# US 11,896,507 B2 · Self expanding stent and method of loading same into a catheter > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 11,896,507 B2 - Document ID: US11896507B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 17/713,399 - Filed: 2022-04-05 - Published: 2022-11-24 - Granted: 2024-02-13 - Earliest claimed: 2021-05-20 - Assignees: Cook Medical Technologies LLC - Applicants: Cook Medical Technologies LLC - Inventors: Richard A Swift; Sam C Mullins; Stephen T Clancy - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11896507B2 ## CPC - A61F 2/88: the wire-like elements formed as helical or spiral coils - A61F 2/915: with bands having a meander structure, adjacent bands being connected to each other - A61F 2/844: folded prior to deployment - A61F 2/91: made from perforated sheets or tubes, e.g. perforated by laser cuts or etched holes - A61F 2/966: with relative longitudinal movement between outer sleeve and prosthesis, e.g. using a push rod - A61F 2002/91558: {connected peak to peak} - A61F 2002/91566: {connected trough to trough} - A61F 2210/0014: using shape memory or superelastic materials, e.g. nitinol - A61F 2230/0039: H-shaped - A61F 2230/0052: T-shaped - A61F 2230/0054: V-shaped - A61F 2250/0036: differing in thickness - A61F 2250/0037: differing in height or in length - A61F: FILTERS IMPLANTABLE INTO BLOOD VESSELS; PROSTHESES; DEVICES PROVIDING PATENCY TO, OR PREVENTING COLLAPSING OF, TUBULAR STRUCTURES OF THE BODY, e.g. STENTS; ORTHOPAEDIC, NURSING OR CONTRACEPTIVE DEVICES; FOMENTATION; TREATMENT OR PROTECTION OF EYES OR EARS; BANDAGES, DRESSINGS OR ABSORBENT PADS; FIRST-AID KITS (dental prosthetics A61C) ## Abstract A stent comprises a framework that includes a sequence of cells that each occupy a discrete segment of the stent length, and each of the cells includes a plurality of struts with ends connected at respective vertices. An adjacent pair of the cells are attached to one another by a plurality of T-bars that each include a column defining a long axis that extends parallel to the stent axis, and a top bar attached to one end of the column. An opposite end of the column is attached to a first cell, and the top bar is attached at opposite ends to a second cell of the adjacent pair of cells. The column has a minimum width perpendicular to the long axis that is wider than a maximum width of each of the struts, and the column defines at least one slot. The top bar includes a curved edge on an opposite side from the column, and the curved edge straddles the long axis. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A stent comprising: a framework having a hollow cylindrical shape with a length along a stent axis, and the framework including a sequence of cells that each occupy a discrete segment of the stent length, and each of the cells including a plurality of struts with ends connected at respective vertices; an adjacent pair of the cells being attached to one another by a plurality of T-bars that each include a column defining a long axis extending parallel to the stent axis and a top bar attached to one end of the column, and an opposite end of the column being attached to a first cell of the adjacent pair of cells, and the top bar being attached at opposite ends to a second cell of the adjacent pair of cells; the column has a minimum width perpendicular to the long axis that is wider than a maximum width of each of the struts, and the column defines at least one slot; and the top bar has a curved edge on a side opposite from the column and the curved edge straddles the long axis. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The stent of claim 1 wherein each of the struts has a width to thickness ratio about equal to one. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The stent of claim 1 wherein the hollow cylindrical shape is movable among a loading diameter that is smaller than a tube diameter which is smaller than an expanded diameter; the framework is biased toward the expanded diameter; and the tube diameter is 5 French or less. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The stent of claim 1 wherein the at least one slot is exactly two slots. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The stent of claim 1 wherein every strut of the framework is oriented parallel to the stent axis when the hollow cylindrical shape is at a tube diameter. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The stent of claim 1 wherein the sequence of cells includes at least one end cell, at least one flex cell, and at least one hoop cell; and the adjacent pair of cells includes exactly one flex cell and exactly one hoop cell. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The stent of claim 1 wherein each end of the framework terminates in exactly three eyelets. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The stent of claim 1 wherein adjacent cells of the sequence of cells contact each other when the framework is in a loading configuration. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The stent of claim 1 wherein the column has a tall H shape, with each leg of the H shape having a width that is less than a width of the struts. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The stent of claim 1 wherein each of the struts has a uniform width, a uniform thickness, and a rectangular cross section. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The stent of claim 1 wherein each adjacent pair of struts is separated by a rectangular space with a width that is less than a width of each of the adjacent pair of struts when the hollow cylindrical shape is at a tube diameter. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The stent of claim 1 wherein each of the vertices define a continuous inner curve with a radius that is less than one half of a width of the struts joined by a respective vertex of the vertices. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The stent of claim 1 wherein the curved edge is a concave edge that faces away from the column. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) The stent of claim 1 wherein the hollow cylindrical shape is movable among a loading diameter that is smaller than a tube diameter which is smaller than an expanded diameter; the framework is biased toward the expanded diameter; and every strut of the framework is oriented parallel to the stent axis when the hollow cylindrical shape is at a tube diameter. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The stent of claim 14 wherein each of the struts has a width to thickness ratio about equal to one. ### Claim 16 (depends on 14) The stent of claim 14 wherein the sequence of cells includes at least one end cell, at least one flex cell, and at least one hoop cell; and the adjacent pair of cells includes exactly one flex cell and exactly one hoop cell. ### Claim 17 (depends on 14) The stent of claim 14 wherein each of the struts has a uniform width, a uniform thickness, and a rectangular cross section. ### Claim 18 (depends on 1) The stent of claim 1 wherein adjacent cells of the sequence of cells contact each other when the framework is in a loading configuration.