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Publication Number
US-8778010-B2
Publication Date
2014-07-15
Expiration Date
Abstract
An endoluminal prosthesis comprises a tubular body which can be expanded about a longitudinal axis. A plurality of serpentines extend in a substantially circumferential direction. Each comprises arm portions and bend portions which join two subsequent arms. The bends facing an adjacent serpentine are circumferentially offset relative to the respective opposite bends of the contiguous serpentine, both when the prosthesis is collapsed and when the prosthesis is expanded. A first portion comprises at least two adjacent serpentines interconnected by at least one bridge, and at least two bends situated at the shortest longitudinal distance between the two serpentines is not connected by a bridge. A second portion comprises at least two adjacent serpentines interconnected by a number of bridges equal to the number of pairs of bends of the two serpentines, at the shortest longitudinal distance between the two serpentines.
Core Innovation
The invention relates to an endoluminal prosthesis comprising a tubular body adapted to turn from a collapsed state to an expanded state. The tubular body extends along a longitudinal axis and includes a plurality of serpentines, or closed meander paths, extending along a substantially circumferential direction, and at least one bridge connecting adjacent serpentines.
Each serpentine includes arm portions and bend portions that join two subsequent arms to form the serpentine or meander path. Each bend of a serpentine facing an adjacent serpentine is circumferentially offset relative to all bends of the adjacent serpentine, both when the tubular body is in the collapsed state and when the tubular body is in the expanded state.
The serpentines are grouped in at least two portions arranged along the longitudinal axis. In a first portion, at least two adjacent serpentines are interconnected by at least one bridge connecting a first bend of a first serpentine to a second bend of a second serpentine, where the second bend is the bend of the second serpentine nearest to the first bend, and at least one bend of the first serpentine facing the second serpentine is not connected by a bridge to any bends of the second serpentine facing the first.
In a second portion, each bend of a first serpentine facing a second serpentine is connected by a bridge to a corresponding adjacent bend of the second serpentine, where the corresponding bend is the nearest distance from the corresponding bend of the first serpentine.
Claims Coverage
The independent claims are directed to an endoluminal prosthesis having circumferential serpentines interconnected by bridges with facing-bend circumferential offsets, and longitudinal grouping of serpentines with defined bridge-connection rules. Across the independent claims, the core inventive content focuses on the bridge/offset geometry in both collapsed and expanded states, with one independent claim further limiting the expanded-state tubular body shape to a truncated cone.
Endoluminal prosthesis with collapsed-to-expanded tubular body and circumferential serpentines interconnected by bridges
An endoluminal prosthesis comprising a tubular body adapted to turn from a collapsed state to an expanded state, extending along a longitudinal axis, the tubular body comprising a plurality of serpentines (closed meander paths) extending along a substantially circumferential direction, and at least one bridge connecting adjacent serpentines.
Facing bends circumferentially offset in both collapsed and expanded states
Each bend of a serpentine facing an adjacent serpentine is circumferentially offset relative to all bends of the adjacent serpentine, both when the tubular body is in the collapsed state and when the tubular body is in the expanded state.
Longitudinally grouped serpentines with first and second portions and defined bridge connection rules
Serpentines are grouped in at least two portions arranged along the longitudinal axis, where a first portion interconnects at least two adjacent serpentines by at least one bridge connecting a first bend to a second bend nearest to the first bend, with at least one facing bend not connected by a bridge, and where a second portion interconnects at least two adjacent serpentines so that each facing bend of a first serpentine is connected by a bridge to a corresponding adjacent nearest-distance bend of a second serpentine.
Truncated cone tubular body in expanded state
The endoluminal prosthesis according to the can having the tubular body in a truncated cone shape in the expanded state.
Overall, the independent claims require a collapsed-to-expanded endoluminal tubular prosthesis formed by circumferential serpentines with facing-bend circumferential offsets in both states, and longitudinal grouping of serpentines into portions with specific bridge-connection rules based on nearest bends; one independent claim further specifies a truncated cone tubular body in the expanded state.
Stated Advantages
Improved radial compression/support in the middle with reduced material use.
Documented Applications
Carotid bifurcation.
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