Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 30
Claim 1
Independent Claim
75 words
An intraluminal stent, comprising a plurality of elongated members extending in a circumferential direction around an axis and curving in two opposite directions transverse to said circumferential direction, each said member being curved over substantially its entire extent, said members joining one another to define cusps pointing in directions transverse to said circumferential direction each said cusp including a portion of one member curving in a direction away from a portion of an adjacent member.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
75 words
An intraluminal stent, comprising a plurality of elongated members extending in a circumferential direction around an axis and curving in two opposite directions transverse to said circumferential direction, each said member being curved over substantially its entire extent, said members joining one another to define cusps pointing in directions transverse to said circumferential direction each said cusp including a portion of one member curving in a direction away from a portion of an adjacent member.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
21 words
The intraluminal stent as claimed in claim 1, wherein each said member has a constant radius of curvature between said cusps.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
32 words
The intraluminal stent as claimed in claim 1, wherein said plurality of members define a loop which is foldable between a collapsed circumference and an expanded circumference greater than said collapsed circumference.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
35 words
The intraluminal stent as claimed in claim 1, wherein each said member includes a first portion curving in a first direction and a second portion curving in a second direction opposite to said first direction.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
49 words
The intraluminal stent as claimed in claim 4, wherein each said first portion of said members and each said second portion of said members define an arc having a constant radius of curvature and a length described by an angle of between about 30 degrees and about 180 degrees.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
23 words
The intraluminal stent as claimed in claim 5, wherein said length of said arc is described by an angle of about 90 degrees.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
42 words
The intraluminal stent as claimed in claim 1, wherein said cusps point in opposed axial directions, said cusps pointing in one of said axial directions having an axial length which is greater than said cusps pointing in another of said axial directions.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
28 words
The intraluminal stent as claimed in claim 7, further comprising a barb connected to at least one of said cusps pointing in said one of said axial directions.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
22 words
The intraluminal stent as claimed in claim 1, further comprising at least one barb connected to at least one of said cusps.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
20 words
The intraluminal stent as claimed in claim 1, wherein said plurality of elongated members are formed from a shape-memory material.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
152 words
An intraluminal stent, comprising a plurality of elongated members extending in a circumferential direction around an axis and curving in two opposite directions transverse to said circumferential direction, said members joining one another to define cusps pointing in opposed axial directions, each said cusp including a portion of one member curving in a direction away from a portion of an adjacent member said cusps being movable in said opposed axial directions between an expanded condition in which said cusps pointing in one axial direction are spaced from said cusps pointing in another axial direction by a predetermined distance and said elongated members define an expanded circumference, and a collapsed condition in which said cusps pointing in said one axial direction are spaced from said cusps pointing in said another axial direction by a distance greater than said predetermined distance and said elongated members define a collapsed circumference smaller than said expanded circumference.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
152 words
An intraluminal stent, comprising a plurality of elongated members extending in a circumferential direction around an axis and curving in two opposite directions transverse to said circumferential direction, said members joining one another to define cusps pointing in opposed axial directions, each said cusp including a portion of one member curving in a direction away from a portion of an adjacent member said cusps being movable in said opposed axial directions between an expanded condition in which said cusps pointing in one axial direction are spaced from said cusps pointing in another axial direction by a predetermined distance and said elongated members define an expanded circumference, and a collapsed condition in which said cusps pointing in said one axial direction are spaced from said cusps pointing in said another axial direction by a distance greater than said predetermined distance and said elongated members define a collapsed circumference smaller than said expanded circumference.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
32 words
The intraluminal stent as claimed in claim 11, wherein movement of said cusps from said expanded condition to said collapsed condition substantially straightens said elongated members without plasticly deforming said elongated members.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
21 words
The intraluminal stent as claimed in claim 11, wherein each said member has a constant radius of curvature between said cusps.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
35 words
The intraluminal stent as claimed in claim 11, wherein each said member includes a first portion curving in a first direction and a second portion curving in a second direction opposite to said first direction.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
49 words
The intraluminal stent as claimed in claim 14, wherein each said first portion of said members and each said second portion of said members define an arc having a constant radius of curvature and a length described by an angle of between about 30 degrees and about 180 degrees.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
23 words
The intraluminal stent as claimed in claim 15, wherein said length of said arc is described by an angle of about 90 degrees.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
33 words
The intraluminal stent as claimed in claim 11, wherein said cusps pointing in said one axial direction have an axial length which is greater than said cusps pointing in said another axial direction.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
28 words
The intraluminal stent as claimed in claim 17, further comprising at least one barb connected to at least one of said cusps pointing in said one axial direction.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
22 words
The intraluminal stent as claimed in claim 11, further comprising at least one barb connected to at least one of said cusps.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
18 words
The intraluminal stent as claimed in claim 11, wherein said elongated members are formed from a shape-memory material.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
88 words
An intraluminal stent, comprising a plurality of loops extending in a circumferential direction around an axis at spaced distances along said axis between a first end and a second end, each of said loops including a plurality of elongated members curving in two opposite directions transverse to said circumferential direction, each said member being curved over substantially it entire extent, said members joining one another to define cusps pointing in directions transverse to said circumferential direction curving in a direction away from a portion of an adjacent member.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
88 words
An intraluminal stent, comprising a plurality of loops extending in a circumferential direction around an axis at spaced distances along said axis between a first end and a second end, each of said loops including a plurality of elongated members curving in two opposite directions transverse to said circumferential direction, each said member being curved over substantially it entire extent, said members joining one another to define cusps pointing in directions transverse to said circumferential direction curving in a direction away from a portion of an adjacent member.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
75 words
The intraluminal stent as claimed in claim 21, wherein each said member includes a first portion curving in a first direction and a second portion curving in a second direction opposite to said first direction, each said first portion of said members and each said second portion of said members defining an arc having a constant radius of curvature and a length described by an angle of between about 30 degrees and about 180 degrees.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
29 words
The intraluminal stent as claimed in claim 21, further comprising at least one barb connected to at least one of said cusps on said loop at said first end.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
55 words
The intraluminal stent as claimed in claim 21, wherein said cusps in each said loop point in opposed axial directions, each said loop including at least one cusp pointing in one of said axial directions connected to at least one cusp pointing in another of said axial directions in an adjacent one of said loops.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
63 words
The intraluminal stent as claimed in claim 21, wherein each of said loops has a first end and a second end, said loops being connected to one another with said second end of one of said loops being connected to said first end of an adjacent one of said loops so that said loops define a continuous helix extending in said axial direction.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
191 words
An intraluminal stent, comprising a plurality of loops extending in a circumferential direction around an axis at spaced distances along said axis, each of said loops including a plurality of elongated members curving in two opposite directions transverse to said circumferential direction, said members joining one another to define cusps pointing in opposed axial directions each said cusp including a portion of one member curving in a direction away from a portion of an adjacent member, said cusps being movable in said opposed axial directions between an expanded condition in which said cusps pointing in one axial direction in at least one of said loops are spaced from said cusps pointing in another axial direction in said at least one loop by a predetermined distance and said elongated members define an expanded circumference, and a collapsed condition in which said cusps pointing in said one axial direction in said at least one loop are spaced from said cusps pointing in said another axial direction in said at least one loop by a distance greater than said predetermined distance and said elongated members define a collapsed circumference smaller than said expanded circumference.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
191 words
An intraluminal stent, comprising a plurality of loops extending in a circumferential direction around an axis at spaced distances along said axis, each of said loops including a plurality of elongated members curving in two opposite directions transverse to said circumferential direction, said members joining one another to define cusps pointing in opposed axial directions each said cusp including a portion of one member curving in a direction away from a portion of an adjacent member, said cusps being movable in said opposed axial directions between an expanded condition in which said cusps pointing in one axial direction in at least one of said loops are spaced from said cusps pointing in another axial direction in said at least one loop by a predetermined distance and said elongated members define an expanded circumference, and a collapsed condition in which said cusps pointing in said one axial direction in said at least one loop are spaced from said cusps pointing in said another axial direction in said at least one loop by a distance greater than said predetermined distance and said elongated members define a collapsed circumference smaller than said expanded circumference.