Medical implant maintaining gaps upon crimping, method and delivery device

A method of attaching an implant to a catheter, wherein the implant includes:

• a longitudinal axis;
• a first structural element having a first bending portion, the first bending portion having two longitudinal ends located one above another along a direction parallel to the longitudinal axis and a curved portion between the two longitudinal ends, with the curved portion being convex radially inwardly toward the longitudinal axis;
• a second structural element spaced apart from the first structural element along the longitudinal axis, the second structural element having a second bending portion, the second bending portion having two longitudinal ends located one above another along a direction parallel to the longitudinal axis and a curved portion between the two longitudinal ends, with the curved portion being convex radially inwardly toward the longitudinal axis;
• and
• at least one interconnecting element arranged between the first structural element and the second structural element, and connecting the first bending portion to the second bending portion,
• the method comprising:
• crimping the implant such that there remains a first gap between the at least one interconnecting element and an outer surface of the catheter,
• wherein the at least one interconnecting element is disposed generally parallel to the longitudinal axis along an entire length of the at least one interconnecting element, and
• wherein in any state of the implant, the curved portion of the first bending portion and the curved portion of the second bending portion are both located radially closer to the longitudinal axis than the interconnecting element.

A catheter comprising:

• an implant having a longitudinal axis longitudinally extending within the implant, and a radial direction perpendicular to the longitudinal axis, the implant comprising:
• a first structural element having a first bending portion, the first bending portion having two longitudinal ends located one above another along a direction parallel to the longitudinal axis and a curved portion between the two longitudinal ends, with the curved portion being convex radially inwardly toward the longitudinal axis;
• a second structural element spaced apart from the first expandable structural element along the longitudinal axis, the second expandable structural element having a second bending portion, the second expandable structural element having two longitudinal ends located one above another along a direction parallel to the longitudinal axis and a curved portion between the two longitudinal ends, with the curved portion being convex radially inwardly toward the longitudinal axis;
• at least one interconnecting element arranged between the first structural element and the second structural element, and connecting the first bending portion to the second bending portion;
• and
• a catheter portion configured to carry the implant,
• wherein the at least one interconnecting element is disposed generally parallel to the longitudinal axis along an entire length of the at least one interconnecting element, and
• wherein in any state of the implant, the curved portion of the first bending portion and the curved portion of the second bending portion are both located radially closer to the longitudinal axis than the interconnecting element.