US5749919A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Resilient prosthesis for widening a channel, particularly a blood vessel, and method for making same
Assignee: MICROFIL INDUSTRIES SA
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Filing: 1994-12-30
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Granted: 1998-05-12
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Expires: 2014-12-30
Abstract
Abstract A resilient prosthesis such as a stent for widening a channel in a living body, particularly a stenotic portion of a blood vessel, is disclosed. The prosthesis (5) consists of a number of lengths of resilient thread (1, 2, 3, 4) helically wound in the same direction, which threads are axially inserted between one another in a substantially cylindrical arrangement without intersecting one another. The threads may be separate or joined together at the ends of the prosthesis. The turns of the threads have a shorter pitch P 1 in the mid-portion (6) of the prosthesis than in the other portions thereof (7, 8), so that one separate thread cannot be "screwed" between the others. The ends (10, 11) of the threads all lie in the same plane or are axially offset. The prosthesis may be manufactured at low cost and is useful for performing angioplastic, urological or gynaecological treatments, and generally for widening or supporting any channel in the human or animal body.
Inventors
- 👤 Louis Blanc
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 01:33
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61F; A61F2/00; A61F2/82; A61F2/86; A61F2/88; A61F2250/00; A61F2250/0014; A61F2250/0018
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 18
Claim 1
Independent Claim
108 words
An elastic prosthesis, having a median section bound by regions of extremity, for widening a conduit in a living being, in particular a blood vessel, said elastic prosthesis being of a substantially elongated and cylindrical shape, wherein said elastic prothesis (5, 20) comprises a plurality of elastic wire filaments (1, 2, 3, 4, 22) having a helical spiral configuration in which the helical spirals have a direction which is the same for each wire filament except in the regions of extremity of the prosthesis, the wire filaments (1, 2, 3, 4, 22) being intercalated with one another without crossing so as to form the said substantially cylindrical shape.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
108 words
An elastic prosthesis, having a median section bound by regions of extremity, for widening a conduit in a living being, in particular a blood vessel, said elastic prosthesis being of a substantially elongated and cylindrical shape, wherein said elastic prothesis (5, 20) comprises a plurality of elastic wire filaments (1, 2, 3, 4, 22) having a helical spiral configuration in which the helical spirals have a direction which is the same for each wire filament except in the regions of extremity of the prosthesis, the wire filaments (1, 2, 3, 4, 22) being intercalated with one another without crossing so as to form the said substantially cylindrical shape.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
34 words
The elastic prosthesis according to claim 1, wherein the helical spiral of each wire filament has a shorter helical pitch (P 1 ) in the median section (6) than in the regions of extremity.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
34 words
The elastic prosthesis according to claim 2, wherein the regions of extremity have a helical pitch (P2) which is at least 1.5 times the helical pitch (P 1 ) in the median section (6).
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
26 words
The elastic prosthesis according to claim 1, wherein all the wire filaments (1, 2, 3, 4, 22) are identical in size, length, shape, and helical pitch.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
33 words
The elastic prosthesis according to claim 1, wherein the wire filaments (1, 2, 3, 4, 22) each have two free extremities (10, 11), said two free extremities are not connected to one another.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
31 words
The elastic prosthesis according to claim 5, wherein at each extremity of the prosthesis (5), the free extremities (10, 11) of the wire filaments are substantially in a same transversal plane.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
31 words
The elastic prosthesis according to claim 5, wherein at an extremity of the prosthesis (5), the free extremities (11) of the wire filaments are staggered axially in relation to one another.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
34 words
The elastic prosthesis according to claim 1, wherein the elastic prosthesis comprises a number of wire filaments (1, 2, 3, 4, 22), where the number of wire filaments is between 4 and 18 inclusive.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
21 words
The elastic prosthesis according to claim 1, wherein at the extremity of the prosthesis (20), adjacent wire filaments (22) are connected.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
20 words
The elastic prosthesis according to claim 9, wherein at least some of the wire filaments (22) are connected by welding.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
49 words
The elastic prosthesis according to claim 9, wherein at least some of the wire filaments (22) are formed from a single continuous wire which is folded or bent through 180° at each extremity of the prosthesis in order to connect in each case two of the said wire filaments.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
159 words
An elastic prosthesis, having a median section bound by regions of extremity, for widening a conduit in a living being, in particular a blood vessel, said elastic prosthesis being of a substantially elongated and cylindrical shape, wherein said elastic prosthesis (5, 20) comprises a plurality of elastic wire filaments (1, 2, 3, 4, 22) having a helical spiral configuration in which the helical spirals have a direction which is the same for each wire filament except in the regions of extremity of the prosthesis, the wire filaments (1, 2, 3, 4, 22) being intercalated with one another without crossing so as to form the said substantially cylindrical shape; the wire filaments (1, 2, 3, 4, 22) each having two free extremities (10, 11), said two free extremities not being connected to one another; and wherein at an extremity of the elastic prosthesis (5'), the free extremities (11) of the wire filaments are staggered axially in relation to one another.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
159 words
An elastic prosthesis, having a median section bound by regions of extremity, for widening a conduit in a living being, in particular a blood vessel, said elastic prosthesis being of a substantially elongated and cylindrical shape, wherein said elastic prosthesis (5, 20) comprises a plurality of elastic wire filaments (1, 2, 3, 4, 22) having a helical spiral configuration in which the helical spirals have a direction which is the same for each wire filament except in the regions of extremity of the prosthesis, the wire filaments (1, 2, 3, 4, 22) being intercalated with one another without crossing so as to form the said substantially cylindrical shape; the wire filaments (1, 2, 3, 4, 22) each having two free extremities (10, 11), said two free extremities not being connected to one another; and wherein at an extremity of the elastic prosthesis (5'), the free extremities (11) of the wire filaments are staggered axially in relation to one another.
Claim 15
Independent Claim
363 words
A method of manufacturing an elastic prosthesis from a continuous metal wire, the prosthesis (5, 20) having a median section bound by more than one region of extremity, for widening a conduit in a living being, in particular a blood vessel, said elastic prosthesis being of a substantially elongated and cylindrical shape and comprising a plurality of elastic wire filaments (1, 2, 3, 4, 22) having a helical spiral configuration in which the helical spirals have a direction which is the same for each wire filament except in the regions of extremity of the prosthesis, the wire filaments (1, 2, 3, 4, 22) being intercalated with one another without crossing so as to form the said substantially cylindrical shape; adjacent wire filaments (22) in the regions of extremity are connected; at least some of the wire filaments (22) are formed from a single continuous wire which is folded or bent through 180° at each extremity of the prosthesis in order to connect in each case two of the said filaments; comprising the following steps: providing a means of support comprising a first and a second support (24, 25) with a circular periphery and axially aligning one facing the other and each having a series of protruding elements (28, 30) distributed along the periphery of the support, and a central mandrel (29) arranged axially between the two series of protruding elements; placing the wire on the means of support in a zigzag fashion using an axial zigzag movement between the two series of protruding elements (28, 30) in order to form an assembly of axial wire filaments (22) which are parallel and distributed around the mandrel, the wire being folded successively around at least one protruding element of the initial support and then of the second support, then around at least one other protruding element of the initial support and so on; cutting the wire to form two adjacent extremities, said extremities being fixed one to the other; twisting said assembly of wire filaments (22) around the mandrel (29) to confer upon each wire filament a permanent helical spiral configuration and removing said assembly which forms the prosthesis (20) from the means of support.
Claim 16
Independent Claim
363 words
A method of manufacturing an elastic prosthesis from a continuous metal wire, the prosthesis (5, 20) having a median section bound by more than one region of extremity, for widening a conduit in a living being, in particular a blood vessel, said elastic prosthesis being of a substantially elongated and cylindrical shape and comprising a plurality of elastic wire filaments (1, 2, 3, 4, 22) having a helical spiral configuration in which the helical spirals have a direction which is the same for each wire filament except in the regions of extremity of the prosthesis, the wire filaments (1, 2, 3, 4, 22) being intercalated with one another without crossing so as to form the said substantially cylindrical shape; adjacent wire filaments (22) in the regions of extremity are connected; at least some of the wire filaments (22) are formed from a single continuous wire which is folded or bent through 180° at each extremity of the prosthesis in order to connect in each case two of the said filaments; comprising the following steps: providing a means of support comprising a first and a second support (24, 25) with a circular periphery and axially aligning one facing the other and each having a series of protruding elements (28, 30) distributed along the periphery of the support, and a central mandrel (29) arranged axially between the two series of protruding elements; placing the wire on the means of support in a zigzag fashion using an axial zigzag movement between the two series of protruding elements (28, 30) in order to form an assembly of axial wire filaments (22) which are parallel and distributed around the mandrel, the wire being folded successively around at least one protruding element of the initial support and then of the second support, then around at least one other protruding element of the initial support and so on; cutting the wire to form two adjacent extremities, said extremities being fixed one to the other; twisting said assembly of wire filaments (22) around the mandrel (29) to confer upon each wire filament a permanent helical spiral configuration and removing said assembly which forms the prosthesis (20) from the means of support.
Claim 17
Independent Claim
353 words
A method of manufacturing an elastic prosthesis from a continuous metal wire, the prosthesis having a median section bound by more than one region of extremity, for widening a conduit in a living being, in particular a blood vessel, said elastic prosthesis being of a substantially elongated and cylindrical shape and comprising a plurality of elastic wire filaments (1, 2, 3, 4, 22) having a helical spiral configuration in which the helical spirals have a direction which is the same for each wire filament except in the regions of extremity of the prosthesis, the wire filaments (1, 2, 3, 4, 22) being intercalated with one another without crossing so as to form the said substantially cylindrical shape; adjacent wire filaments (22) in the regions of extremity are connected; at least some of the wire filaments (22) are formed from a single continuous wire which is folded or bent through 180° at each extremity of the prosthesis in order to connect in each case two of the said filaments; comprising the following steps: providing a supports means comprising a first and a second support (2, 25) with a circular periphery and axially aligning one facing the other and each having a series of protruding elements (28, 30) distributed around the periphery of the support, and a central mandrel (29) arranged axially between the two series of protruding elements; placing the wire on the means of support in a zigzag fashion using a helical zigzag movement between the two series of protruding elements (28, 30), or by an axial zigzag movement combined with an alternating movement of rotation of the means of support in order to form a parallel assembly of wire filaments wound round in helical spirals around the mandrel, the wire being folded successively round at least one protruding element of the initial support, then of the second support, then round at least one protruding element of the initial support and so on; cutting the wire to form two adjacent extremities, said extremities being fixed one to the other; and removing said assembly which forms the prosthesis (20) from the means of support.
Claim 18
Independent Claim
353 words
A method of manufacturing an elastic prosthesis from a continuous metal wire, the prosthesis having a median section bound by more than one region of extremity, for widening a conduit in a living being, in particular a blood vessel, said elastic prosthesis being of a substantially elongated and cylindrical shape and comprising a plurality of elastic wire filaments (1, 2, 3, 4, 22) having a helical spiral configuration in which the helical spirals have a direction which is the same for each wire filament except in the regions of extremity of the prosthesis, the wire filaments (1, 2, 3, 4, 22) being intercalated with one another without crossing so as to form the said substantially cylindrical shape; adjacent wire filaments (22) in the regions of extremity are connected; at least some of the wire filaments (22) are formed from a single continuous wire which is folded or bent through 180° at each extremity of the prosthesis in order to connect in each case two of the said filaments; comprising the following steps: providing a supports means comprising a first and a second support (2, 25) with a circular periphery and axially aligning one facing the other and each having a series of protruding elements (28, 30) distributed around the periphery of the support, and a central mandrel (29) arranged axially between the two series of protruding elements; placing the wire on the means of support in a zigzag fashion using a helical zigzag movement between the two series of protruding elements (28, 30), or by an axial zigzag movement combined with an alternating movement of rotation of the means of support in order to form a parallel assembly of wire filaments wound round in helical spirals around the mandrel, the wire being folded successively round at least one protruding element of the initial support, then of the second support, then round at least one protruding element of the initial support and so on; cutting the wire to form two adjacent extremities, said extremities being fixed one to the other; and removing said assembly which forms the prosthesis (20) from the means of support.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
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| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
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| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2001-05-11 | 2001-11-10 | 2002-05-12 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2005-05-11 | 2005-11-10 | 2006-05-12 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2009-05-11 | 2009-11-10 | 2010-05-12 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |