# US 2018/0021154 A1 · Stents with attached looped ends

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- Number: US 2018/0021154 A1
- Document ID: US20180021154A1
- Status: Published application
- Kind: A1
- Application number: 15/702,359
- Filed: 2017-09-12
- Published: 2018-01-25
- Earliest claimed: 2003-05-23
- Assignees: Boston Scientific Scimed, Inc.
- Applicants: Boston Scientific Scimed, Inc.
- Inventors: GARY J. LEANNA; PAUL K. NORTON; PETER BRADY; DEAN MOLLOY; MICHAEL E. ZUPKOFSKA
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20180021154A1

## CPC

- A61F 2/88: the wire-like elements formed as helical or spiral coils
- A61F 2/90: characterised by a net-like or mesh-like structure
- D04C 1/06: Braid or lace serving particular purposes
- D04C 3/48: Auxiliary devices
- A61F 2002/9534: {for repositioning of stents}
- A61F 2230/0013: Horseshoe-shaped, e.g. crescent-shaped, C-shaped, U-shaped
- A61F 2230/0017: Angular shapes
- D10B 2509/06: Vascular grafts; stents
- Y10T 29/49863: with prestressing of part
- Y10T 29/49906: Metal deforming with nonmetallic bonding
- Y10T 29/49908: Joining by deforming
- 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 (dental prosthetics A61C)
- D04C: BRAIDING OR MANUFACTURE OF LACE, INCLUDING BOBBIN-NET OR CARBONISED LACE; BRAIDING MACHINES; BRAID; LACE (machines for making soles from strips of material A43D29/00; cane working B27J1/00)
- D10B: INDEXING SCHEME ASSOCIATED WITH SUBLASSES OF SECTION D, RELATING TO TEXTILES
- Y10T: TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION

## Abstract

An open frame prosthesis is formed with looped end terminations at its proximal and distal ends. At one end of the prosthesis, the filaments or strands are welded together in pairs to form strand couplings. A plurality of loop segments are connected to the strand couplings, one loop segment for each pair of adjacent strand couplings. In one version of the prosthesis, strands at the opposite end are bent to form looped ends. In another version, loop segments are connected to pairs of strand couplings at both ends of the prosthesis. The loop segments can be connected to the couplings by welding, fusion bonds, or tubes, which are either crimped or heat shrunk.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A prosthesis comprising:
a plurality of wires forming a mesh, wherein terminal ends of the plurality of wires are joined together at a first end of the mesh to form a plurality of strand junctions; and
a plurality of spaced apart loops at the first end of the mesh, each loop defined by a pair of adjacent first and second strand junctions, wherein the mesh includes a single loop for each pair of adjacent first and second strand junctions, the first strand junction formed of a terminal end of a first wire of the plurality of wires forming the mesh and a terminal end of a second wire of the plurality of wires forming the mesh, the second strand junction formed of a terminal end of a third wire of the plurality of wires forming the mesh;
wherein the terminal end of the first wire is longer than the terminal end of the second wire to provide a strand extension extending beyond the terminal end of the second wire and looping back to be attached to the second strand junction.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The prosthesis of claim 1, wherein the mesh comprises a second end having loops.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

The prosthesis of claim 2, wherein each spaced apart loop provides a smooth, rounded, blunt end.

### Claim 4 (depends on 2)

The prosthesis of claim 2, wherein each spaced apart loop is a blunt and flexible end termination.

### Claim 5 (depends on 2)

The prosthesis of claim 2, wherein the spaced apart loops are equally angularly spaced apart from one another.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The prosthesis of claim 1, wherein the plurality of wires defines twelve strand junctions and six spaced apart loops.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The prosthesis of claim 1, wherein the plurality of wires are helically wound in a first direction over a longitudinal length of the mesh and in a second direction over the longitudinal length of the mesh.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The prosthesis of claim 1, wherein the first and second strand junctions are secured by welds.

### Claim 9 (depends on 1)

The prosthesis of claim 1, wherein the first and second strand junctions are secured by adhesives.

### Claim 10 (depends on 1)

The prosthesis of claim 1, wherein the mesh has at least one atraumatic end.

### Claim 11 (depends on 1)

The prosthesis of claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of strand junctions is included in a single loop.

### Claim 12

A prosthesis comprising:
a plurality of wires forming a mesh having a longitudinal length, wherein terminal ends of the plurality of wires are joined together at a first end of the mesh to form a plurality of strand junctions; and
spaced apart loops at the first end of the mesh, the mesh defining a single spaced apart loop for each pair of adjacent first and second strand junctions, the first and second strand junctions of each loop including four terminal ends of wires of the plurality of wires forming the mesh;
the first strand junction consisting of a terminal end of a first wire and a terminal end of a second wire secured together;
the second strand junction consisting of a terminal end of a third wire and a terminal end of a fourth wire secured together;
wherein the terminal end of the first wire is longer than the terminal end of the second wire to provide a strand extension extending beyond the terminal end of the second wire and looping back to be attached to the second strand junction.

### Claim 13 (depends on 12)

The prosthesis of claim 12, wherein each wire of the plurality of wires comprises nitinol, the plurality of wires are helically wound in a first direction over the longitudinal length of the mesh and in a second direction over the longitudinal length of the mesh, and the mesh has a variable diameter wherein at least one end region of the mesh has a larger diameter than a middle portion of the mesh.

### Claim 14 (depends on 13)

The prosthesis of claim 13, further comprising a second end region, wherein the second end region has a larger diameter than the middle portion.

### Claim 15 (depends on 12)

The prosthesis of claim 12, wherein the second strand junction and the strand extension are welded together.

### Claim 16 (depends on 12)

The prosthesis of claim 12, wherein each spaced apart loop has an apex.

### Claim 17

A prosthesis comprising:
a tubular stent having a first end and a second end, the tubular stent formed from a plurality of wires, wherein terminal ends of the plurality of wires are joined together at the first end of the tubular stent to form a plurality of strand junctions, each of the plurality of wires extending from the first end of the tubular stent to the second end of the tubular stent; and
a plurality of spaced apart loops formed from the plurality of wires at the first end of the tubular stent, each of the plurality of strand junctions being included in a single loop, each spaced apart loop formed from:
a first strand junction formed of a terminal end of a first wire of the plurality of wires and a terminal end of a second wire of the plurality of wires;
and
a second strand junction formed of a terminal end of a third wire of the plurality of wires and a terminal end of a fourth wire of the plurality of wires;
wherein the terminal end of the first wire is longer than the terminal end of the second wire to provide a strand extension extending beyond the terminal end of the second wire and looping back to be attached to the second strand junction.

### Claim 18 (depends on 17)

The prosthesis of claim 17, wherein the second strand junction and the strand extension are welded together.

### Claim 19 (depends on 17)

The prosthesis of claim 17, the tubular stent having a variable diameter wherein at least one end region of the tubular stent has a larger diameter than a middle portion of the tubular stent.

### Claim 20 (depends on 17)

The prosthesis of claim 17, wherein the plurality of wires defines twelve strand junctions and six spaced apart loops.