One-piece retractable stent

Abstract

An intraluminal medical device having a flowpath therethrough, the device consisting of a one-piece elastic or semi-elastic sheet of material which defines a generally tubular body. The medical device has a collapsed and expanded diameter and is constructed and arranged such that it can exist in two stable states, consisting of the initial collapsed state ( 12 ) and the expanded state ( 10 ). In conjunction with a retractor device ( 6 ), the medical device may be converted between the two stable states within a body lumen as necessary.

1 . An intraluminal medical device having a central longitudinal axis having a collapsed state and an expanded state, said intraluminal medical device comprising: 
 a one-piece sheath which defines a generally tubular body;    said intraluminal medical device in a collapsed state having at least some portions which project inward into the central longitudinal axis.    
   
   
       2 . The intraluminal medical device of  claim 1  wherein said intraluminal medical device is a stent.  
   
   
       3 . The intraluminal medical device of  claim 2  wherein said intraluminal medical device is comprised of at least one metal, at least one plastic or composites thereof.  
   
   
       4 . The intraluminal medical device of  claim 2  wherein said intraluminal medical device is elastically expandable.  
   
   
       5 . The intraluminal medical device of  claim 2  wherein said intraluminal medical device is semi-elastically expandable.  
   
   
       6 . The intraluminal medical device of  claim 2  wherein said intraluminal medical device is elastically collapsible.  
   
   
       7 . The intraluminal medical device of  claim 2  wherein said intraluminal medical device is semi-elastically collapsible.  
   
   
       8 . The intraluminal medical device of  claim 2  wherein said intraluminal medical device is plastically collapsible.  
   
   
       9 . The intraluminal medical device of  claim 2  wherein said intraluminal medical device is destructively collapsible.  
   
   
       10 . The intraluminal medical device of  claim 2  wherein said intraluminal medical device is a thin-walled tubular member.  
   
   
       11 . A retractor device comprised of one or more connected prongs, forks, or clamps, one or more connected stems, or combinations thereof.  
   
   
       12 . The retractor device of  claim 11  wherein said retractor device is comprised of at least one metal, one plastic or composites thereof.  
   
   
       13 . The intraluminal medical device of  claim 2  in combination with the retractor device of  claim 11 , said intraluminal medical device disposed about a portion of said retractor device.  
   
   
       14 . The intraluminal medical device of  claim 13 , one or more portions of said retractor device capable of exerting force on one or more portions of said intraluminal medical device.  
   
   
       15 . The intraluminal medical device of  claim 13 , one or more portions of said retractor device attached to one or more portions of said intraluminal medical device.  
   
   
       16 . The intraluminal medical device of  claim 2  wherein there are one or more perforations, holes or openings in the wall of said intraluminal medical device.  
   
   
       17 . The intraluminal medical device of  claim 2  wherein there are no perforations, holes or openings in the wall of said intraluminal medical device.  
   
   
       18 . The intraluminal medical device of  claim 2  wherein the length of said intraluminal medical device can be any positive value.  
   
   
       19 . The intraluminal medical device of  claim 2  wherein the expanded diameter of said intraluminal medical device can be any positive value.  
   
   
       20 . The intraluminal medical device of  claim 2  wherein the initial collapsed or crimped diameter of said intraluminal medical device can be any positive value.  
   
   
       21 . The intraluminal medical device of  claim 2  wherein the final collapsed or crimped diameter of said intraluminal medical device can be any positive value.