Claims
- 1. A coiled endoluminal prosthesis comprising:
a body comprising a coiled ribbon of material; the body comprising a main body portion and first and second end portions, the main body portion comprising first and second edge elements separated by connector elements, at least substantially all of the elements between the first and second edge elements being said connector elements; the main body portion having a maximum width and the end portions having a maximum width no greater than the maximum width of the main body portion; said body movable between a reduced diameter state, extending along a body axis, and an expanded diameter state; and all said connector elements being at an acute angle to the edge elements when in the expanded diameter state, said angle chosen so that all of said connector elements lie generally parallel to the body axis when in the reduced diameter state so to provide a smoother appearance when in the reduced diameter state.
- 2. A coiled endoluminal prosthesis according to claim 1 wherein the end portions are substantially less stiff than the main body portion.
- 3. A coiled endoluminal prosthesis according to claim 1 wherein said end portions each have an inwardly-tapering portion with a blunt tip.
- 4. A coiled endoluminal prosthesis according to claim 1 wherein the main body portion comprises first, second and third longitudinal sections each having a different radial stiffness.
- 5. A coiled endoluminal prosthesis according to claim 1 wherein the stiffness of the main body portion continuously varies along at least part of its length.
- 6. The coiled endoluminal prosthesis according to claim 1 further comprising an orientation-specific marker carried by the body so to aid proper rotary orientation and longitudinal placement of the prosthesis.
- 7. The coiled endoluminal prosthesis according to claim 1 wherein the end portions comprise generally U-shaped members, said generally U-shaped members being thinner and more flexible than the edge and connector elements of the main body portion.
- 8. The coiled endoluminal prosthesis according to claim 1 wherein the end portions have a longitudinally-extending length and a laterally-extending width, said length being greater than said width.
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/834,145 filed 12 Apr. 2001, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,660,032, which is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/400,955 filed 22 Sep. 1999, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,645,237, which is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/258,542 filed 26 Feb. 1999, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,248,122. This is related to U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/400,952 entitled Catheter With Controlled Release Endoluminal Prosthesis and Method For Placing, filed 22 Sep. 1999, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,238,430.
Continuations (2)
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Number |
Date |
Country |
Parent |
09834145 |
Apr 2001 |
US |
Child |
10731737 |
Dec 2003 |
US |
Parent |
09400955 |
Sep 1999 |
US |
Child |
09834145 |
Apr 2001 |
US |
Continuation in Parts (1)
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Number |
Date |
Country |
Parent |
09258542 |
Feb 1999 |
US |
Child |
09400955 |
Sep 1999 |
US |