US 12,111,005 B2
Inflatable stent
John Menzies, Broxburn (GB); and David Grant, Broxburn (GB)
Assigned to Air Bag Stopper Holdings Limited, Edinburgh (GB)
Appl. No. 17/051,001
Filed by Air Bag Stopper Holdings Limited, Edinburgh (GB)
PCT Filed Apr. 29, 2019, PCT No. PCT/GB2019/051179
§ 371(c)(1), (2) Date Oct. 27, 2020,
PCT Pub. No. WO2019/207323, PCT Pub. Date Oct. 31, 2019.
Claims priority of application No. 1806944 (GB), filed on Apr. 27, 2018.
Prior Publication US 2021/0324990 A1, Oct. 21, 2021
Int. Cl. F16L 55/134 (2006.01); F16L 55/16 (2006.01); F16L 55/165 (2006.01); A61F 2/94 (2013.01)
CPC F16L 55/134 (2013.01) [F16L 55/1604 (2013.01); F16L 55/1654 (2013.01); A61F 2/94 (2013.01); A61F 2250/0003 (2013.01)] 23 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. An inflatable stent comprising an inflatable portion that comprises:
an inner membrane of a flexible sheet material defining a first end and a second end of the inflatable portion, and a passage there between when inflated; and
an outer membrane of a flexible sheet material disposed about the inner membrane, the outer membrane defining a first diameter of the stent when inflated;
wherein, when inflated, the inner and outer membranes are radially spaced apart to define an annular space there between;
the inner and outer membranes are connected by a plurality of connecting members in the annular space, and by first and second end caps that connect the membranes at the respective first and second ends of the inflatable portion; and
wherein the inflatable portion is further provided with at least one inflatable pipe or lumen engaging portion that defines a second, larger diameter of the stent, when the inflatable portion is inflated;
wherein the at least one inflatable pipe or lumen engaging portion is inflatable by being in fluid communication with the annular space and inflates when the annular space, or a part of the annular space, is inflated;
wherein the at least one inflatable pipe or lumen engaging portion is formed as a separate chamber bonded to the outer membrane; and
wherein the at least one pipe or lumen engaging portion is otherwise free from attachment to the rest of the stent.
 
20. A method of by-passing a section of pipe, the method comprising:
obtaining access to a section of pipe at two locations, one upstream and one downstream, to either side of a section of pipe to be by-passed;
deploying an inflatable stent into each of the two locations, the inflatable stent comprising an inflatable portion that comprises:
an inner membrane of a flexible sheet material defining a first end and a second end of the inflatable portion, and a passage there between when inflated; and
an outer membrane of a flexible sheet material disposed about the inner membrane, the outer membrane defining a first diameter of the stent when inflated;
wherein, when inflated, the inner and outer membranes are radially spaced apart to define an annular space there between;
the inner and outer membranes are connected by a plurality of connecting members in the annular space, and by first and second end caps that connect the membranes at the respective first and second ends of the inflatable portion;
wherein the inflatable portion is further provided with at least one inflatable pipe or lumen engaging portion that defines a second, larger diameter of the stent, when the inflatable portion is inflated; and
wherein the at least one inflatable pipe or lumen engaging portion is inflatable by being in fluid communication with the annular space and inflates when the annular space, or a part of the annular space, is inflated; and each inflatable stent having a passage therethrough;
inflating the stents so as to obtain substantially sealing engagement with the inner walls of the pipe;
providing a by-pass pipe running externally of the pipe from the upstream location to the downstream location; and
providing a route of fluid communication from upstream to downstream through the passages of the inflatable stents and via the by-pass pipe to by-pass the said section of pipe.
 
22. An inflatable stent comprising an inflatable portion that comprises:
an inner membrane of a flexible sheet material defining a first end and a second end of the inflatable portion, and a passage there between when inflated; and
an outer membrane of a flexible sheet material disposed about the inner membrane, the outer membrane defining a first diameter of the stent when inflated;
wherein, when inflated, the inner and outer membranes are radially spaced apart to define an annular space there between;
the inner and outer membranes are connected by a plurality of connecting members in the annular space, and by first and second end caps that connect the membranes at the respective first and second ends of the inflatable portion;
wherein the inflatable portion is further provided with at least one inflatable pipe or lumen engaging portion that defines a second, larger diameter of the stent, when the inflatable portion is inflated;
wherein the at least one inflatable pipe or lumen engaging portion is inflatable by being in fluid communication with the annular space and inflates when the annular space, or a part of the annular space, is inflated; and
further comprising a sealing membrane to block flow through the passage or redirect flow through a side port or a selected end of the stent.