Flexible Stent Device with Magnetic Connections
AssigneeMedtronic Vascular, Inc.
InventorJohn Kantor
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Abstract
A stent includes a plurality of bands aligned generally along a common longitudinal axis. The plurality of bands includes at least a first band having a plurality of first crowns and a second band adjacent to the first band and having a plurality of second crowns. A magnetic connection joins at least one of the first crowns and at least one of the second crowns.
Claims18
A flexible stent comprising:
- a plurality of bands aligned generally along a common longitudinal axis, wherein the plurality of bands includes at least a first band having a plurality of first crowns and a second band adjacent to the first band and having a plurality of second crowns;
- and
- a magnetic connection between at least one of the first crowns and at least one of the second crowns.
A flexible stent comprising:
- a first band;
- a second band adjacent said first band;
- and
- a connection between said first and second bands, wherein said connection is separable and reconnectable during delivery of the stent to a treatment site.
A method of delivering a stent to a treatment site in a vessel, wherein the stent includes a plurality of a plurality of bands aligned generally along a common longitudinal axis, wherein adjacent bands in the plurality of bands are connected by separable connections, comprising the steps of:
- advancing the stent in a radially compressed configuration through a lumen of the vessel;
- permitting at least one of the connections to be separated while the stent is being advanced;
- and
- after the connection is separated, permitting the connection to be reconnected.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.