Patent ID: 8353948
Filing Date: 2013-01-15
Classification: A61B,A61F

Abstract:
1. A prosthesis comprising a helical body having a plurality of turns, the plurality of turns comprising unit cells interconnected by bridge elements, one or more of the unit cells having a thin strut including first and second ends coupled to a thick strut having a thickness that is greater than a thickness of the thin strut, the thin strut configured to transition between only a stable fully collapsed configuration and a stable fully expanded configuration, wherein: for each unit cell, the first and second ends of the thin strut are coupled with corresponding first and second sections of the thick strut; and the thin strut is stable in only the fully collapsed configuration or the fully expanded configuration such that there are no stable states between the fully collapsed configuration and the fully expanded configuration; wherein the unit cells are arranged such that the first ends and sections of the thin and thick struts respectively are distal of the second ends and sections of the thin and thick struts respectively.