Stent for repairing a pipe

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11480286-B2
Application number	US-202117407374-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Aug 20, 2021
Priority date	Mar 15, 2019
Publication date	Oct 25, 2022
Grant date	Oct 25, 2022

Abstract

Example aspects of a stent spring for a stent, a stent for repairing a pipe, and a method for repairing a pipe are disclosed. The stent spring for a stent can comprise a plurality of minor springs connected in a series around a circumference of the stent spring, each of the minor springs defining a first leg and a second leg; and a spring constrictor engaged with each of the minor springs, each of the spring constrictors movable between a first position, wherein the corresponding minor spring defines a first maximum width, and a second position, wherein the corresponding minor spring defines a second maximum width that is greater than the first maximum width.

First claim

That which is claimed is:

1. A stent spring for a stent comprising:
a plurality of minor springs connected in a series around a circumference of the stent spring, each of the minor springs defining a first leg and a second leg; and
a spring constrictor engaged with each of the minor springs, each of the spring constrictors movable between a first position, wherein the corresponding minor spring defines a first maximum width, and a second position, wherein the corresponding minor spring defines a second maximum width that is greater than the first maximum width.

2. The stent spring of claim 1 , wherein:
each of the minor springs defines a first end, a second end opposite the first end, and a middle section therebetween;
the first leg and second leg of each minor spring are joined together at the corresponding first end; and
the first leg and second leg of each minor spring are spaced apart at the corresponding middle section and the second end.

3. The stent spring of claim 2 , wherein each of the spring constrictors is positioned on the middle section of the corresponding minor spring in the first position, and each of the spring constrictors is positioned at the second end of the corresponding minor spring in the second position.

4. The stent spring of claim 2 , further comprising a first foot extending from the first leg at the second end of each minor spring and a second foot extending from the second leg at the second end of each minor spring, wherein the first foot and second foot are configured to engage the corresponding spring constrictor in the second position.

5. The stent spring of claim 4 , wherein the first foot is oriented at about 90° relative to the first leg and the second foot is oriented at about 90° relative to the second leg when the spring constrictors are in the first position.

6. The stent spring of claim 2 , wherein the first leg and second leg of each minor spring are bent towards each other proximate to the second end of the minor spring.

7. The stent spring of claim 1 , wherein each of the spring constrictors is slidable along the middle sections of the first and second legs of the corresponding minor spring.

8. The stent spring of claim 1 , wherein:
each of the first legs and second legs define a head and a tail portion connected at a joint therebetween; and
each of the spring constrictors is mounted on the tail portion of the corresponding first leg and second leg.

9. The stent spring of claim 8 , wherein a bend is defined at each of the joints.

10. The stent spring of claim 1 , further comprising a plurality of fasteners connecting each minor spring to a pair of adjacent minor springs.

11. The stent spring of claim 10 , wherein each of the fasteners comprises a nut and a bolt.

12. The stent spring of claim 10 , wherein each minor spring is connected to the pair of adjacent minor springs by the fasteners along a middle section of the minor spring.

13. The stent spring of claim 12 , wherein the first leg of each minor spring is connected to the second leg of one of the adjacent minor springs, and the second leg of each minor spring is connected to the first leg of the other adjacent minor spring.

14. The stent spring of claim 1 , wherein each of the spring constrictors defines an opening, wherein the first leg and second of the corresponding minor spring are received through the opening.

15. The stent spring of claim 1 , wherein each of the spring constrictors defines a connector configured to connect the stent spring to a release mechanism.

16. The stent spring of claim 15 , wherein the stent spring defines a void extending centrally therethrough, the connector extending into the void.

17. The stent spring of claim 16 , further comprising the release mechanism positioned within the void, the release mechanism configured to move the spring constrictors from the first position to the second position.

18. The stent spring of claim 1 , wherein the stent spring bows radially outward at about a center of the stent spring, such that a diameter of the stent spring varies along a length of the stent spring.

19. The stent spring of claim 1 , further comprising a coating comprising at least one of metal and rubber is applied to the minor springs.

20. The stent spring of claim 1 , wherein, in the first position of each spring constrictor, the stent spring can define a first diameter, and in the second position of each spring constrictor, the stent spring can define a second diameter that is greater than the first diameter.

Assignees

• Mueller Int Llc
• Mueller Intemational Llc

Inventors

• Furcoiu Aurelian Ioan

Classifications

• F16L55/163 Primary

  a ring, a band or a sleeve being pressed against the inner surface of the pipe · CPC title

• A61F2/86

  Stents in a form characterised by the wire-like elements; Stents in the form characterised by a net-like or mesh-like structure · CPC title

• F16L55/18

  Appliances for use in repairing pipes (F16L55/10 takes precedence) · CPC title