Patent ID: 6077298
Filing Date: 2000-06-20
Classification: A61F

Abstract:
A retractable intraluminal medical device comprising:an elongate radially expandable tubular stent having an interior luminal portion and an opposite exterior portion extending along a longitudinal stent axis, the elongate radially expandable tubular stent having an expanded state and a retracted state, wherein the expandable tubular stent comprises a plurality of construction materials; anda first of the plurality of construction materials being a shape-memory Nitinol, the shape-memory Nitinol having a preshape and a shape transition temperature, wherein the shape-memory Nitinol retracts to its preshape and causes the expandable tubular stent to collapse when said shape-memory Nitinol is heated to above the shape transition temperature at the retracted state, and wherein the shape transition temperature for the shape-memory Nitinol is preferably between 43.degree. C. and 90.degree. C.