A scaffold for a tube
OwnerErnest LAUinventor
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A scaffold for a tube, the scaffold having a membrane and a pair of splines integrally formed with or embedded in the membrane. The splines being spaced apart from one another with the membrane spanning therebetween and with the membrane further having a pair of grooves disposed between the splines adapted to receive the splines when the membrane is folded over on itself. The scaffold may be applied internally or externally to a tube, including tubular biological structures (e.g.. arteries) to provide support thereto, and in this sense, it may be used as a stent. The scaffold is more easily deployed and retrieved than known stents,
Claims29
A scaffold for a tube, the scaffold comprising a membrane and a pair of splines integrally formed with or embedded in the membrane, the splines being spaced apart from one another with the membrane spanning therebetween, the membrane further comprising a pair of grooves disposed between the splines adapted to receive the splines when the membrane is folded over on itself, wherein one groove is engaged with one spline and the other groove engages with the other spline.
A scaffold as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the scaffold is telescopic in the rolled configuration such that it can longitudinally expand or retract.
A scaffold as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the splines and/or the receiving grooves are formed of shape memory materials that will assume a pre-set spiral shape at predetermined temperature such that the scaffold self assembles into the rolled configuration at a predetermined temperature.
A scaffold as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the pair of splines are principal splines and the scaffold comprises one or more auxiliary splines, the auxiliary splines being disposed proximal to one or both longitudinal ends of the scaffold.
A scaffold as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the scaffold comprises one or more handles to facilitate deployment and retrieval of the scaffold.
A scaffold as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the scaffold membrane is impregnated with a lubricant such as perfluorocarbons.
A scaffold as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the scaffold membrane is formed from two or more membrane layers.
A scaffold as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the scaffold membrane comprises expanded polytetrafluoroethylene.
A scaffold as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the scaffold membrane comprises fluorinated ethylene propylene.
A scaffold as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the scaffold is engineered to release molecules into the surrounding environment.
A scaffold as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the scaffold has a plurality of rolled configurations, wherein different rolled configurations provide different diameters.
A scaffold as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the scaffold comprises a plurality of pairs of grooves.
A scaffold as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the scaffold is fixable to a pin plug for connecting the scaffold to the connector pin of a lead used with a CIED or a neuro-stimulator.
A scaffold as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the scaffold is adapted for use in the manufacture of batteries and wherein the scaffold membrane comprises a plurality of layers, the scaffold membrane comprising a current conductor strip and a cathode and wherein the current conductor strip and the cathode are sandwiched between structural layers.
A scaffold as claimed in any preceding claim wherein when the scaffold in the rolled configuration is bent along its longitudinal axis, the overlap between turns of the scaffold ensures a continuous surface is maintained, even if part of the splines is no longer locked in the receiving grooves.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.