Methods and apparatus for expandable medical device employing flexure members

• Main Authors: Jimenez Omar F, Powley Nicholas Ransom
• Format: Patent
• Language: English
• Published: 20.09.2016
• Subjects: BANDAGES, DRESSINGS OR ABSORBENT PADS; BEARINGS; BLASTING; DEVICES PROVIDING PATENCY TO, OR PREVENTING COLLAPSING OF,TUBULAR STRUCTURES OF THE BODY, E.G. STENTS; ELEMENTS OR CRANKSHAFT MECHANISMS; ENGINEERING ELEMENTS AND UNITS; FILTERS IMPLANTABLE INTO BLOOD VESSELS; FIRST-AID KITS; FLEXIBLE SHAFTS; FOMENTATION; GENERAL MEASURES FOR PRODUCING AND MAINTAINING EFFECTIVEFUNCTIONING OF MACHINES OR INSTALLATIONS; HEATING; HUMAN NECESSITIES; HYGIENE; LIGHTING; MEANS FOR DAMPING VIBRATION; MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; ORTHOPAEDIC, NURSING OR CONTRACEPTIVE DEVICES; PROSTHESES; ROTARY BODIES OTHER THAN GEARING ELEMENTS; SHAFTS; SHOCK-ABSORBERS; SPRINGS; THERMAL INSULATION IN GENERAL; TREATMENT OR PROTECTION OF EYES OR EARS; WEAPONS

Improved methods and apparatuses for expandable medical devices in accordance with various embodiments of the present invention employ flexure members. Flexure members connect a plurality of structural members to end plates on one end and blocks on another end. A drive screw or similar mechanism can be actuated to drive expansion blocks closer together, which causes flexure members to deflect, resulting in expansion of the structural members and distraction of the end plates.