# US 2014/0155986 A1 · Intravascular stent

> Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt

- Number: US 2014/0155986 A1
- Document ID: US20140155986A1
- Status: Published application
- Kind: A1
- Application number: 13/889,949
- Filed: 2013-05-08
- Published: 2014-06-05
- Earliest claimed: 2000-05-03
- Assignees: Abbott Cardiovascular Systems Inc.
- Applicants: Abbott Cardiovascular Systems Inc.
- Inventors: Stephen D. Ainsworth; E Tina Cheng; James M. Jacobs
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20140155986A1

## CPC

- A61F 2/915: with bands having a meander structure, adjacent bands being connected to each other
- A61F 2/82: Devices providing patency to, or preventing collapsing of, tubular structures of the body, e.g. stents (stent-grafts for tubular structures of the body other than blood vessels A61F2/04; stent-grafts for blood vessels A61F2/07)
- A61F 2/844: folded prior to deployment
- A61F 2002/91516: {the meander having a change in frequency along the band}
- A61F 2002/91533: {characterised by the phase between adjacent bands}
- A61F 2002/91575: {connected peak to trough}
- A61F 2002/91583: {by a bridge, whereby at least one of its ends is connected along the length of a strut between two consecutive apices within a band}
- A61F 2210/0014: using shape memory or superelastic materials, e.g. nitinol
- A61F 2230/0013: Horseshoe-shaped, e.g. crescent-shaped, C-shaped, U-shaped
- A61F 2230/0054: V-shaped
- A61F 2250/0036: differing in thickness
- A61F 2310/00023: Titanium or titanium-based alloys, e.g. Ti-Ni alloys
- 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

The invention is directed to an expandable stent for implanting in a body lumen, such as a coronary artery, peripheral artery, or other body lumen. 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.

## Claims

### Claim at position 1

1-76. (canceled)

### Claim 77

A method of expanding a longitudinally flexible stent without stent shortening, comprising:
providing a plurality of cylindrical rings interconnected by a plurality of undulating links, each of the undulating links having bends connected by straight portions;
aligning the straight portions of the undulating links perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the stent and parallel to a circumferential direction of expansion;
expanding the cylindrical rings in the circumferential direction of expansion so that the rings expand radially outwardly while the bends in the undulating links remain unexpanded thereby preventing the stent from foreshortening during expansion.

### Claim 78 (depends on 77)

The method of claim 77, wherein expansion of the stent is radially outwardly, but not longitudinally along the stent longitudinal axis.

### Claim 79 (depends on 77)

The method of claim 77, wherein after stent expansion, the bends of the undulating links remain unexpanded in order to provide flexibility and good vessel wall coverage.

### Claim 80 (depends on 77)

The method of claim 77, wherein after expansion of the stent, an overall length of the stent is the same in an unexpanded configuration and an expanded configuration.

### Claim 81 (depends on 77)

The method of claim 77, wherein the links being perpendicular to the stent longitudinal axis creates a hinge to provide longitudinal flexibility to the stent.