Expandable device
OwnerAntony Walter Ansoninventor
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An expandable device, e.g. a stent for insertion into a passage, e.g. a blood vessel or artery, is disclosed. The device has a body (20) formed of a flexible material. The body is convertible from a collapsed condition in which it is of a size to be inserted into the passage into an expanded condition in which the body (20) is fixed relative to the passage. A passage (28) is provided within the body so as to extend over at least a region of the latter. An inlet (32) is provided in the body (20) in communication with the passage therein. The inlet (32) enables a rigidifying material to be introduced into the passage (28) in the body (20) so that at least the region of the body (20) in which the passage is provided can be rigidified whereby to maintain the body in its expanded condition.
Claims62
A kit for supporting a bodily passage in an open state, the kit comprising:
- a. an expandable device including:
- (1) one or more main channels, and
- (2) subsidiary channels which each branch outwardly from at least one of the main channels,
- wherein the channels are expandable from:
- i. a collapsed state wherein the device may be fit into the bodily passage, and
- ii. an expanded state wherein the expanded channels define a framework which at least partially surrounds a portion of the interior of the bodily passage;
- b. rigidifying material introducable into the channels in a fluid state, the rigidifying material then maintaining the channels in the expanded state.
A kit for supporting a bodily passage in an open state, the kit comprising:
- a. an expandable device including a plurality of channels, with at least some of the channels branching from others of the channels, the channels converting between:
- i. a collapsed state wherein the channels are flexible to allow the device to fit into the bodily passage, and
- ii. an expanded state wherein the channels define a rigid framework, with at least some of the channels within the framework being arrayed in spaced relation to at least partially surround a portion of the interior of the bodily passage;
- b. fluid material introducable into the channels, wherein the fluid material converts the channels between the flexible collapsed state and the rigid expanded state.
An expandable device for supporting a bodily passage in an open state, the device comprising a plurality of channels, with at least some of the channels branching from others of the channels, the channels converting between:
- a. a collapsed state wherein the channels:
- (1) are radially collapsed, and
- (2) are flexible along their lengths,
- thereby allowing the device to fit into the bodily passage;
- and
- b. an expanded state wherein the channels:
- (1) are radially expanded with inflexible outer diameters, and
- (2) are rigid along their lengths,
- with the channels thereby defining a rigid framework wherein at least some of the channels are arrayed in spaced relation to at least partially surround a portion of the interior of the bodily passage.
An expandable device for supporting a bodily passage in an open state, the device comprising:
- a. one or more main channels, and
- b. subsidiary channels which each branch outwardly from at least one of the main channels,
- wherein the channels are convertible from:
- (1) a collapsed state wherein the channels have flexible diameters and lengths, and the device may be fit into the bodily passage, and
- (2) an expanded state wherein the channels have rigid diameters and lengths, and are spaced into a framework which at least partially surrounds a portion of the interior of the bodily passage.
A method of supporting a bodily passage in an open state, the method comprising the steps of:
- a. inserting an expandable device into the bodily passage, the device including:
- (1) one or more main channels,
- (2) subsidiary channels which each branch outwardly from at least one of the main channels, and
- (3) an inlet tube extending from the device and opening onto at least one of the channels,
- wherein the channels are in a collapsed state allowing the device to be fit into the bodily passage;
- b. introducing a rigidifying material into the inlet tube in a fluid state at least until the channels reach an expanded state wherein the expanded channels define a framework which at least partially surrounds a portion of the interior of the bodily passage;
- and
- c. thereafter removing at least a portion of the inlet tube from the device and the bodily passage.
A method of supporting a bodily passage in an open state, the method comprising the steps of:
- a. providing an expandable device which includes a plurality of channels, with at least some of the channels branching from others of the channels;
- b. fitting the device into the bodily passage when the expandable device is in a collapsed state wherein the channels are flexible;
- c. introducing fluid material into the channels, wherein the fluid material converts the channels between the collapsed state into an expanded state, and wherein the channels in the expanded state define a rigid framework having at least some of the channels arrayed in spaced relation to at least partially surround a portion of the interior of the bodily passage.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.