Wake Forest University

Joel L Berry

Charles L Branch

Carlos M Ferrario

James E Moore, Jr

John E Reynolds

Richard H Dean

Virginia S Newman

A planar support assembly for use with a patient body support, an extension support assembly, and a plurality of interchangeable head supports is provided. The extension support assembly is releasably mounted on a portion of the patient body support such that the extension support assembly extends outwardly from the patient body support. The planar support assembly includes a generally planar support configured to releasably attach to an end of the extension support assembly opposite the patient body support. The planar support is configured to receive and support one of a plurality of interchangeable head supports, and the planar support is adjustable with respect to the patient body support in two or more dimensions.

Surgical head support adapter

An expandable, intraluminal tubular stent is provided for insertion and expansion within the lumen of a vessel. The stent includes a plurality of longitudinal struts. A series of arcuate or V-shaped end links are connected between the ends of the longitudinal struts. A series of deformable cross-links are circumferentially connected between adjacent longitudinal struts at a center portion of the longitudinal struts to permit the stent to be expanded from a first smaller diameter into a second larger diameter upon insertion into the vessel.

Compliant intraluminal stents

An expandable, intraluminal stent is provided which can be inserted into a body passage, and is capable of supporting an intact vascular graft. The stent is a thin-walled, generally tubular member having a plurality of rigid support tabs spaced uniformly around the perimeter of the two ends of the stent. A plurality of spacer bars span longitudinally between the rigid support tabs at one end of the stent and corresponding rigid support tabs at the other end. The spacer bars serve as struts to prevent longitudinal expansion or contraction of the stent so that the length of the stent is maintained. Plastically deformable connecting links interconnect adjacent rigid support tabs around each end of the stent to enable the stent to be expanded to an enlarged diameter. The stent can be expanded with a delivery system which applies a radially, outwardly extending force from the exterior of the stent. Alternatively, the stent can be expanded using an angioplasty balloon.

Expandable intraluminal stents

Expandable, intraluminal stents

Growing community of inventors

Winston-Salem, NC, United States of America

Joel L Berry