# US 8,784,473 B2 · Endoprosthesis with filament repositioning or retrieval member and guard structure > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 8,784,473 B2 - Document ID: US8784473B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 12/872,298 - Filed: 2010-08-31 - Published: 2011-03-10 - Granted: 2014-07-22 - Earliest claimed: 2009-09-10 - Assignees: Boston Scientific Scimed, Inc. - Applicants: Srinath Tupil; James Biggins; William Bertolino - Inventors: Srinath Tupil; James Biggins; William Bertolino - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US8784473B2 ## CPC - A61F 2/88: the wire-like elements formed as helical or spiral coils - A61F 2/07: Stent-grafts - A61F 2/86: Stents in a form characterised by the wire-like elements; Stents in the form characterised by a net-like or mesh-like structure - A61F 2/90: characterised by a net-like or mesh-like structure - A61F 2002/072: {Encapsulated stents, e.g. wire or whole stent embedded in lining} - A61F 2002/075: {the stent being loosely attached to the graft material, e.g. by stitching} - A61F 2002/9505: {having retaining means other than an outer sleeve, e.g. male-female connector between stent and instrument} - A61F 2002/9511: {the retaining means being filaments or wires} - A61F 2002/9528: {for retrieval of stents} - A61F 2002/9534: {for repositioning of stents} - A61F 2220/0058: soldered or brazed or welded - A61F 2220/0075: sutured, ligatured or stitched, retained or tied with a rope, string, thread, wire or cable - A61F 2230/0078: hyperboloidal - A61F 2250/0039: differing in diameter - 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) ## Abstract An endoprosthesis includes a stent structure having an elongate member longitudinal portions of which overlap to define the crossover structures. The stent structure may also include loop structures, which are contiguous with the crossover structures, through which a filament extends. A guard structure is secured to the stent structure and located adjacent to the crossover structures to obstruct displacement of the filament between the longitudinal portions of the elongate member of the crossover structures. A method for operating the endoprosthesis includes displacing the loop structures toward one another along the filament to displaced positions relative to the suture structure for reducing the respective profiles of the stent structure and patch structure. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An endoprosthesis comprising: a stent structure having a loop structure through which a filament extends, said stent structure having a crossover structure which is contiguous to said loop structure, said stent structure having an elongate member, first and second longitudinal portions of which overlap to define said crossover structure, wherein the loop structure and the crossover structure which is contiguous to said loop structure collectively form a perimeter of a transverse-facing opening wherein the crossover structure is the only crossover structure along the perimeter of the opening; a guard structure secured to said stent structure and located adjacent to said crossover structure to obstruct displacement of the filament between said longitudinal portions of said elongate member of said crossover structure; and a cover secured to said stent structure, wherein the endoprosthesis comprises an uncovered portion of the stent structure disposed between the guard structure and the cover. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The endoprosthesis according to claim 1, wherein said longitudinal portions of said elongate member of said crossover structure extend in respective directions which are different. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The endoprosthesis according to claim 1, wherein said loop structure is defined by a third longitudinal portion of said elongate member. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The endoprosthesis according to claim 1, wherein said stent structure comprises a tubular structure, said guard structure comprising a ribbon structure having a transverse orientation relative to said stent structure. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The endoprosthesis according to claim 4, wherein said ribbon structure has a resilience which is sufficiently limited to resist transverse compression thereof such that, when said ribbon structure and stent structure are transversely compressed from an original transverse dimension to a reduced transverse dimension, said ribbon structure urges said stent structure to return to said original transverse dimension. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The endoprosthesis according to claim 5, wherein said ribbon structure comprises silicone material. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The endoprosthesis according to claim 6, wherein said silicone material has a modulus of elasticity 200 lbsf/in2 to about 400 lbsf/in2. ### Claim 8 (depends on 6) The endoprosthesis according to claim 6, wherein said silicone material has a tensile strength from about 500 lbsf/in2 to about 1,200 lbsf/in2. ### Claim 9 (depends on 4) The endoprosthesis according to claim 4, wherein said stent structure includes an end portion having a transverse dimension, an intermediate portion having a transverse dimension which is smaller than said transverse dimension of said end portion. ### Claim 10 (depends on 4) The endoprosthesis according to claim 4, wherein said loop structure has a longitudinal position relative to said stent structure, said stent structure comprising a plurality of additional loop structures through which the filament extends, said additional loop structures having respective longitudinal positions relative to said stent structure which are substantially the same as said longitudinal position of said loop structure; said stent structure having a plurality of additional crossover structures defined by respective longitudinal portions of said elongate member which overlap, said additional crossover structures being contiguous to said additional loop structures, said ribbon structure obstructing displacement of the filament between said longitudinal portions of said elongate member of said additional crossover structures. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The endoprosthesis according to claim 10, wherein said ribbon structure is located adjacent to said additional crossover structures. ### Claim 12 (depends on 10) The endoprosthesis according to claim 10, wherein said stent structure comprises a braided stent structure defined by an end surface, said loop structure, said additional loop structures, said crossover structure, and said additional crossover structures. ### Claim 13 (depends on 10) The endoprosthesis according to claim 10, wherein said loop structure and said additional loop structures are defined by portions of said elongate member which are continuous. ### Claim 14 (depends on 10) The endoprosthesis according to claim 10, wherein said loop structure and said additional loop structures are defined by portions of said elongate member which are connected. ### Claim 15 (depends on 1) The endoprosthesis according to claim 1, wherein said guard structure circumscribes at least a portion of an inner and/or outer surface of the stent structure. ### Claim 16 An endoprosthesis comprising: a plurality of elongate members, wherein the elongate members cross over one another at least one end of the endoprosthesis forming a crossover point; at least one loop structure at the at least one end of the endoprosthesis, said at least one loop structure defined by one or more of the elongate members, said at least one loop structure welded to at least one other elongate member; a filament passing through the at least one loop structure; and a guard structure proximal to the point of the crossover of the elongate members such that the filament is prevented from entering the crossover point; and a cover disposed along a portion of the plurality of elongate members, the cover disposed separate and apart from the guard structure. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The endoprosthesis of claim 16, wherein said guard structure is a ribbon. ### Claim 18 (depends on 16) The endoprosthesis of claim 16, wherein said guard structure is a circular band. ### Claim 19 (depends on 16) The endoprosthesis of claim 16 wherein the cover and the guard structure do not overlap. ### Claim 20 (depends on 16) The endoprosthesis of claim 16 wherein the cover does not contact the guard structure.