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US 7,141,063 B2Granted
Stent with micro-latching hinge joints
AssigneeICON Medical Corp.
InventorsJason White, David Stern
Life of this patent
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AssigneeICON Medical Corp.
InventorsJason White, David Stern
Estimating the term…
A stent is constructed using interconnected links having micro-mechanical latching mechanisms. The micro-mechanical latching elements allow relative rotational movement of interconnected links in one rotational direction but restrict relative rotational movement of the two links in the opposite direction. The micro-mechanical latch surface features are formed using microelectronic mechanical systems (MEMS) manufacturing methods. The male surface of the latching components contains an array of ridges or protrusions, and the receiving surface contains a matching array of recesses. The array of ridges or protrusions and the corresponding recesses have uniformly dissimilar slopes that result in a substantially greater frictional force in one direction than in the opposite direction. The separation distance between the two surfaces is such that the male latch surface is engaged with the receiving surface recesses in the low stress “locked” state, preventing motion in the undesired direction. Each male ridge or protrusion can be underlined by a void that promotes elastic deflection when sliding in the desired direction and recovery into the ‘locked’ state when aligned with the recesses.
A link for use in constructing an intravascular stent, comprising a flexible connector having first and second ends;
A link for use in constructing a medical device comprising a flexible connector having first and second ends;
A medical device comprised of a plurality of interconnected links, a plurality of said links comprising a flexible connector having first and second ends;
A medical device that includes a body section, said body section includes a plurality of links, at least one of said links enabling at least a portion of said body section to expand and to restist contracting once said body section is at least partially expanded, at least one of said links including at least one link segment, said link segment including a head portion and a support member, said support member having first and second ends, first end of said support member rotatably connected to said head portion, said first end of said support member and said head portion including an engagement arrangement that has at least one engagement surface designed to limit a direction of rotation of said support member in a single direction relative to said head portion.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.