Intravascular stent and method of use
AssigneeAdvanced Cardiovascular Systems, Inc.
InventorTimothy A. Limon
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An expandable stent is implanted in a body lumen, such as a coronary artery, peripheral artery, or other body lumen for treating an area of vulnerable plaque. The invention provides for a an intravascular stent having a plurality of cylindrical rings connected by undulating links. The stent has a high degree of flexibility in the longitudinal direction, yet has adequate vessel wall coverage and radial strength sufficient to hold open an artery or other body lumen. A central section is positioned between distal and proximal sections and is aligned with the area of vulnerable plaque to enhance growth of endothelial cells over the fibrous cap of the vulnerable plaque to reinforce the area and reduce the likelihood of rupture.
Claims52
An intravascular stent for use in a body lumen, comprising:
- a distal section, a proximal section, and a central section positioned between the distal section and the proximal section, each section being aligned along a common longitudinal axis forming the stent;
- the distal section and the proximal section having a first strut pattern and a second strut pattern respectively, and the central section having a third strut pattern;
- and
- wherein the first and the second strut patterns are more dense than the third strut pattern.
An intravascular stent for use in a body lumen, comprising:
- a distal section, a proximal section, and a central section positioned between the distal section and the proximal section, each section being aligned along a common longitudinal axis forming the stent;
- the distal section and the proximal section each having a plurality of cylindrical rings interconnected along the longitudinal axis;
- the central section having a plurality of struts connected by apices to form a zig-zag configuration around the circumference of the stent and forming the central section;
- and
- the central section struts and apices form a connection between the distal section and the proximal section.
A method of implanting an intravascular stent for repairing a body lumen having vulnerable plaque, comprising:
- a catheter having a proximal end and a distal end and an expandable member adjacent the distal end;
- an intravascular stent, mounted on the expandable member, the stent having a distal section, a proximal section, and a central section positioned between the distal section and the proximal section, the central section having a plurality of struts connected by apices to form a substantially zig-zag pattern around the circumference of the stent in the central section;
- inserting the catheter into the vascular system and advancing the catheter distal end so that the stent is positioned in a body lumen to be repaired;
- aligning the stent in the body lumen so that the central section substantially aligns with the area of vulnerable plaque;
- inflating the expandable member and implanting the stent in the body lumen;
- and
- deflating the expandable member and withdrawing the catheter from the vascular system.
A flexible intravascular stent for use in a body lumen, comprising:
- a distal section, a proximal section, and a central section positioned therebetween;
- the distal section and the proximal section each having a plurality of interconnected cylindrical rings, each cylindrical ring having a first delivery diameter and a second expanded diameter;
- each cylindrical ring having a proximal end and a distal end and a cylindrical wall extending circumferentially between the proximal end and the distal end of the cylindrical ring;
- at least one undulating link attaching each cylindrical ring to an adjacent cylindrical ring, the undulating links being positioned substantially within the cylindrical wall of the cylindrical ring;
- and
- the central section having a plurality of struts connected by apices and extending around the circumference of the central section, the struts and apices connecting the distal section to the proximal section.
An intravascular stent for use in a body lumen, comprising:
- a distal section, a proximal section, and a central section positioned between the distal section and the proximal section, each section being aligned along a common longitudinal axis forming the stent;
- the distal section and the proximal section each having at least one cylindrical ring interconnected along the longitudinal axis, the number of cylindrical rings in the distal section differs from the number of rings in the proximal section;
- the central section having a plurality of struts connected by apices to form a zig-zag configuration around the circumference of the stent and forming the central section;
- and
- the central section struts and apices form a connection between the distal section and the proximal section.
The stent of claim 50, wherein the number of cylindrical rings in the distal section is greater than the number of cylindrical rings in the proximal section.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.