초록 ▼

A process in which a shape memory alloy such as nitinol wire which has been previously fabricated in its parent phase to form a longitudinally oriented coil of adjacent wire loops and thereafter cooled to its martensite phase and reshaped to a relatively straight shape, is utilized as an intra-lumin

A process in which a shape memory alloy such as nitinol wire which has been previously fabricated in its parent phase to form a longitudinally oriented coil of adjacent wire loops and thereafter cooled to its martensite phase and reshaped to a relatively straight shape, is utilized as an intra-luminal device to reinforce or replace a weakened or otherwise damaged vessel. The reformable wire is inserted into the vessel in such a manner to be temperature insulated such that upon the removal of the insulation means, the wire reforms to its coil shape so as to be urged against the internal walls of the damaged vessel and supplies a patent channel through which body fluids may pass. In this manner, removal of the damaged portion of the vessel with the attachment of graft material as a replacement thereto along with the complex surgical techniques required to perform such is avoided.

대표청구항 ▼

The process of restoring the patency and/or re-establish continuity of a disrupted hollow body vessel a patient which includes a localized defect disposed intermediate proximal and distal patent vessel portions, comprising inserting at least the forward end of a shape-memory allow wire having a pare

The process of restoring the patency and/or re-establish continuity of a disrupted hollow body vessel a patient which includes a localized defect disposed intermediate proximal and distal patent vessel portions, comprising inserting at least the forward end of a shape-memory allow wire having a parent phase and a martensite phase and a temperature transformation point therebetween and which wire has been previously formed in its parent phase to form a longitudinally oriented coil of adjacent wire loops and then cooled to its martensite phase and reshaped to an alternate form before insertion along the interior of said vessel past said defect to a position adjacent the proximal patent vessel portion while maintaining the temperature of said wire below its martensite transformation point and thereafter permitting the forward portion of said wire to be warmed above its transformation point so as to initially cause said alternate form to substantially revert to said parent phase coil form and to cause the thus reformed wire loops of the forward wire end to be urged against the interior of said proximal patent vessel portion so as to be at least temporarily positioned thereat and thereafter permit the reformation of the remainder of said coil so as to bridge said localized defect and extend into said distal patent vessel portion, said warming being progressive in the proximal to distal direction.