IP Library › Granted Patent US 7,354,455

Granted Patent B2

US 7,354,455 · App. 10/911,650 · Granted Apr 8, 2008

Medical stent with a valve and related methods of manufacturing

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Quick Facts

Patent No.: US 7,354,455
App. No.: 10/911,650
Granted: Apr 8, 2008
Kind: B2

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Abstract

Medical stents having valves and their methods of manufacture are disclosed. The valve may be basket-shaped and formed integral to a medical stent to prevent undesirable backflow across the valve. The valve can be formed by converting the braided wires of the stent, by providing elastomeric material onto a mold or fixture to form an elastomeric valve, or by attaching a gasket valve. The valve is normally closed but configured to allow easy opening in response to a predetermined condition.

Claims (60)

1. A medical stent having an elastomeric valve, comprising:

a generally tubular body formed of braided wires having a proximal end portion and a distal end portion; and

a normally closed valve made of an elastomeric material and formed integral to the distal end portion of the braided wires, the elastomeric valve having a generally convex outer surface in a normally closed position and is substantially radially symmetric about a longitudinal axis of the tubular body,

wherein the elastomeric valve is sufficiently rigid so as to substantially maintain a predetermined shape,

wherein the elastomeric valve is configured to open in response to a predetermined condition,

wherein the elastomeric valve includes an opening when the valve is in the normally closed position, and

wherein said opening is located at a distal end of the valve.

2. The medical stent according to claim 1 , wherein the elastomeric valve is basket-shaped.

3. The medical stent according to claim 1 , wherein the elastomeric valve is a gasket valve.

4. The medical stent according to claim 1 , wherein at least a portion of the tubular body is provided with a covering.

5. The medical stent according to claim 4 , wherein the material for the covering is selected from a group of polyurethane, polytetrafluoroethylene, and silicone.

6. The medical stent according to claim 1 , wherein at least a portion of the elastomeric valve is provided with a covering.

7. The medical stent according to claim 6 , wherein the material for the covering is selected from a group of polyurethane, polytetrafluoroethylene, and silicone.

8. The medical stent according to claim 7 , wherein at least a portion of the tubular body is provided with a covering and a material for the covering in the tubular body is the same as the material for the covering in the elastomeric valve.

9. The medical stent according to claim 1 , wherein the predetermined condition is a predetermined pressure difference between an upstream and a downstream of the elastomeric valve.

10. The medical stent according to claim 1 , wherein the elastomeric valve is a one-way valve.

11. The medical stent according to claim 1 , wherein the opening includes at least one slit.

12. The medical stent according to claim 1 , wherein the stent is configured to be placed in an esophagus of a patient.

13. The medical stent according to claim 12 , wherein the predetermined condition is a passage of food from the esophagus into the stomach.

14. The medical stent according to claim 12 , wherein the predetermined condition is a vomiting of a stomach content from the stomach to the esophagus.

15. The medical stent according to claim 1 , wherein the tubular body has a generally tapered body.

16. A medical esophageal stent having an elastomeric valve, comprising:

a generally tubular body having a proximal end portion and a distal end portion, the tubular body being sized and configured to be placed in an esophagus of a patient; and

a normally closed valve made of an elastomeric material and formed integral to the distal end portion of the tubular body, the valve having a generally convex outer surface and is substantially radially symmetric about a longitudinal axis of the tubular body wherein the valve is configured to open in response to a predetermined condition,

wherein a valved end of the valve includes an opening when the valve is in a normally closed position, and

wherein the opening lacks a cover for closing the opening.

17. The medical esophageal stent according to claim 16 , wherein at least a portion of the tubular body and valve is provided with a covering.

18. The medical esophageal stent according to claim 17 , wherein the material for the covering is selected from a group of polyurethane, polytetrafluoroethylene, and silicone.

19. The medical esophageal stent according to claim 16 , wherein the predetermined condition is a predetermined pressure difference between an upstream and a downstream of the valve.

20. The medical esophageal stent according to claim 16 , wherein the predetermined condition is a passage of food from the esophagus into the stomach.

21. The medical esophageal stent according to claim 16 , wherein the predetermined condition is a vomiting of a stomach content from the stomach to the esophagus.

22. The medical esophageal stent according to claim 16 , wherein the valve is a one-way valve.

23. The medical esophageal stent according to claim 16 , wherein the tubular body has a generally tapered body.

24. The medical esophageal stent according to claim 16 , wherein the elastomeric valve is a gasket valve.

25. The medical esophageal stent according to claim 16 , wherein the opening includes at least one slit.

26. The medical esophageal stent according to claim 16 , wherein the elastomeric valve is basket-shaped.

27. The medical stent according to claim 1 , wherein the elastomeric valve lacks wires.

28. The medical esophageal stent according to claim 16 , wherein the tubular body comprises a plurality of flexible wires.

29. The medical esophageal stent according to claim 16 , wherein the tubular body comprises an elongate body having a length greater than a diameter of the elongate body.

30. A medical stent having an elastometric valve, comprising:

a generally tubular, radially flexible body having a proximal end portion and a distal end portion; and

a normally closed valve made of an elastometric material and formed integral to the distal end portion of the tubular body, the elastometric valve having a generally convex outer surface,

wherein the valve is configured to open in response to a predetermined condition,

wherein a valve end of the valve includes an opening when the valve is in a normally closed position, and

wherein the opening lacks a cover for closing the opening.

31. The medical stent according to claim 30 , wherein at least a portion of the tubular body and valve is provided with a covering.

32. The medical stent according to claim 31 , wherein the material for the covering is selected from a group of polyurethane, polytetrafluoroethylene, and silicone.

33. The medical stent according to claim 30 , wherein the predetermined condition is a predetermined pressure difference between an upstream and a downstream of the valve.

34. The medical stent according to claim 30 , wherein the predetermined condition is a passage of food from the esophagus into the stomach.

35. The medical stent according to claim 30 , wherein the predetermined condition is a vomiting of a stomach content from the stomach to the esophagus.

36. The medical stent according to claim 30 , wherein the valve is a one-way valve.

37. The medical stent according to claim 30 , wherein the tubular body has a generally tapered body.

38. The medical stent according to claim 30 , wherein the elastomeric valve is a gasket valve.

39. The medical stent according to claim 30 , wherein the opening includes at least one slit.

40. The medical stent according to claim 30 , wherein the elastomeric valve is basket-shaped.

41. The medical stent according to claim 30 , wherein the tubular body comprises a plurality of flexible wires.

42. The medical stent according to claim 30 , wherein the tubular body comprises an elongate body having a length greater than a diameter of the elongate body.

43. The medical stent according to claim 30 , wherein the tubular body is sized and configured to be placed in an esophagus of a patient.

44. The medical esophageal stent according to claim 16 , wherein the body is formed of braded wires and the valve is fixedly attached to the braided wires.

45. The medical stent according to claim 30 , wherein the body is formed of braded wires and the valve is fixedly attached to the braided wires.