated large element of the second frame loop when the first and second frame loops are in a large profile configuration.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
60 words
The endoluminal prosthesis of claim 12 , wherein the large expandable elements of the first frame loop extend axially to apices adjacent the second frame loop, and wherein the apices of the first frame loop are disposed circumferentially between the large elements of the second frame loop when the first and second frame loops are in the small profile configuration.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
42 words
The endoluminal prosthesis of claim 13 , wherein the apices of the first frame loop are axially aligned with apices of the large elements of the second frame loop when the first and second frame loops are in the large profile configuration.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
40 words
The endoluminal prosthesis of claim 14 , wherein the first and second frame loops are independently attached to a tubular liner so that the first and second frame loops rotate axially relative to each other as the prosthesis expands circumferentially.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
60 words
The endoluminal prosthesis of claim 12 , wherein axial lengths of the expandable elements decrease as the expandable elements expand circumferentially, and wherein a distance between a circumferential centerline of the first frame loop and a circumferential centerline of the second frame loop remains constant as the endoluminal prosthesis expands from the small profile configuration to the large profile configuration.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
186 words
A tubular prosthesis for deployment within a blood vessel, the prosthesis comprising: a tubular liner defining axial and circumferential orientations; a first ring frame supporting the liner, the first ring frame having an axial end and including interspersed large and small diamond-shaped elements, the large elements defining apices adjacent the end and being axially longer than the small elements; a second ring frame supporting the liner adjacent the axial end of the first ring frame, the second ring frame including interspersed large and small diamond-shaped elements, the large diamond-shaped elements being larger than the small diamond-shaped elements, the apices of the first ring frame being disposed circumferentially between the large diamond-shaped elements of the second ring frame when the prosthesis is in a small profile configuration for insertion into the blood vessel, the apices of the first ring frame being axially aligned with the large diamond-shaped elements of the second ring frame when the first and second ring frames are in a large profile configuration engaging the surrounding blood vessel, the first and second ring frames rotating axially relative to each other as the prosthesis expands.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
186 words
A tubular prosthesis for deployment within a blood vessel, the prosthesis comprising: a tubular liner defining axial and circumferential orientations; a first ring frame supporting the liner, the first ring frame having an axial end and including interspersed large and small diamond-shaped elements, the large elements defining apices adjacent the end and being axially longer than the small elements; a second ring frame supporting the liner adjacent the axial end of the first ring frame, the second ring frame including interspersed large and small diamond-shaped elements, the large diamond-shaped elements being larger than the small diamond-shaped elements, the apices of the first ring frame being disposed circumferentially between the large diamond-shaped elements of the second ring frame when the prosthesis is in a small profile configuration for insertion into the blood vessel, the apices of the first ring frame being axially aligned with the large diamond-shaped elements of the second ring frame when the first and second ring frames are in a large profile configuration engaging the surrounding blood vessel, the first and second ring frames rotating axially relative to each other as the prosthesis expands.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
181 words
A tubular prosthesis for deployment within a blood vessel, the prosthesis comprising: a tubular liner defining axial and circumferential orientations; a first ring frame supporting the liner, the first ring frame defining a centerline and having an axial end and including expandable elements, the expandable elements defining an axial length that decreases when the first ring frame expands from a small profile configuration to a large profile configuration; and a second ring frame supporting the liner adjacent the axial end of the first ring frame, the second ring frame defining a centerline and including expandable elements, the expandable elements defining an axial length that decreases when the second ring frame expands from a small profile configuration to a large profile configuration, a separation distance between the centerlines of the first and second ring frames remaining substantially constant when the ring frames expand, the expandable elements of the second ring frames rotating into alignment with the expandable elements of the second ring frame when the first and second ring frames expand so as to enhance axial column strength of the expanded prosthesis.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
181 words
A tubular prosthesis for deployment within a blood vessel, the prosthesis comprising: a tubular liner defining axial and circumferential orientations; a first ring frame supporting the liner, the first ring frame defining a centerline and having an axial end and including expandable elements, the expandable elements defining an axial length that decreases when the first ring frame expands from a small profile configuration to a large profile configuration; and a second ring frame supporting the liner adjacent the axial end of the first ring frame, the second ring frame defining a centerline and including expandable elements, the expandable elements defining an axial length that decreases when the second ring frame expands from a small profile configuration to a large profile configuration, a separation distance between the centerlines of the first and second ring frames remaining substantially constant when the ring frames expand, the expandable elements of the second ring frames rotating into alignment with the expandable elements of the second ring frame when the first and second ring frames expand so as to enhance axial column strength of the expanded prosthesis.
Claim 23
Independent Claim
100 words
A method for preparing an endoluminal prosthesis for deployment, the method comprising: affixing a first ring frame to a tubular liner, the first ring frame having circumferentially interspersed small expandable elements and large expandable elements; affixing a second ring frame to the tubular liner axially adjacent the first ring frame so that the second ring frame has circumferentially interspersed small expandable elements and large expandable elements; and loading the prosthesis into a delivery catheter in a small configuration with the large expandable elements of the first ring frame circumferentially interspersed with the large expandable elements of the second ring frame.
Claim 24
Independent Claim
100 words
A method for preparing an endoluminal prosthesis for deployment, the method comprising: affixing a first ring frame to a tubular liner, the first ring frame having circumferentially interspersed small expandable elements and large expandable elements; affixing a second ring frame to the tubular liner axially adjacent the first ring frame so that the second ring frame has circumferentially interspersed small expandable elements and large expandable elements; and loading the prosthesis into a delivery catheter in a small configuration with the large expandable elements of the first ring frame circumferentially interspersed with the large expandable elements of the second ring frame.
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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) | 2005-03-11 | 2005-09-10 | 2006-03-12 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2009-03-11 | 2009-09-10 | 2010-03-12 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2013-03-11 | 2013-09-10 | 2014-03-12 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |