Stent configurations
AssigneeSciMed Life Systems, Inc.
InventorsTimothy G.J. Ehr, Graig L. Kveen
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
The invention is directed to an expandable stent which is longitudinally flexible in both the unexpanded and expanded conditions. The stent includes spiral structures which at least partially unwind upon expansion of the stent to limit stent recoil. Regions of low strain in the stent during expansion are provided by the spiral structures.
Claims21
1-17 (Canceled)
A stent, comprising:
- a cylindrical body having plurality of rings and a longitudinal axis;
- and
- at least one link connecting one of the plurality of rings to another of the plurality of rings, each link including a pair of flexible arms, the arms having a gap therebetween and connected such that they form an open loop which extends generally parallel to the longitudinal axis, the link further comprising a transition curve extending from one of the arms directed generally perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the body wherein the transition curve is separate from the arm.
A stent comprising:
- a cylindrical body having plurality of rings and a longitudinal axis;
- at least one link connecting one of the plurality of rings to another of the plurality of rings, each link including a plurality of flexible arms, the arms having gaps therebetween and connected such that they form a pair of open loops which extend generally parallel to the longitudinal axis, the link further comprising a transition curve extending from one of the arms directed generally perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the body wherein the transition curve is separate from the arm.
The stent of clam 29, wherein the links are crimpable to thereby facilitate compressing the stent to a smaller diameter.
A method of treating body lumens using a stent having a plurality of adjacently arranged rings connected to each other by at least one link defined by open loops extending generally parallel to a longitudinal axis of the stent and a plurality of flexible arms, the link further including a transition curve extending from one of the arms directed generally perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the stent wherein the transition curve is separate from the arm, comprising:
- applying a force to reduce a diameter of the stent;
- configuring the stent so that the link is compressed to a smaller dimension;
- placing the stent on a catheter;
- inserting the catheter within a body lumen;
- and
- deploying the stent within the body lumen.
A stent having a longitudinal axis, the stent comprising undulating bands disposed about the longitudinal axis, each undulating band having alternating peaks and troughs with struts extending therebetween, undulating bands which are adjacent one another being connected via connectors, each connector having at least two members which extend from a connection point of adjacent undulating bands and which converge at a convergence point of the connector, portions of each member of the connector nesting with one another.
A stent having a longitudinal axis, the stent comprising undulating bands disposed about the longitudinal axis, each undulating band having alternating peaks and troughs with struts extending therebetween, undulating bands which are adjacent one another being connected via connectors, each connector having at least two members which extend from a connection point of adjacent undulating bands and which converge at a convergence point of the connector, the members having variable radiuses of curvature, the radius of curvature of each member being smaller at a point closer to the convergence point than at a point substantially in a middle portion of the member.
A stent having a longitudinal axis, the stent comprising undulating bands disposed about the longitudinal axis, each undulating band having alternating peaks and troughs with struts extending therebetween, undulating bands which are adjacent one another being connected via connectors, each connector having at least two members which extend from a connection point of adjacent undulating bands and which converge at a convergence point of the connector, each member having a first end and a second end, the first end of each member connected at the convergence point, the second end of each member connected at the connection point, the radius of curvature progressively smaller from the second end to the first end of the member.
A stent having a longitudinal axis, the stent comprising undulating bands disposed about the longitudinal axis, each undulating band having alternating peaks and troughs with struts extending therebetween, undulating bands which are adjacent one another being connected via connectors, each connector having at least two members which extend from a connection point of adjacent undulating bands and which converge at a convergence point of the connector, each member intersected multiple times about an imaginary plane which passes through the convergence point and which contains the longitudinal axis.
A stent having a longitudinal axis, the stent comprising undulating bands disposed about the longitudinal axis, each undulating band having alternating peaks and troughs with struts extending therebetween, undulating bands which are adjacent one another being connected via connectors, each connector having at least two members which extend from a connection point of adjacent undulating bands and which converge at a convergence point of the connector, the connectors opening up upon expansion of the stent.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.