Classifications

• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
  • A61F—FILTERS IMPLANTABLE INTO BLOOD VESSELS; PROSTHESES; DEVICES PROVIDING PATENCY TO, OR PREVENTING COLLAPSING OF, TUBULAR STRUCTURES OF THE BODY, e.g. STENTS; ORTHOPAEDIC, NURSING OR CONTRACEPTIVE DEVICES; FOMENTATION; TREATMENT OR PROTECTION OF EYES OR EARS; BANDAGES, DRESSINGS OR ABSORBENT PADS; FIRST-AID KITS
  • A61F2/00—Filters implantable into blood vessels; Prostheses, i.e. artificial substitutes or replacements for parts of the body; Appliances for connecting them with the body; Devices providing patency to, or preventing collapsing of, tubular structures of the body, e.g. stents
  • A61F2/82—Devices providing patency to, or preventing collapsing of, tubular structures of the body, e.g. stents
  • A61F2/86—Stents in a form characterised by the wire-like elements; Stents in the form characterised by a net-like or mesh-like structure
  • A61F2/90—Stents in a form characterised by the wire-like elements; Stents in the form characterised by a net-like or mesh-like structure characterised by a net-like or mesh-like structure
  • A61F2/91—Stents in a form characterised by the wire-like elements; Stents in the form characterised by a net-like or mesh-like structure characterised by a net-like or mesh-like structure made from perforated sheets or tubes, e.g. perforated by laser cuts or etched holes
  • A61F2/915—Stents in a form characterised by the wire-like elements; Stents in the form characterised by a net-like or mesh-like structure characterised by a net-like or mesh-like structure made from perforated sheets or tubes, e.g. perforated by laser cuts or etched holes with bands having a meander structure, adjacent bands being connected to each other
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
  • A61F—FILTERS IMPLANTABLE INTO BLOOD VESSELS; PROSTHESES; DEVICES PROVIDING PATENCY TO, OR PREVENTING COLLAPSING OF, TUBULAR STRUCTURES OF THE BODY, e.g. STENTS; ORTHOPAEDIC, NURSING OR CONTRACEPTIVE DEVICES; FOMENTATION; TREATMENT OR PROTECTION OF EYES OR EARS; BANDAGES, DRESSINGS OR ABSORBENT PADS; FIRST-AID KITS
  • A61F2/00—Filters implantable into blood vessels; Prostheses, i.e. artificial substitutes or replacements for parts of the body; Appliances for connecting them with the body; Devices providing patency to, or preventing collapsing of, tubular structures of the body, e.g. stents
  • A61F2/02—Prostheses implantable into the body
  • A61F2/04—Hollow or tubular parts of organs, e.g. bladders, tracheae, bronchi or bile ducts
  • A61F2/06—Blood vessels
  • A61F2/07—Stent-grafts
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B21—MECHANICAL METAL-WORKING WITHOUT ESSENTIALLY REMOVING MATERIAL; PUNCHING METAL
  • B21F—WORKING OR PROCESSING OF METAL WIRE
  • B21F45/00—Wire-working in the manufacture of other particular articles
  • B21F45/008—Wire-working in the manufacture of other particular articles of medical instruments, e.g. stents, corneal rings
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B21—MECHANICAL METAL-WORKING WITHOUT ESSENTIALLY REMOVING MATERIAL; PUNCHING METAL
  • B21F—WORKING OR PROCESSING OF METAL WIRE
  • B21F5/00—Upsetting wire or pressing operations affecting the wire cross-section
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
  • A61F—FILTERS IMPLANTABLE INTO BLOOD VESSELS; PROSTHESES; DEVICES PROVIDING PATENCY TO, OR PREVENTING COLLAPSING OF, TUBULAR STRUCTURES OF THE BODY, e.g. STENTS; ORTHOPAEDIC, NURSING OR CONTRACEPTIVE DEVICES; FOMENTATION; TREATMENT OR PROTECTION OF EYES OR EARS; BANDAGES, DRESSINGS OR ABSORBENT PADS; FIRST-AID KITS
  • A61F2220/00—Fixations or connections for prostheses classified in groups A61F2/00 - A61F2/26 or A61F2/82 or A61F9/00 or A61F11/00 or subgroups thereof
  • A61F2220/0025—Connections or couplings between prosthetic parts, e.g. between modular parts; Connecting elements
  • A61F2220/0041—Connections or couplings between prosthetic parts, e.g. between modular parts; Connecting elements using additional screws, bolts, dowels or rivets, e.g. connecting screws
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
  • A61F—FILTERS IMPLANTABLE INTO BLOOD VESSELS; PROSTHESES; DEVICES PROVIDING PATENCY TO, OR PREVENTING COLLAPSING OF, TUBULAR STRUCTURES OF THE BODY, e.g. STENTS; ORTHOPAEDIC, NURSING OR CONTRACEPTIVE DEVICES; FOMENTATION; TREATMENT OR PROTECTION OF EYES OR EARS; BANDAGES, DRESSINGS OR ABSORBENT PADS; FIRST-AID KITS
  • A61F2220/00—Fixations or connections for prostheses classified in groups A61F2/00 - A61F2/26 or A61F2/82 or A61F9/00 or A61F11/00 or subgroups thereof
  • A61F2220/0025—Connections or couplings between prosthetic parts, e.g. between modular parts; Connecting elements
  • A61F2220/005—Connections or couplings between prosthetic parts, e.g. between modular parts; Connecting elements using adhesives
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
  • A61F—FILTERS IMPLANTABLE INTO BLOOD VESSELS; PROSTHESES; DEVICES PROVIDING PATENCY TO, OR PREVENTING COLLAPSING OF, TUBULAR STRUCTURES OF THE BODY, e.g. STENTS; ORTHOPAEDIC, NURSING OR CONTRACEPTIVE DEVICES; FOMENTATION; TREATMENT OR PROTECTION OF EYES OR EARS; BANDAGES, DRESSINGS OR ABSORBENT PADS; FIRST-AID KITS
  • A61F2220/00—Fixations or connections for prostheses classified in groups A61F2/00 - A61F2/26 or A61F2/82 or A61F9/00 or A61F11/00 or subgroups thereof
  • A61F2220/0025—Connections or couplings between prosthetic parts, e.g. between modular parts; Connecting elements
  • A61F2220/0075—Connections or couplings between prosthetic parts, e.g. between modular parts; Connecting elements sutured, ligatured or stitched, retained or tied with a rope, string, thread, wire or cable
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
  • A61F—FILTERS IMPLANTABLE INTO BLOOD VESSELS; PROSTHESES; DEVICES PROVIDING PATENCY TO, OR PREVENTING COLLAPSING OF, TUBULAR STRUCTURES OF THE BODY, e.g. STENTS; ORTHOPAEDIC, NURSING OR CONTRACEPTIVE DEVICES; FOMENTATION; TREATMENT OR PROTECTION OF EYES OR EARS; BANDAGES, DRESSINGS OR ABSORBENT PADS; FIRST-AID KITS
  • A61F2230/00—Geometry of prostheses classified in groups A61F2/00 - A61F2/26 or A61F2/82 or A61F9/00 or A61F11/00 or subgroups thereof
  • A61F2230/0002—Two-dimensional shapes, e.g. cross-sections
  • A61F2230/0004—Rounded shapes, e.g. with rounded corners
  • A61F2230/0013—Horseshoe-shaped, e.g. crescent-shaped, C-shaped, U-shaped
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
  • A61F—FILTERS IMPLANTABLE INTO BLOOD VESSELS; PROSTHESES; DEVICES PROVIDING PATENCY TO, OR PREVENTING COLLAPSING OF, TUBULAR STRUCTURES OF THE BODY, e.g. STENTS; ORTHOPAEDIC, NURSING OR CONTRACEPTIVE DEVICES; FOMENTATION; TREATMENT OR PROTECTION OF EYES OR EARS; BANDAGES, DRESSINGS OR ABSORBENT PADS; FIRST-AID KITS
  • A61F2250/00—Special features of prostheses classified in groups A61F2/00 - A61F2/26 or A61F2/82 or A61F9/00 or A61F11/00 or subgroups thereof
  • A61F2250/0014—Special features of prostheses classified in groups A61F2/00 - A61F2/26 or A61F2/82 or A61F9/00 or A61F11/00 or subgroups thereof having different values of a given property or geometrical feature, e.g. mechanical property or material property, at different locations within the same prosthesis
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
  • A61F—FILTERS IMPLANTABLE INTO BLOOD VESSELS; PROSTHESES; DEVICES PROVIDING PATENCY TO, OR PREVENTING COLLAPSING OF, TUBULAR STRUCTURES OF THE BODY, e.g. STENTS; ORTHOPAEDIC, NURSING OR CONTRACEPTIVE DEVICES; FOMENTATION; TREATMENT OR PROTECTION OF EYES OR EARS; BANDAGES, DRESSINGS OR ABSORBENT PADS; FIRST-AID KITS
  • A61F2250/00—Special features of prostheses classified in groups A61F2/00 - A61F2/26 or A61F2/82 or A61F9/00 or A61F11/00 or subgroups thereof
  • A61F2250/0014—Special features of prostheses classified in groups A61F2/00 - A61F2/26 or A61F2/82 or A61F9/00 or A61F11/00 or subgroups thereof having different values of a given property or geometrical feature, e.g. mechanical property or material property, at different locations within the same prosthesis
  • A61F2250/0018—Special features of prostheses classified in groups A61F2/00 - A61F2/26 or A61F2/82 or A61F9/00 or A61F11/00 or subgroups thereof having different values of a given property or geometrical feature, e.g. mechanical property or material property, at different locations within the same prosthesis differing in elasticity, stiffness or compressibility
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
  • A61F—FILTERS IMPLANTABLE INTO BLOOD VESSELS; PROSTHESES; DEVICES PROVIDING PATENCY TO, OR PREVENTING COLLAPSING OF, TUBULAR STRUCTURES OF THE BODY, e.g. STENTS; ORTHOPAEDIC, NURSING OR CONTRACEPTIVE DEVICES; FOMENTATION; TREATMENT OR PROTECTION OF EYES OR EARS; BANDAGES, DRESSINGS OR ABSORBENT PADS; FIRST-AID KITS
  • A61F2250/00—Special features of prostheses classified in groups A61F2/00 - A61F2/26 or A61F2/82 or A61F9/00 or A61F11/00 or subgroups thereof
  • A61F2250/0014—Special features of prostheses classified in groups A61F2/00 - A61F2/26 or A61F2/82 or A61F9/00 or A61F11/00 or subgroups thereof having different values of a given property or geometrical feature, e.g. mechanical property or material property, at different locations within the same prosthesis
  • A61F2250/002—Special features of prostheses classified in groups A61F2/00 - A61F2/26 or A61F2/82 or A61F9/00 or A61F11/00 or subgroups thereof having different values of a given property or geometrical feature, e.g. mechanical property or material property, at different locations within the same prosthesis differing in moment of inertia
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
  • A61F—FILTERS IMPLANTABLE INTO BLOOD VESSELS; PROSTHESES; DEVICES PROVIDING PATENCY TO, OR PREVENTING COLLAPSING OF, TUBULAR STRUCTURES OF THE BODY, e.g. STENTS; ORTHOPAEDIC, NURSING OR CONTRACEPTIVE DEVICES; FOMENTATION; TREATMENT OR PROTECTION OF EYES OR EARS; BANDAGES, DRESSINGS OR ABSORBENT PADS; FIRST-AID KITS
  • A61F2250/00—Special features of prostheses classified in groups A61F2/00 - A61F2/26 or A61F2/82 or A61F9/00 or A61F11/00 or subgroups thereof
  • A61F2250/0014—Special features of prostheses classified in groups A61F2/00 - A61F2/26 or A61F2/82 or A61F9/00 or A61F11/00 or subgroups thereof having different values of a given property or geometrical feature, e.g. mechanical property or material property, at different locations within the same prosthesis
  • A61F2250/0036—Special features of prostheses classified in groups A61F2/00 - A61F2/26 or A61F2/82 or A61F9/00 or A61F11/00 or subgroups thereof having different values of a given property or geometrical feature, e.g. mechanical property or material property, at different locations within the same prosthesis differing in thickness
• • Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
  • Y10—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC
  • Y10T—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION
  • Y10T29/00—Metal working
  • Y10T29/49—Method of mechanical manufacture

Definitions

• the present disclosure relates generally to endoluminal devices and, more specifically, to endoluminal devices such as stents that have components with varying cross-sections.
• Endoluminal devices such as stents, grafts, filters, valves, anchors, occluders, and other implantable devices are frequently used to treat the vasculature of human patients.
• Such devices often include a frame comprising a stent which may be used alone or in connection with other materials such as graft or filtering materials. It may be desirable that the stent have varying levels of flexibility in different directions of motion and/or a lower profile, at various points along its length. Thus, there is a need for stents that provide such characteristics.
• Figure 1 A illustrates a perspective view of helical stent
• Figure 1 B illustrates a perspective view of stent comprised of a plurality of rings
• Figure 2 illustrates various elliptical cross-sectional shapes
• Figure 3 illustrates various non-elliptical cross-sectional shapes
• Figure 4A illustrates a close-up view of an apical area of a stent and a cross-sectional view of the same
• Figure 4B illustrates a close-up view of an apical area of a stent and a cross-sectional view of the same after the cross-sectional shape has been changed from the cross-sectional shape of Figure 4A;
• Figure 5 illustrates a perspective view of a straight section of a stent
• Figure 6 illustrates a close-up view of two overlapping apical areas of a stent and a cross-sectional view of the same;
• Figure 7 illustrates a cross-sectional view a stent bending with overlapping apical areas
• Figure 8 is a partial cross sectional view of a wire for forming a stent having a substantially continuous side and an opposite, substantially opposite non- continuous side.
• Endoluminal or implantable devices such as stents, grafts, filters, valves, anchors, occluders, and other implantable devices are frequently used to treat the vasculature of human patients. These treatments or procedures are commonly referred to as intraluminal or endovascular procedures.
• intraluminal or endovascular procedures Such as
• endoluminal devices including stents and stent-grafts, are generally tube like structures that define a lumen inserted into the vasculature to open and/or maintain the vasculature in order to prevent or address localized flow constriction, weakening of the vasculature wall, aneurisms, etc.
• a stent 100 such as illustrated in Figure 1 A or 1 B, comprises one or more wires 102 which can be used alone or in connection with various graft or filtering materials 103 now known or as yet unknown.
• graft or filtering materials 103 can comprise any number of biocompatible materials, such as, for example, expanded polytetrafluoroethylene (ePTFE), polyester, polyurethane, fluoropolymers, such as perfouorelastomers and the like, polytetrafluoroethylene, silicones, urethanes, ultra high molecular weight polyethylene, aramid fibers, and combinations thereof.
• the stent 100 can comprise a wire 102 with a "helical" configuration and can include various further patterns along its length such as an undulating pattern with angular apical areas 106 interconnected by generally straight sections 1 16 ( Figure 1 A).
• the stent 100 can comprise one or more rings of wire 102 ( Figure 1 B).
• the stent 100 has dimensions appropriate for the desired vascular treatment and with sufficient strength to provide structural support for the flexible wall of the endoluminal device and/or the vasculature.
• wire refers to a member or strand which, if oriented along a line, has a relatively long length in relation to the breadth of its cross-section, such as an extruded strand of metal or polymer (as noted below), and which can be wound into a particular pattern or shape.
• a “wire” or “wires” can also refer to a member or strand which is cut from a larger piece of material, such as a tube or planar sheet of material.
• the wire can be hollow or otherwise contain various cavities therein along a portion or the entirety of its length.
• a "cross-section" of a wire refers to a section of the wire formed by a plane cutting through the wire at right angle to its axis at a particular location (or along a portion of the wire proximate the location), such as at a first location, second location, third location and so on.
• one wire can have numerous distinct cross-sections (which can have the same or different shapes) at various locations or along various portions along its length.
• the wire(s) 102 can be helical and, optionally, have sinusoidal or zig-zag patterns such as an undulating pattern with angular apical areas interconnected by generally straight sections 1 16 as illustrated in Figure 1 A.
• the wire(s) 1 02 can be helical, but linear (without any undulations), or as shown in Figure 1 B, can be comprised of individual rings.
• stent 100 can be formed from a length of wire such as, but not limited to, an extruded wire, or can be cut from a tube. In any case, whether or not wound or cut, the resulting stent 100 can have any size, shape, or pattern suitable for a vascular treatment.
• the stent 100 is comprised of a shape-memory material, such as, but not limited to, nitinol. In other embodiments, however, the stent 100 can be comprised of other materials, self-expandable or otherwise expandable (e.g., with a balloon or spring mechanism), such as various metals (e.g., stainless steel), alloys and polymers.
• a shape-memory material such as, but not limited to, nitinol.
• the stent 100 can be comprised of other materials, self-expandable or otherwise expandable (e.g., with a balloon or spring mechanism), such as various metals (e.g., stainless steel), alloys and polymers.
• the materials and components of the stents, grafts, filters, valves, anchors, occluders, and other implantable devices in various embodiments, the materials and components of the stents, grafts, filters, valves, anchors, occluders, and other implantable devices in
• the materials or components can be coated by a therapeutic agent such as, for example, heparin, sirolimus, paclitaxel, everolimus, ABT-578, mycophenolic acid, tacrolimus, estradiol, oxygen free radical scavenger, biolimus A9, anti-CD34 antibodies, PDGF receptor blockers, MMP-1 receptor blockers, VEGF, G- CSF, HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors, stimulators of iNOS and eNOS, ACE inhibitors, ARBs, doxycycline, thalidomide, and many others.
• a therapeutic agent such as, for example, heparin, sirolimus, paclitaxel, everolimus, ABT-578, mycophenolic acid, tacrolimus, estradiol, oxygen free radical scavenger, biolimus A9, anti-CD34 antibodies, PDGF receptor blockers, MMP-1 receptor blockers, VEGF, G- CSF, HMG-
• the wire 102 comprises a cross-section 104.
• Cross-section 104 can be of any shape, such as but not limited to, elliptical or non-elliptical.
• an "elliptical” shape refers to any shape that generally lacks a point where two lines, curves, or surfaces converge to form an angle.
• an "elliptical" shape encompasses traditional Euclidian geometric shapes such as circles 202 and ellipses 204, as well as other non-angular shapes 206 (that lack any angles), even if those shapes do not have designations common in Euclidian geometry.
• a non-elliptical shape refers to any shape that includes at least one point where two lines, curves, or surfaces converge to form an angle.
• a "non-elliptical" shape refers to any shape that includes at least one point where two lines, curves, or surfaces converge to form an angle.
• the stent 100 can be desirable for the stent 100 to have varying levels of flexibility in different directions of motion and at various points along its length for purposes of, for example, collapsing and expanding the stent 100 and/or to facilitate desired bending of the stent about its axis.
• "flexibility” refers to the physical characteristic of the ability of a material allow bending without unduly damaging or fatiguing the material.
• the physical characteristic of "stiffness” generally has a contrary meaning. Namely, “stiffness” refers to the characteristic of resistance to bending or the characteristic of being more rigid. Thus, increased flexibility refers to an increased ability to allow bending without damaging the material, while increased stiffness refers to an increased resistance to bending without damaging the material.
• intraluminal and endovascular procedures using endoluminal devices such as stent 100 provide advantages over surgery, such that when intraluminal or endovascular treatment is an option, it is often the more desirable option.
• This desire arises from the fact that such procedures tend to be a more minimally invasive method of treating diseases than surgical methods.
• Benefits of minimally invasive procedures include more rapid procedures, shorter hospital stays, quicker recoveries, and lower risk of complications.
• different portions of the stent 1 00 can have shapes that vary, change or are otherwise altered in such a manner as to lower the profile and/or change the flexibility of the stent 100 along those portions.
• the flexibility of the stent 100 in a particular direction along a portion having one cross- section 104' may be affected so that it differs from the flexibility in the same direction along another portion of the same stent 100 having a differently shaped cross- section 104.
• these changes in shape include varying the shape of the cross-section 104' from one shape exhibiting one flexibility to a different shape which exhibits a different flexibility.
• a change of shape in the cross-section 104' in accordance with the present disclosure includes a change in the cross-section 104' from a generally elliptical shape to a generally non-elliptical shape.
• a change can comprise flattening the cross-section 104' proximate a particular location.
• the area of cross-section 104' is generally changed only nominally, if at all, because, in such embodiments, material is not necessarily removed, but rather redistributed.
• a close-up view of an apical area 106 of Figure 1 A illustrates the wire 102 of one apex 108 of a helically wound, undulating stent 100 formed by winding a nitinol wire in a helically wound, undulating form.
• the stent 100 can be cut from a nitinol tube.
• the close-up of Figure 4A illustrates the apical area 106 prior to any change in the shape of the cross-section 104.
• an elliptical shape is shown.
• the elliptical cross-section 104 is a circle, though in other embodiments the wire 102 can have other generally elliptical shapes as defined above prior to the change noted above.
• this elliptical shape is generally continuous through apical area 106.
• FIG. 4B a close-up view of the same apical area 106 of Figure 1 A illustrates the wire 1 02 of the apex 108 after changing the shape of the cross-section 104.
• section B-B in Figure 4B a non-elliptical shape is shown.
• the non-elliptical cross-section 104 is has been flattened from the previous generally elliptical shape to a generally rectangular shape, though in other embodiments the wire 102 can have other generally non-elliptical shapes as defined above.
• the flexibility is changed along the axes of cross-section 104.
• the stiffness of the cross-section 104 is changed along the opposite axes of cross-section 104.
• the change in flexibility can be attributed to a change in what is known as the "moment of inertia of a plane area" or the "second area moment" of the cross-section 104.
• the moment of inertia of a plane area is a property of the cross-section 104 that can be used to determine the resistance of the wire 102 to bending about an axis 1 12 of the wire 102. For example, such determinations can be accomplished by finite element methods or similar mathematical computations.
• section A-A has been flattened from a generally elliptical shape in Figure 4A to a generally non-elliptical shape in section B-B of Figure 4B, thereby changing the flexibility of the wire 102 in apical area 1 06.
• the wire 102 exhibits less flexibility than exhibited about the x-axis of section A-A of the unflattened (elliptical) wire 102.
• the wire 102 exhibits a greater stiffness than about the x-axis of section A-A of the unflattened (elliptical) wire 102.
• the wire 102 will exhibit more flexibility than about the y-axis of section A-A of the unflattened (elliptical) wire 102. Stated otherwise, about the y-axis of section B-B of the flattened (non-elliptical) wire 102, the wire 102 exhibits a smaller stiffness than about the y-axis of section A-A of the unflattened (elliptical) wire 102.
• the flexibility/stiffness can be changed or optimized.
• Benefits of changes in flexibility or stiffness include reduced stresses and strains in the wire 102 due to bending during insertion and traversal of the vasculature, or collapsing and expansion of the stent 100 during loading and deployment of the endoluminal device.
• Other benefits can include the normalization of stresses and strains along the stent 100, which can in turn lower the profile of the stent 100 and increase the fatigue life of the stent 100.
• changing the shape of the cross-section 104 from generally elliptical to generally non-elliptical can be accomplished by various operations.
• this flattening can be done by "coining" the wire 102 at desired locations using various presses, forging machinery, clamps or the like.
• other machining operations such as milling, cutting (mechanical, plasma, laser, or the like) can used, and in still others, various casting, molding or extruding techniques can be used to change the cross-section 104 of the wire 102.
• a press or clamp could compress the wire 1 02 at desired locations to flatten it.
• the stent 100 can be unwound/removed from the mandrel and the flattening operations could be applied at that time to the desired locations.
• the profile of the wire 102 can beneficially have a substantially continuous side 107 (or “flat”) and a substantially non-continuous side 109 (or “patterned”), for example, as illustrated in Figure 8. Additionally, in some embodiments, the flattening of various portions of the wire 102 can be facilitated by using hollow wire in those portions.
• a flattened region 1 1 0 is created, which in turn, can provide a longer width (w) along the x-axis and thus an expanded surface area proximate flattened region 1 1 0.
• This expanded surface area of flattened region 1 10 along the x-axis can provide additional benefits such as an increase in attachment points for other materials such as, but not limited to, graft materials, filters or the like.
• a reduced height (h) surface area along the y-axis at that location results.
• the reduced height of the flattened region 1 10 along the y-axis can provide additional benefits such as a lower height profile, which can be useful when inserting an endoluminal device during endovascular procedures.
• the flattened region 1 10 (or portion with a generally non-elliptical cross-section) can be formed in the wire 102 in other portions of the wire 102, such as along a straight section 1 1 6 (instead of or in addition to the apical areas 106), thus exhibiting benefits similar to those described above.
• different combinations of straight sections 1 1 6 and apical areas 106 can be flattened or left unflattened (non-elliptical or elliptical) depending on the characteristics such as flexibility desired the stent 100. For example, in one embodiment, it may be desirable to flatten every other straight section 1 16 and/or apical area 106.
• the various flattened regions of the wire 1 02 can further comprise an aperture 1 14 or a plurality thereof.
• the aperture 1 14 can comprise any type of hole through the flattened region and can facilitate attachment of materials such as grafts and filters by, for example, sutures, adhesives, rivets or other attachment mechanisms. Additionally, in some embodiments the aperture 1 14 can function as visual indicator of, for example, location of the flattened region, and potentially the endoluminal device itself.
• the material of the wire 1 02 surrounding the aperture 1 14 can be radiopaque, but the lack of the radiopaque material in the aperture 1 14 provides a marker that can be viewed by X-rays and the like for assisting in locating and positioning of the endoluminal device.
• the endoluminal devices can be collapsed, for example, to facilitate delivery to a vascular treatment site.
• varying degrees of flexibility of the collapsed endoluminal device may be desirable to assist the endoluminal device as it traverses the vasculature.
• it may be desirable for multiple flattened regions 1 1 0 of the wire 102 to be in proximity to one another when the endoluminal device is in a collapsed state. For example, with reference to Figure 6, a close-up view of the flattened regions 1 10, 1 10' of two apical areas 106 of the wire 102 is shown.
• Section C-C illustrates the flattened region 1 10 above the flattened region 1 1 0'.
• the flattened region 1 10 is adjacent to and overlaps the flattened region 1 1 0', which, with reference to Figure 7, can in turn facilitate the flattened regions 1 10, 1 10' sliding over one another as necessary as the collapsed endoluminal device bends during travel through the vasculature to a treatment site.

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• Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
• Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Biomedical Technology (AREA)
• General Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
• Heart & Thoracic Surgery (AREA)
• Vascular Medicine (AREA)
• Veterinary Medicine (AREA)
• Animal Behavior & Ethology (AREA)
• Public Health (AREA)
• Cardiology (AREA)
• Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery (AREA)
• Transplantation (AREA)
• Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
• Optics & Photonics (AREA)
• Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
• Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
• Gastroenterology & Hepatology (AREA)
• Pulmonology (AREA)
• Prostheses (AREA)
• Media Introduction/Drainage Providing Device (AREA)

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• 2013
  • 2013-10-07 US US14/047,599 patent/US9913740B2/en active Active
  • 2013-10-08 CN CN201380054546.9A patent/CN104736107B/zh active Active
  • 2013-10-08 ES ES13779496T patent/ES2830767T3/es active Active
  • 2013-10-08 WO PCT/US2013/063862 patent/WO2014066032A1/en not_active Ceased
  • 2013-10-08 CA CA2886101A patent/CA2886101C/en active Active
  • 2013-10-08 BR BR112015008541A patent/BR112015008541A2/pt not_active Application Discontinuation
  • 2013-10-08 AU AU2013335156A patent/AU2013335156B2/en active Active
  • 2013-10-08 RU RU2015119483A patent/RU2015119483A/ru unknown
  • 2013-10-08 KR KR1020157013698A patent/KR20150076234A/ko not_active Withdrawn
  • 2013-10-08 EP EP13779496.2A patent/EP2911620B1/en active Active
  • 2013-10-08 JP JP2015539625A patent/JP6290908B2/ja active Active
  • 2013-10-08 HK HK16101590.4A patent/HK1213463A1/zh unknown

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