Claims
- 1. An apparatus for reducing the diameter of a portion of a biological passage, said passage having a wall, said apparatus comprising:
a body having a bore, said bore defining a central axis; and at least one anchor coupled to said body; wherein:
said anchor extends away from said central axis; and said anchor is configured to pull said wall toward said axis when said body contracts toward said axis.
- 2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said body is configured to contract for insertion into said passage.
- 3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein:
said body has a first state and a second state; at least a portion of said body extends farther away from said axis when said body is in said second state than when said body is in said first state; and said body automatically contracts toward said first state from said second state.
- 4. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said body has at least one opening configured to receive a portion of said wall when said body contracts.
- 5. The apparatus of claim 4 further comprising a fastener, said fastener configured to retain said portion of said wall after said body contracts.
- 6. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said anchor is configured to be permanently secured to said passage.
- 7. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said anchor comprises a dart.
- 8. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said anchor comprises a barb.
- 9. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said anchor comprises a staple.
- 10. The apparatus of claim 9 wherein said staple is C-shaped.
- 11. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a sheath configured to receive said body and deflect said anchor.
- 12. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said body comprises nickel titanium.
- 13. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said body comprises stainless steel.
- 14. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a lining covering at least a portion of said body.
- 15. The apparatus of claim 14 wherein said lining comprises a polymer.
- 16. The apparatus of claim 15 further comprising a therapeutic substance coupled to said polymer.
- 17. The apparatus of claim 16 wherein said substance is a drug.
- 18. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a therapeutic substance coupled to said body.
- 19. The apparatus of clam 18 wherein said substance is a drug.
- 20. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein:
said bore has a radial direction perpendicular to said axis; and said anchor extends away from said axis in a direction having a non-radial component.
- 21. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising:
a first crimping member; and a second crimping member; wherein: said first crimping member is configured to apply a first force to a first portion of said anchor when said body is disposed in said passage; said second crimping members is configured to apply a second force to a second portion of said anchor when said body is disposed in said passage; and said anchor is configured to engage said inner wall in response to said first and second forces.
- 22. An apparatus for reducing the diameter of a portion of a biological passage, said passage having a wall, said apparatus comprising:
a polymeric body having a bore, said bore defining a central axis; and a plurality of metal anchors coupled to said body; wherein:
said anchors extend away from said central axis; and said anchors are configured to pull said wall toward said axis when sa id body contracts toward said axis.
- 23. The apparatus of claim 22 wherein at least one of said anchors is insert mold ed in said body.
- 24. The apparatus of claim 22 wherein said body comprises a drug.
- 25. The apparatus of claim 22 wherein said body comprises a therapeutic substance.
- 26. An apparatus for reducing the diameter of a portion of a biological passage, said passage having a wall, said apparatus comprising:
a polymeric body having a bore, said bore defining a central axis, at least a portion of said body configured to move from a first position to a second position, said second position at a greater distance from said axis than said first position, said portion having an outer peripheral surface; and a metal anchor coupled to said portion, said anchor having a tip; wherein:
said tip moves away from said surface when said portion moves from said first to said second position; and said anchor is configured to pull said wall toward said axis when said portion moves from said second position toward said first position.
- 27. An apparatus for reducing the diameter of a portion of a biological passage, said passage having a wall and a central axis said apparatus comprising:
at least one first portion having a first elasticity; at least one second portion coupled to said first portion, said second portion having a second elasticity; and at least one anchor coupled to said first portion, said anchor configured to pull said wall toward said axis; wherein said first elasticity is less than said second elasticity.
- 28. The apparatus of claim 27 wherein said first and second portions are included in a lobed strip.
- 29. The apparatus of claim 28 wherein said strip has a sinusoidal form.
- 30. The apparatus of claim 28 wherein said strip forms a closed loop.
- 31. An apparatus for reducing the diameter of a portion of a biological passage, said passage having a wall and a central axis said apparatus comprising:
at least one first portion having a first elasticity; at least one second portion coupled to said first portion, said second portion having a second elasticity; and at least one anchor coupled to said first portion, said anchor configured to pull said wall toward said axis; wherein:
said second elasticity is more than about 10% greater than said first elasticity.
- 32. An apparatus for reducing the diameter of a portion of a biological passage, said passage having a wall, said apparatus having a central axis defining an axial direction, said apparatus comprising:
a first nodal portion disposed radially away from said axis; a transition portion coupled to said first portion, said transition portion disposed radially away from said axis and having an axial spread; and a second nodal portion coupled to said transition portion, said second nodal portion disposed radially away from said axis; wherein:
said spread is configured to automatically change to reduce axial displacement between said first and second nodal portions when said apparatus is deformed with respect to said axis.
- 33. An apparatus for reducing the diameter of a portion of a biological passage, said passage having a wall, said apparatus comprising:
a band having a bore; and at least one anchor coupled to said band; wherein:
said band comprises at least one open portion facing into said bore; said anchor extends away from said bore; and said anchor is configured to pull said wall toward said bore when said band contracts toward said bore.
- 34. An apparatus for reducing the diameter of a portion of a biological passage, said passage having a wall, said apparatus comprising:
a band having a bore, said band having at least one gap, said gap having a size; a bridge member spanning said gap, said spring member coupled to said band; and at least one anchor coupled to said band; wherein:
said anchor extends away from said bore; said anchor is configured to pull said wall toward said bore if said band contracts toward said bore; and said spring member is configured to reduce said size when said band contracts toward said bore.
- 35. An apparatus for reducing the diameter of a portion of a biological passage, said passage having a wall, said apparatus comprising:
a plurality of elongated members arranged in a band, said band having a central axis defining a longitudinal direction, each of said members having a first longitudinal end and a second longitudinal end; and at least one anchor coupled to said plurality of elongated members; wherein:
each of said members is coupled to a first adjacent one of said members at said first end; each of said members is coupled to a second adjacent one of said members at said second end; said anchor extends away from said axis; and said anchor is configured to pull said wall toward said axis when said band contracts toward said axis.
- 36. The apparatus of claim 51 wherein said band has a sinusoidal form.
- 37. An apparatus for reducing the diameter of a portion of a biological passage, said passage having a central axis and a wall, said apparatus comprising:
first means for attaching at least two anchors to said wall, said first means configured to pull said wall toward said axis; and second means for inserting said first means into said passage.
- 38. A liner for a damaged body tubing portion, said portion having a wall, said liner comprising:
a first plurality of anchors; a second plurality of anchors; and a sleeve extending from said first plurality of anchors to said second plurality of anchors, said sleeve configured to conform to said wall.
- 39. A baffle for a portion of body tubing, said baffle comprising:
a hollow body having a wall defining a bore; and at least one projection extending from said wall into said bore; wherein:
said bore is configured to be secured in said portion.
- 40. A method for reducing the diameter of a portion of a biological passage, said passage having a wall, said method comprising:
engaging a self-contracting body with said wall; and releasing said body.
- 41. The method of claim 40 wherein said engaging comprises dilating said body.
- 42. The method of claim 41 wherein said dilating comprises inflating at least a portion of a balloon within said body.
- 43. The method of claim 41 wherein said dilating comprises expanding said body without inflating a portion of a balloon within said body.
- 44. The method of claim 40 wherein said engaging comprises permanently securing said body to said wall.
- 45. The method of claim 40 further comprising using said body to apply a therapeutic substance to said passageway.
- 46. The method of claim 40 further comprising using said body to apply a drug to said passageway.
- 47. A method for reducing the diameter of a portion of a biological passage, said passage having a wall, said method comprising:
deflecting an anchor of a self-contracting body; and engaging said anchor with said wall.
- 48. A method for reducing the diameter of a portion of a biological passage, said passage having a wall, said method comprising:
deflecting an anchor of a self-contracting body; dilating said body; engaging said anchor with said wall; and releasing said body.
- 49. A method for reducing the diameter of a portion of a biological passage, said passage having a wall, said method comprising:
inserting a self-contracting body into said passage; receiving a portion of said inner wall in an open portion of said body; and securing said portion of said wall in said opening.
- 50. A method for reducing the diameter of a portion of a biological passage, said passage having a wall, said method comprising:
inserting a self-contracting body into said passage, said body comprising an anchor, said body having a central axis; crimping said anchor to said wall; and reducing said diameter by allowing said body to contract toward said axis.
- 51. A method for reducing the diameter of a portion of a biological passage, said passage having a wall, said method comprising:
inserting a self-contracting body into said passage, said body comprising an anchor, said body having a bore, said anchor coupled to said body outside said bore, said bore having a central axis; inserting a first crimping member through said bore; positioning said first crimping member adjacent said anchor; positioning said second crimping member adjacent said anchor; crimping said anchor to said wall; and reducing said diameter by allowing said body to contract toward said axis.
Parent Case Info
[0001] This claims the benefit of copending U.S. Provisional Patent Applications Nos. 60/293,345, filed May 24, 2001, and 60/350,394, filed Jan. 22, 2002, which are hereby incorporated by reference herein in their entireties.
Provisional Applications (2)
|
Number |
Date |
Country |
|
60350394 |
Jan 2002 |
US |
|
60293345 |
May 2001 |
US |