Stent With Reduced Weld Profiles and a Closed-End Wire Configuration

Abstract

A prosthesis including a composite wire forming a mesh, the mesh having a variable diameter wherein at least one end region has a larger diameter than a middle portion; the mesh having an exterior surface and an interior surface, wherein at least one of the surfaces is covered with silicone; and a retrieval loop positioned at at least one end of the mesh.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A prosthesis comprising:
 a composite wire forming a mesh,
 the mesh having a variable diameter wherein at least one end region has a larger diameter than a middle portion; 
 the mesh having an exterior surface and an interior surface, wherein at least one of the surfaces is covered with silicone; and 
   a retrieval loop positioned at at least one end of the mesh.   
     
     
         2 . The prosthesis of  claim 1 , wherein an entirety of the exterior surface of the mesh and an entirety of the interior surface of the mesh is covered with silicone. 
     
     
         3 . The prosthesis of  claim 1 , wherein the mesh is fully covered by silicone and polytetrafluroethylene. 
     
     
         4 . The prosthesis of  claim 3 , wherein one of the exterior surface and the interior surface is covered with silicone and the other of the exterior surface and the interior surface is covered with polytetrafluroethylene. 
     
     
         5 . The prosthesis of  claim 1 , the composite wire comprising two different metals. 
     
     
         6 . The prosthesis of  claim 5 , the two different metals being nitinol and platinum. 
     
     
         7 . The prosthesis of  claim 1 , the mesh comprising ends with loops. 
     
     
         8 . The prosthesis of  claim 7 , wherein the retrieval loop is threaded through loops at an end of the mesh stent. 
     
     
         9 . The prosthesis of  claim 1 , wherein the exterior surface of an end of the mesh has a polymeric band thereon. 
     
     
         10 . A prosthesis comprising:
 a plurality of composite wires forming a mesh,
 each composite wire comprising a first metal and a second metal wherein the first metal is nitinol and the second metal is platinum; 
 the mesh having a variable diameter wherein at least one end region has a larger diameter than a middle portion. 
   
     
     
         11 . The prosthesis of  claim 10 , wherein the wire has an inner core and outer layer. 
     
     
         12 . The prosthesis of  claim 11 , wherein the inner core is comprised of the second metal and the outer layer is comprised of the first metal. 
     
     
         13 . The prosthesis of  claim 10 , further comprising a second end region, wherein the one end region and an end region have larger diameters than the middle portion. 
     
     
         14 . The prosthesis of  claim 10 , wherein the mesh has an exterior surface and an interior surface, and wherein neither of the surfaces is coated. 
     
     
         15 . The prosthesis of  claim 10 , wherein at least two of the plurality of wires are welded at the at least one end region. 
     
     
         16 . The prosthesis of  claim 10 , wherein at least one end of the mesh contains a plurality of arches having equilateral sides and an apex. 
     
     
         17 . A prosthesis comprising:
 a composite wire forming a mesh,
 the composite wire comprising a first metal and a second metal wherein the first metal is nitinol and the second metal is platinum; 
 the mesh having a variable diameter wherein at least one end region has a larger diameter than a middle portion. 
   
     
     
         18 . The prosthesis of  claim 17  wherein portions of the composite wire are welded at the at least one end region. 
     
     
         19 . A prosthesis comprising:
 a plurality of composite wires forming a mesh,
 the mesh having a variable diameter wherein at least one end region has a larger diameter than a middle portion; 
 the mesh having an exterior surface and an interior surface, wherein at least one of the surfaces is covered with silicone; and 
   a retrieval loop positioned at at least one end of the mesh.