Expansion ring for a braided stent

Abstract

A method, including assembling a plurality of expansion rings to a lumen of the braided stent body, the lumen of the braided stent body being formed by a plurality of braided members, each expansion ring comprising a frame defined by a plurality of interconnected support assemblies comprising a plurality of legs joined at a first intersection and connected to one of the other interconnected support assemblies at a second intersection opposite the first intersection, the legs being twistable about the first and second intersections; and a claw portion disposed opposite the first and second intersections.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method, comprising:
 assembling a plurality of expansion rings to a lumen of a braided stent body, the lumen of the braided stent body being formed by a plurality of braided members, each expansion ring comprising a frame defined by a plurality of interconnected support assemblies comprising a plurality of legs joined at a first intersection and connected to one of the other interconnected support assemblies at a second intersection opposite the first intersection, the legs being twistable about the first and second intersections; and a claw portion disposed opposite the first and second intersections;   connecting the claw portion of each expansion ring to an inner portion of the braided stent body by interlacing a first elongate member extended between the respective claw portion and the respective first intersection of the expansion ring with one or more of the interstices and terminated at a locking mechanism opposite the intersections, the claw portion comprising a second alignment member substantially aligned with the first elongate member and extended between respective first intersections and locking mechanisms;   forming a void between the first and second elongate members and respective first intersections and locking mechanisms; and   securing at least one braided pair of the braided members through the void.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 securing the plurality of expansion rings to the braided members by positioning at least two braided pairs through the void.   
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 entering and exiting the at least one braided pair into and out of the void.   
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising: securing the plurality of expansion rings to the braided members by positioning at least three braided pairs through the void. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 connecting at least one of the expansion rings to a distal or a proximal end of the braided stent body.   
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5 , further comprising:
 connecting at least one of the expansion rings to the end of the braided stent body opposite the distal or proximal end of the braided stent body.   
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , the locking mechanism comprises a T-shaped end, the method further comprising connecting the T-shaped end with the interstices of the braided stent body. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , the locking mechanism comprises outwardly extending hooked members, the method further comprising connecting the outwardly extending hooked members with the interstices of the braided stent body. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 translating the braided members in the vessel independently from each expansion ring.   
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising: bowing the legs of each expansion ring causing each ring to be resistant to compression. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 connecting the expansion ring to the braided stent body by joining ends of the first and second elongate members opposite the first intersection by welding, soldering, crimping, or an adhesive bond.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 imparting, by the plurality of expansion rings, an outwardly expanding radial force thereby maintaining the lumen of the braided stent body in an opened position.   
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 forming, by the first intersection, a V-shape, a U-shape, or an elliptical curve.   
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 joining ends elongate members opposite the first intersection through a metallic band.   
     
     
         15 . A method, comprising:
 assembling an expansion ring to a lumen of a braided stent body, the lumen of the braided stent body being formed by a plurality of braided members, the expansion ring comprising a frame defined by a plurality of interconnected support assemblies comprising a plurality of legs joined at a first intersection and connected to one of the other interconnected support assemblies at a second intersection opposite the first intersection, the legs being twistable about the first and second intersections; and a claw portion disposed opposite the first and second intersections;   connecting the claw portion of the expansion ring to an inner portion of the braided stent body by interlacing a first elongate member extended between the respective claw portion and the respective first intersection of the expansion ring with one or more of the interstices and terminated at a locking mechanism opposite the intersections, the claw portion comprising a second alignment member substantially aligned with the first elongate member and extended between respective first intersections and locking mechanisms; and   securing at least one braided pair of the braided members in a void between the first and second elongate members and respective intersections.   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , the locking mechanism comprises a T-shaped end, the method further comprising connecting the T-shaped end with the interstices of the braided stent body. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 15 , the locking mechanism comprises outwardly extending hooked members, the method further comprising connecting the outwardly extending hooked members with the interstices of the braided stent body. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 15 , further comprising:
 securing the expansion ring to the braided members by positioning at least two braided pairs in the void.   
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 15 , further comprising:
 entering and exiting the at least one braided pair into and out of the void.   
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 15 , further comprising:
 translating the braided members in the vessel independently from the expansion ring.