Secured strand end devices
AssigneeIDev Technologies, Inc.
InventorsJeffery Sheldon, Richard Booth, Kenneth M. Bueche
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A woven, self-expanding stent device has one or more strands and is configured for insertion into an anatomical structure. The device includes a coupling structure secured to two different strand end portions that are substantially aligned with each other. The two different strand end portions include nickel and titanium. The coupling structure is not a strand of the device.
Claims16
-24. (canceled)
A method of forming a self-expanding stent, the method comprising:
- bending each of a multiple number of strands to yield first strand bends and strand portions on both sides of each said first strand bend, each of the strand portions having an end;
- weaving the strand portions, wherein weaving comprises bending to yield second strand bends and back braiding some of the strand portion ends by at least two strand crossings;
- and
- securing each of a multiple number of coupling structures to one pair of said strand portion ends, the pair of said strand portion ends including two strand portion ends of two different strands or the same strand, the number of coupling structures equal to the number of strands, the coupling structures being different than the strands, wherein securing comprises aligning the pairs of strand portion ends end-to-end.
The method of claim 1, further comprising heat treating the stent before back braiding.
The method of claim 1, further comprising heat treating the stent after back braiding.
The method of claim 1, wherein weaving the strand portions comprises machine weaving.
The method of claim 1, wherein back braiding some of the strand portion ends comprises hand weaving.
The method of claim 1, wherein securing comprises welding the strand ends to the coupling structures.
The method of claim 1, further comprising, after weaving, trimming the strand portions.
A self-expanding stent comprising:
- a multiple number of strands each including a strand portion on both sides of a first strand bend, each of the strand portions having an end, the strand portions being woven, some of the strand portions including a second strand bend and being back braided by at least two strand crossings, pairs of the strand portion ends aligned end-to-end, each of the pairs of said strand portion ends including two strand portion ends of two different strands or the same strand;
- and
- a multiple number of coupling structures, the number of coupling structures equal to the number of strands, the coupling structures being different than the strands, each of the coupling structures secured to one of the pairs of strand portion ends.
The stent of claim 8, wherein each of the coupling structures includes a passageway containing the pair of strand portion ends.
The stent of claim 8, wherein each of the coupling structures is welded to each of the strand portion ends of the pair of strand portion ends.
The stent of claim 8, wherein the coupling structures are aligned in an axial direction of the stent.
The stent of claim 8, wherein the strand portion ends in each pair of strand portion ends are spaced from each other.
The stent of claim 8, wherein the strands comprise Nitinol.
The stent of claim 8, wherein the coupling structures comprise Nitinol.
The stent of claim 8, wherein each of the coupling structures includes a passageway having a diameter sized to receive one said strand.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.