Integrated stent repositioning and retrieval loop
View Patent ↗A braided stent having an integral retrieval and/or repositioning loop includes a plurality of wires having first and second ends interbraided in a braided pattern to form a tubular stent having opposed atraumatic first and second open ends with each open end having a circumference. The first and second wires ends are disposed at the second stent open end and the wires are looped at the second stent open end so that none of the first or second wires ends are exposed at the circumference of second stent open end. The at least of two of said wires are formed into a repositioning and/or retrieval loop having an elongated portion circumferentially disposed at the first opposed open end. The reposition and/or retrieval loop also includes two sections which run adjacent to each other prior to crossing to permit grabbing of both sections simultaneously by a practitioner.
1. A stent comprising:
a stent body, the stent body having first and second open ends and a length therebetween, and being formed from a plurality of wires, wherein two of the plurality of wires forming the stent body extend the length of the stent body, the first open end having a first circumference and the second open end having a second circumference,
wherein said two of said plurality of wires forming said stent body are further formed into a repositioning and/or retrieval loop having an elongated portion circumferentially disposed at said first open end, and
wherein said elongated circumferential portion of said repositioning and/or retrieval loop comprises:
a first wire loop completely traversing said first circumference at said first opposed open end, said first wire loop being formed from a first wire of said two wires, wherein the first wire loop extends longitudinally away from the first open end, and
a second wire loop partially traversing said first circumference formed from a second wire of said two wires, wherein the second wire loop has an inverted U-shape, and wherein the second wire loop extends longitudinally away from the first open end,
wherein a circumferential portion of said second wire loop is juxtaposingly disposed to a circumferential portion of said first wire loop.
2. The stent of claim 1 , wherein said first wire at said first circumferential portion of said first wire loop crosses over said second wire at said second circumferential portion of said second wire loop.
3. The stent of claim 1 , wherein said first wire at said first circumferential portion of said first wire loop is attached to said second wire at said second circumferential portion of said second wire loop.
4. The stent of claim 1 , wherein the wires comprise biocompatible metallic and/or polymeric materials.
5. The stent of claim 4 , wherein said metallic materials are selected from the group consisting of nitinol, cobalt-based alloy, stainless steel, platinum, gold, titanium, tantalum, niobium, polymeric and combinations thereof.
6. The stent of claim 5 , wherein said wires comprise nitinol.
7. The stent of claim 4 , wherein said wires are composite wires for improved radiopacity.
8. The stent of claim 7 , wherein said wires have an inner core of tantalum, gold, platinum, iridium or combination of thereof and an outer portion of nitinol.
9. The stent of claim 1 , further comprising a hollow tubular covering disposed over an interior surface or an exterior surface of said stent.
10. The stent of claim 9 , wherein the tubular covering is an uninterrupted covering.
11. The stent of claim 9 , wherein the tubular covering substantially covers said stent.
12. The stent of claim 9 , wherein the tubular covering partially covers portions of said stent.
13. The stent of claim 9 , wherein the tubular covering substantially covers said stent, excluding portions of the repositioning and/or retrieval loop.
14. The stent of claim 9 , wherein the tubular covering is a polymeric material.
15. The stent of claim 14 , wherein the polymeric material is selected from the group consisting of polyester, polypropylene, polyethylene, polyurethane, polynaphthalene, polytetrafluoroethylene, expanded polytetrafluoroethylene, silicone, and combinations thereof.