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AssigneeBoston Scientific Scimed, Inc.
InventorsDavid J. Zarbatany, Ari Moskowitz, Fergus P. Quigley, Lukas J. Hijlkema
Estimating the term…
A modular elongated stent having an overlap region where two modular components fit together, the overlap region being relatively stiff as compared to another more flexible region of the stent when the stent is in an assembled configuration, the stent further comprising a mimic region that has a stiffness essentially equivalent to the stiffness of the overlap region, to provide kink resistance. A stent having such a mimic region or otherwise stiff region and a flexible region may have a transition region between the stiff and flexible regions, such as a bridging material attached to the stent, also to provide kink resistance. A stent may have relatively stiff regions and relatively flexible regions positioned to align the flexible regions with curved regions of a body lumen when deployed within the body lumen. The stiffness of the stiff, flexible, and transition regions may be controlled by attaching material to the stent, varying the cross-sectional area of the stent components, varying the metallurgical properties thereof, and/or by varying the stent architecture. Methods for providing kink resistance by controlling stent stiffness are also disclosed. A stent having regions of different metallurgical properties is also disclosed, as are methods for creating such a stent.
A modular elongated stent for holding open a body lumen and for assembly in situ, the stent comprising at least a first component and a second component, the stent having an assembled configuration comprising the first component and the second component assembled together, the stent comprising:
A method for providing an elongated stent to hold open a designated portion of a body lumen having one or more curved regions, the designated portion having a length and the stent having an expanded configuration for deployment within the body lumen, a compressed configuration for introduction and transport within the lumen prior to deployment, and a length in the expanded configuration equivalent to the length of the designated portion, the method comprising:
An elongated stent for holding open a body lumen, the stent comprising:
An elongated stent for holding open a body lumen, the stent comprising at least a first longitudinal region having first metallurgical properties and a second longitudinal region having second metallurgical properties.
A method for providing kink resistance in an elongated stent adapted to hold open a body lumen, the stent having at least one stiff region with a first set of manipulation properties and at least one flexible region with a second set of manipulation properties different than the first set of manipulation properties, the second set of manipulation properties including at least one of:
A method for minimizing kinking of an elongated stent during introduction of the stent through the body lumen to a deployment location and during deployment of the stent at the deployment location, the stent having at least one stiff region with a first set of manipulation properties adjacent to at least one flexible region with a second set of manipulation properties different than the first set of manipulation properties, the second set of manipulation properties including at least one of:
A method for providing an elongated stent for holding open a body lumen with a first longitudinal region having a first set of metallurgical properties and a second longitudinal region having second set of metallurgical properties, the method comprising exposing the first longitudinal region to a first annealing history and exposing the second longitudinal region to a second annealing history.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.