Flexible barb for anchoring a prosthesis
View Patent ↗A barbed medical prosthesis is disclosed in which the barb includes a basal portion comprising a point of union with the substrate of origin (such as a strut), an anchoring portion adapted to embed into tissue, and a stress-dispersing portion located between the basal and anchoring portions. In one embodiment the stress-dispersing portion comprises a helical coil having a free winding that is unattached to the strut from which the barb extends. In another embodiment, the stress-dispersing portion comprises a series of bends or curves formed in the barb proximate to the point of union with the strut. The barb can be mechanically attached and/or soldered to the prosthesis, or integrally formed therefrom. A second barb portion and stress-dispersing portion, may also extend from the basal portion.
1. An intraluminal medical device configured for deployment within the body of a patient, comprising:
at least one barb comprising a base, an anchoring portion configured to penetrate tissue adjacent the prosthesis, and a non-linear stress-dispersing region spaced apart from and located between the base and the anchoring portion; and
at least one strut joined to the base such that a point of union between the base and the at least one strut is formed, and
a non-linear stress-dispersing region disposed spaced from and proximate to the point of union;
where the point of union comprises a helical coil and the non-linear stress-dispersing region comprises at least one separate free winding, and where the at least one free winding is configured to flex in response to a stress load placed on the anchoring portion of the barb.
2. The barbed prosthesis of claim 1 , where the helical coil comprises windings having a first pitch, and the free winding has a second pitch that is greater than the first pitch.
3. A barbed prosthesis configured for deployment within the body of a patient, comprising:
at least one strut;
at least one barb joined to the at least one strut to form a point of union between the barb and the strut;
wherein the barb comprises an anchoring portion spaced apart from the point of union and configured to penetrate tissue adjacent the prosthesis; and
a non-linear stress-dispersing region disposed between and spaced apart from the point of union and the anchoring portion, where the non-linear stress-dispersing region is more proximate the point of union than the anchoring portion.
4. The prosthesis of claim 3 , where the barb is joined to the at least one strut by mechanical attachment means, by bonding means, or a combination of mechanical attachment and bonding means.
5. The prosthesis of claim 3 , where the non-linear stress-dispersing region comprises at least one bend spaced apart from the point of union.
6. The prosthesis of claim 3 , where the non-linear stress-dispersing region comprises a series of bends spaced apart from the point of union.
7. The prosthesis of claim 3 , where the non-linear stress-dispersing region extends away from the at least one strut.
8. The prosthesis of claim 3 , where the point of union comprises a helical coil formed about the strut wherein the coil comprises a series of windings having a first pitch.
9. The prosthesis of claim 8 , where the stress-dispersing region comprises at least one separate free winding extending distally and spaced apart from the windings of the point of union, where the free winding has a second pitch that is greater than the first pitch.
10. The prosthesis of claim 9 , where the free winding comprises a partial winding.
11. The prosthesis of claim 3 , where the non-linear stress-dispersing region is configured to flex in response to a stress load placed on the anchoring portion of the barb.
12. An intraluminal medical device configured for deployment within the body of a patient, comprising:
at least one stent having a one or more struts;
at least one barb joined to at least one strut to form a point of union between the barb and the strut;
wherein the barb comprises an anchoring portion spaced apart from the point of union and configured to penetrate tissue adjacent the stent; and
a non-linear stress-dispersing region disposed between and spaced apart from the point of union and the anchoring portion, where the non-linear stress-dispersing region is more proximate the point of union than the anchoring portion.
13. The prosthesis of claim 12 , where the barb is joined to the strut by mechanical attachment means, by bonding means, or a combination of mechanical attachment and bonding means.
14. The prosthesis of claim 12 , where the non-linear stress-dispersing region comprises at least one bend spaced apart from the point of union.
15. The prosthesis of claim 12 , where the non-linear stress-dispersing region comprises a series of bends spaced apart from the point of union.
16. The prosthesis of claim 12 , where the non-linear stress-dispersing region extends away from the strut.
17. The prosthesis of claim 12 , where the point of union comprises a helical coil formed about the strut wherein the coil comprises a series of windings having a first pitch.
18. The prosthesis of claim 17 , where the stress-dispersing region comprises at least one separate free winding extending distally and spaced apart from the windings of the point of union, where the free winding has a second pitch that is greater than the first pitch.
19. The prosthesis of claim 18 , where the free winding comprises a partial winding.
20. The prosthesis of claim 12 , where the non-linear stress-dispersing region is configured to flex in response to a stress load placed on the anchoring portion of the barb.