Medical devices
Inventors
Lakshminarayanan, Ramanan • KOTADIA, Dhirajlal Vallabhbhai • KHANPARA, Bhautik Chandulal • SINGHVI, Abhijeet • NAIK, Parth Pramodkumar
Assignees
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Publication Number
US-11179255-B2
Publication Date
2021-11-23
Expiration Date
Abstract
A medical device includes a tubular support structure having a plurality of ringlets arranged sequentially along a common longitudinal axis thereof, a plurality of long connecting elements and optionally, a plurality of short connecting elements to connect the plurality of ringlets. Each of the plurality of ringlet is formed by of plurality of crowns connected along a circumferential direction, each crown being formed by two straight struts arranged in V-shaped configuration. At least one of the plurality of long connecting elements connects adjacent ringlets. In addition, consecutive long connecting elements connecting adjacent ringlets are to form a mirror-reflection of each other about a radial plane of reflection.
Core Innovation
The invention relates to a medical device including a tubular support structure formed by a plurality of ringlets arranged sequentially along a common longitudinal axis. Each ringlet is formed by a plurality of crowns connected along a circumferential direction, and each crown is formed by two straight struts arranged in a V-shaped configuration. Long connecting elements connect adjacent ringlets to form the tubular support structure along the longitudinal axis.
The tubular support structure further includes consecutive long connecting elements connecting adjacent ringlets, where the consecutive long connecting elements form a mirror-reflection of each other about a radial plane of reflection. At least one of the long connecting elements is formed of two long sections and a short section to form a Z-shaped configuration, where the long sections are parallel and the short section forms an obtuse angle with the long sections.
The obtuse angle of the Z-shaped long connecting element is unchanged while compressing or expanding the tubular support structure. This configuration maintains the geometry during compressing or expanding, while coupling the sequential ringlets through the mirror-reflection arrangement of the long connecting elements and the V-shaped crowns formed by the straight struts.
Claims Coverage
The provided material describes one independent claim and several dependent refinements. The independent claim centers on a tubular support structure with sequential ringlets, V-shaped crowns formed by straight struts, mirror-reflected long connecting elements, and a Z-shaped long connecting element whose obtuse angle is unchanged during compressing or expanding.
Sequential ringlets with V-shaped crowns
The tubular support structure comprises a plurality of ringlets arranged sequentially along a common longitudinal axis, where each ringlet is formed by crowns connected along a circumferential direction, and each crown is formed by two straight struts arranged in a V-shaped configuration.
Mirror-reflected long connecting elements across a radial plane
Long connecting elements connect adjacent ringlets, and consecutive long connecting elements connecting adjacent ringlets form a mirror-reflection of each other about a radial plane of reflection.
Z-shaped long connecting element with obtuse angle unchanged during compression or expansion
At least one long connecting element is formed of two long sections and a short section to form a Z-shaped configuration, where the long sections are parallel and the short section forms an obtuse angle with the long sections, and the obtuse angle is unchanged while compressing or expanding the tubular support structure.
Obtuse angle constrained to a numerical range
The obtuse angle is between 91° and 160°.
Short connecting elements connecting peak regions of adjacent ringlets
Multiple short connecting elements connect adjacent ringlets by connecting their peaks.
Constant circumferential widths along structural member lengths
The circumferential widths of straight struts forming the crowns, long connecting elements, and short connecting elements are constant along their lengths.
Drug-eluting biocompatible material
A biocompatible material of the tubular support structure is a drug-eluting biocompatible material.
Tubular support structure formed using specified fabrication or machining processes
The tubular support structure is formed from a hollow cylindrical tube using laser fabrication, chemical-etching, photochemical-etching, or electro-discharge machining.
The claim coverage centers on a tubular support structure with sequential ringlets formed from crowns using two straight struts in a V-shaped configuration, adjacent ringlets connected by long connecting elements that are mirror-reflections about a radial plane, and at least one Z-shaped long connecting element whose obtuse angle remains unchanged during compressing or expanding. The provided refinements further constrain the obtuse angle, add peak-to-peak short connections, impose constant circumferential width constraints, define a drug-eluting biocompatible material, and limit the fabrication approaches for a hollow cylindrical tube.
Stated Advantages
Retaining axial length with minimal contraction during balloon deployment.
Providing flexibility, torsional balance/trackability, fracture resistance, radial strength, and safety.
Documented Applications
Deployment of the tubular support structure in balloon deployment, including compressing or expanding the tubular support structure.
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