# US 8,784,476 B2 · Helical stent > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 8,784,476 B2 - Document ID: US8784476B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 12/397,147 - Filed: 2009-03-03 - Published: 2009-11-05 - Granted: 2014-07-22 - Earliest claimed: 2003-03-18 - Assignees: Veryan Medical Limited - Applicants: Colin G. Caro; Nicholas V. Watkins; Brian G. Falzon; Philip L. Birch - Inventors: Colin G. Caro; Nicholas V. Watkins; Brian G. Falzon; Philip L. Birch - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US8784476B2 ## CPC - 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 2/07: Stent-grafts - A61F 2/958: Inflatable balloons for placing stents or stent-grafts - A61M 25/1002: {characterised by balloon shape (A61M25/1006, A61M25/1009 take precedence)} - F16L 9/00: Rigid pipes - F16L 11/121: {specially profiled cross sections} - A61F 2/88: the wire-like elements formed as helical or spiral coils - A61F 2/89: the wire-like elements comprising two or more adjacent rings flexibly connected by separate members - A61F 2002/068: {Modifying the blood flow model, e.g. by diffuser or deflector} - A61F 2002/30289: {helically-coiled} - A61F 2220/0075: sutured, ligatured or stitched, retained or tied with a rope, string, thread, wire or cable - 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) - A61M: DEVICES FOR INTRODUCING MEDIA INTO, OR ONTO, THE BODY (introducing media into or onto the bodies of animals A61D7/00; means for inserting tampons A61F13/26; devices for administering food or medicines orally A61J; containers for collecting, storing or administering blood or medical fluids A61J1/05); DEVICES FOR TRANSDUCING BODY MEDIA OR FOR TAKING MEDIA FROM THE BODY (surgery A61B; chemical aspects of surgical articles A61L); DEVICES FOR PRODUCING OR ENDING SLEEP OR STUPOR {(Electrotherapy, e.g. producing anaesthesia by the use of alternating or intermittent currents A61N1/36021)} - F16L: PIPES; JOINTS OR FITTINGS FOR PIPES; SUPPORTS FOR PIPES, CABLES OR PROTECTIVE TUBING; MEANS FOR THERMAL INSULATION IN GENERAL ## Abstract An expandable balloon for insertion in a fluid conduit of a human or animal body is movable between a collapsed condition and an expanded condition. The balloon has, when in the expanded condition, a center line which follows a substantially helical path. The balloon can be combined with a stent such that the stent is expandable by the balloon from a collapsed condition to an expanded condition. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An expandable balloon for insertion in a fluid conduit of the human or animal body, in combination with a stent, the balloon being movable between a collapsed condition and an expanded condition, and the balloon being supported in the collapsed condition on a shaft, and the balloon having, when in the expanded condition, a centre line which follows a substantially helical path whereby the balloon has a helical shape wherein the helical centre line of the balloon has a helix angle less than or equal to 65°, wherein the balloon has a substantially circular cross-section without helical ribs or helical vanes protruding into an interior of the balloon, wherein the stent is expandable by the balloon from a collapsed condition to an expanded condition, and wherein the expanded condition the stent has a helical shape which corresponds to the helical shape of the balloon including the substantially helical centre line thereof such that the expanded stent has said substantially helical centre line. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The balloon as claimed in claim 1 wherein, after expansion of the balloon, the stent retains, by plastic deformation, a shape which corresponds to that determined by the balloon. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The balloon as claimed in claim 1, wherein in the expanded condition of the balloon, wherein an amplitude of the helical centre line of the balloon is less than or equal to one half of the internal diameter of the substantially circular cross-section of the balloon. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The balloon as claimed in claim 1, wherein the balloon comprises an expandable wall and the wall has a helical portion which extends longitudinally and circumferentially, and wherein the helical portion, upon expansion of the balloon from the collapsed condition to the expanded condition, resists extension. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The balloon as claimed in claim 4, wherein the helical portion of the expandable wall has a greater thickness than that of adjacent wall portions. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The balloon as claimed in claim 1, wherein the helical centre line of the balloon has a helix angle less than or equal to 35°. ### Claim 7 An expandable balloon for insertion in a fluid conduit of the human or animal body, the balloon being movable between a collapsed condition and an expanded condition, the balloon having, when in the expanded condition, a centre line which follows a substantially helical path whereby the balloon has a helical shape wherein the helical centre line of the balloon has an amplitude and has a helix angle less than or equal to 65°, wherein the balloon is configured to impose its helical shape including the substantially helical centre line thereof on a vessel in which it is to be inserted, whereby the vessel is caused to have said substantially helical centre line, wherein the balloon has a substantially circular cross-section without helical ribs or helical vanes protruding into an interior of the balloon, and wherein in the expanded condition of the balloon, the amplitude of the helical centre line of the balloon is less than or equal to 0.5 of the internal diameter of the substantially circular cross-section of the balloon.