Surgical implants and delivery systems therefor

Claim 2

A stent for surgical implantation into a patient, said stent being formed from and defined by a single unitary length of wire which is expandable from a relatively straightened state far introduction into the patient, to an occluding anchor part in which the wire has adopted a series of turns extending over the cross-sectional area of the occluding anchor part, and wherein the wire turns in said occluding anchor part are of (a) cycloidal form producible by displacing individual turns of a cylindrical helix laterally in different directions and so that they are substantially coplanar, or (b) spiro-cycloidal form producible by displacing individual turns of a tapering helix laterally in different directions and so that they are substantially coplanar.

Claim 3

A stent as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the wire is formed of a shape memory effect material and is self-expanding into its occluding state above a predetermined trigger temperature.

Claim 4

A stent as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the wire is formed of a superelastic material which is resiliently biased towards its occluding state and which can be retained in its relatively straightened state.

Claim 5

A stent as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the wire, in its occluding state, also defines another anchor part which is spaced from the occluding anchor part and joined thereto by a linking part.

Claim 6

A stent as claimed in claim 4 , wherein said another anchor part is of wire having a series of turns extending laterally relative to the linking part.

Claim 7

A stent as claimed in claim 5 , wherein the wire turns extend over the cross-sectional area of said another anchor part.

Claim 8

A stent as claimed in claim 5 , wherein the wire turns of said another anchor part are not aligned with the wire turns of said occluding anchor part in the direction of separation of the anchor parts.

Claim 9

A stent as claimed in claim 4 , wherein the wire turns in said another anchor part are: (a) of substantially conical form, or (b) of scroll or spiral form, or (c) of cycloidal form producible by displacing individual turns of cylindrical helix laterally in different directions and so that they are substantially coplanar or (d) of spiro-cycloidal form producible by displacing individual turns of a tapering helix laterally in different directions and so that they are substantially coplanar.

Claim 10

A stent as claimed in claim 1 , wherein at least part of the wire is coated with a pharmacological coating.

Claim 11

A stent as claimed in claim 9 , wherein the coating is of a protein that initiates blood clotting and cell adhesion.

Claim 12

A stent as claimed in claim 1 , wherein at least part of the wire has a roughened surface.

Claim 13

The stent of claim 1 in combination with a releasable connector comprising: a. a first connector region separate from but adapted to be secured to one end of the length of wire forming the stent, wherein the first connector region has a shape memory effect and is changeable above a predetermined trigger temperature from: (1) a first state wherein the first connector region is adapted to hold the end of the wire forming the stent, and (2) a second state wherein the first connector region is adapted to release the end of the wire forming the stent; and b. a second connector region separate from but adapted to be secured to a member for delivering the stent to the required body region.

Claim 14

A stent as claimed in claim 1 in combination with: a. a catheter containing or adapted to contain said stent in its relatively straightened state; b. an elongated flexible placement member extending or being adapted to extend longitudinally of said catheter and having proximal and distal ends; and c. releasable connection means connecting or being adapted to connect the distal end of the placement member with the stent.

Claim 15

A stent as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the length of wire from which the stent is formed and defined has two free ends both when in its relatively straightened state and when expanded into the occluding anchor part.

Claim 16

A releasable connector releasably interconnecting a stent with a member for delivering the stent to the required body region, said connector comprising first and second connector regions separate from but adapted to be secured to said stent and said member, respectively, wherein the first connector region has a shape memory effect and is changeable from a first state to a second state above a predetermined trigger temperature, said first state being one in which the first connector region is adapted to hold said stent and the second state being one in which the first connector region is adapted to release said stent so as to enable said stunt and said member to be disconnected, and wherein said stent is formed from and defined by a single unitary length of wire which is expandable from a relatively straightened state for introduction into the patient, to an occluding state wherein the wire defines an occluding anchor pan in which the wire has adopted a series of turns extending over the cross-sectional area of the occluding anchor part, and wherein the wire turns in said occluding anchor part of (a) cycloidal form producible by displacing individual turns of a cylindrical helix laterally in different directions and so that they are substantially coplanar, or (b) spirocycloidal form producible by displacing individual turns of a tapering helix laterally in different directions and so that they are substantially coplanar.

Claim 17

A releasable connector releasably interconnecting a stent with a member for delivering the stent to the required body region, said connector comprising first and second connector regions separate from but adapted to be secured to said stent and said member, respectively, wherein the first connector region has a shape memory effect and is changeable from a first state to a second state above a predetermined trigger temperature, said first state being one in which the first connector region is adapted to hold said stent and the second state being one in which the first connector region is adapted to release said stent so as to enable said stunt and said member to be disconnected, and wherein said stent is formed from and defined by a single unitary length of wire which is expandable from a relatively straightened state for introduction into the patient, to an occluding state wherein the wire defines an occluding anchor pan in which the wire has adopted a series of turns extending over the cross-sectional area of the occluding anchor part, and wherein the wire turns in said occluding anchor part of (a) cycloidal form producible by displacing individual turns of a cylindrical helix laterally in different directions and so that they are substantially coplanar, or (b) spirocycloidal form producible by displacing individual turns of a tapering helix laterally in different directions and so that they are substantially coplanar.

Claim 18

A releasable connector as claimed in claim 15 , wherein the first connector region comprises a first bush part which is adapted, in its first state, to receive and hold the stent.

Claim 19

A releasable connector as claimed in claim 16 , wherein the second connector region comprises a second bush part which is adapted to receive and hold said member when the first connector region is in both of its first and second states.

Claim 20

A releasable connector as claimed in claim 15 , wherein the stent is formed from and defined by a single unitary length of wire.

Claim 21

A stent for surgical implementation into a patient, wherein the stent is formed from a single length of wire expandable from: a. a relatively straight configuration in which it can be conveyed along a catheter for introduction into the patient, to b. an occluding configuration in which the stunt has: (1) a first anchor part formed from a series of wire turns extending over the cross-sectional area of the first anchor part in a spiral form; (2) a second anchor part formed from a series of wire turns extending over the cross-sectional area of the second anchor part in a spiro-cycloidal form, and (3) a linking part between the two anchor parts.

Claim 22

A stent for surgical implementation into a patient, wherein the stent is formed from a single length of wire expandable from: a. a relatively straight configuration in which it can be conveyed along a catheter for introduction into the patient, to b. an occluding configuration in which the stunt has: (1) a first anchor part formed from a series of wire turns extending over the cross-sectional area of the first anchor part in a spiral form; (2) a second anchor part formed from a series of wire turns extending over the cross-sectional area of the second anchor part in a spiro-cycloidal form, and (3) a linking part between the two anchor parts.

Claim 23

The stent of claim 19 in combination with a releasable connector comprising: a. a first connector region adapted to be secured to one end of the length of wire forming the stent, wherein the first connector region has a shape memory effect and is changeable above a predetermined trigger temperature from: (1) a first state wherein the first connector region is adapted to hold the end of the wire forming the stint, and (2) a second state wherein the first connector region is adapted to release the end of the wire forming the stent; and b a second connector region adapted to be secured to a member for delivering the stent to the required body region.

Claim 24

The stent of claim 20 wherein the second connector region at least substantially retains a constant shape above and below the trigger temperature.

Claim 25

A stent for surgical implementation into a patient, wherein the stent is formed from and defined by a single unitary length of wire expandable from: a. a relatively straight configuration in which it can be conveyed along a catheter for introduction into the patient, to b. an occluding configuration in which the stent has: (1) a first anchor part formed from a series of wire turns extending over the cross-sectional area of the first anchor part in a spiral form; (2) a second anchor part formed from a series of wire turns extending over the cross-sectional area of the second anchor part in a cycloidal form, and (3) a linking pan between the two anchor parts, wherein the length of wire has two free ends both when in its relatively straightened configuration and when expanded into the occluding configuration.

Claim 26

A stent for surgical implementation into a patient, wherein the stent is formed from and defined by a single unitary length of wire expandable from: a. a relatively straight configuration in which it can be conveyed along a catheter for introduction into the patient, to b. an occluding configuration in which the stent has: (1) a first anchor part formed from a series of wire turns extending over the cross-sectional area of the first anchor part in a spiral form; (2) a second anchor part formed from a series of wire turns extending over the cross-sectional area of the second anchor part in a cycloidal form, and (3) a linking pan between the two anchor parts, wherein the length of wire has two free ends both when in its relatively straightened configuration and when expanded into the occluding configuration.

Claim 27

A stent for surgical implantation into a patient, said stent including a single unitary length of wire which is expandable from a relatively straightened state for introduction into the patient, to an occluding anchor part at a terminal end of the stent in which the wire has adopted a series of turns extending over the cross-sectional area of the occluding anchor part, and wherein the wire turns in said occluding anchor part are of (a) cycloidal form producible by displacing individual turns of a cylindrical helix laterally in different directions and so that they are substantially coplanar, or (b) spiro-cycloidal form producible by displacing individual turns of a tapering helix laterally in different directions and so that they are substantially coplanar.

Claim 28

A stent for surgical implantation into a patient, said stent including a single unitary length of wire which is expandable from a relatively straightened state for introduction into the patient, to an occluding anchor part at a terminal end of the stent in which the wire has adopted a series of turns extending over the cross-sectional area of the occluding anchor part, and wherein the wire turns in said occluding anchor part are of (a) cycloidal form producible by displacing individual turns of a cylindrical helix laterally in different directions and so that they are substantially coplanar, or (b) spiro-cycloidal form producible by displacing individual turns of a tapering helix laterally in different directions and so that they are substantially coplanar.

Claim 29

A stent as claimed in claim 23 wherein the wire from which the stent is formed has two free ends both when in its relatively straightened state and when expanded into the occluding anchor part.