Reduced-profile slide and lock stent

An expandable slide and lock stent, the stent comprising a tubular member having circumferential and longitudinal axes, the stent comprising:

• a first backbone;
• a second backbone;
• a third backbone;
• each of the first, second, and third backbones extending along at least a portion of the circumferential and the longitudinal axes, and each comprising:
• an open bond slot in a first portion of the respective backbone;
• a closed pass-through slot in a second portion of the respective backbone;
• and
• a recessed nesting area in a third portion of the respective backbone;
• the first portion being radially thinner than the second portion and being radially thinner than the third portion;
• and
• the third portion being radially thinner than the second portion;
• a rail member extending along at least a portion of the circumferential axis, the rail member comprising proximal and distal ends, wherein:
• the proximal end of the rail member is coupled to the first backbone at the open bond slot of the first backbone;
• the distal end of the rail member extends from the first backbone in a circumferential direction through the closed pass-through slot of the second backbone;
• and
• the rail member being slidably interfaced with the recessed nesting area of the third backbone;
• wherein the rail member is configured to provide one-way movement of the second and third backbones away from the first backbone such that the tubular member can be expanded between a collapsed diameter and an expanded diameter.

An expandable slide and lock stent, the stent comprising a tubular member having circumferential and longitudinal axes, the stent comprising:

• at least a first backbone, a second backbone, and a third backbone, the first, second, and third backbones extending along the longitudinal axis;
• a rail member defining proximal and distal ends, the proximal end of the rail member being coupled to the first backbone, the distal end of the rail member extending circumferentially from the first backbone, the rail member configured to engage with an engagement element in the second backbone;
• wherein the rail member is configured to provide one-way movement of the second backbone away from the first backbone such that the tubular member can be expanded between a collapsed diameter and an expanded diameter;
• wherein the rail member further extends circumferentially beyond the engagement element in the second backbone to engage the third backbone, the third backbone having a recessed surface profile portion that has a reduced radial thickness compared to other portions of the third backbone, the recessed surface profile portion being aligned to engage the rail member extending circumferentially from second backbone, the engagement between the rail member and the recessed surface profile portion providing a reduced radial profile of the engaged rail member and backbone.

An expandable slide and lock stent, the stent comprising a tubular member having circumferential and longitudinal axes, the stent comprising:

• a first backbone and a second backbone, the first and second backbones extending along at least a portion of the circumferential axis and along the longitudinal axis, the first and second backbones each having:
• a first portion;
• a second portion;
• and
• a third portion;
• wherein each of the portions has a different radial thickness, the first portion being thicker than the second portion, and the second portion being thicker than the third portion;
• and
• wherein the second portion is located longitudinally between the first and second portions on the backbones;
• a rail member defining proximal and distal ends, the proximal end of the rail member being coupled to the first backbone at the first portion, the distal end of the rail member extending from the first backbone in a circumferential direction, the rail member configured to engage with an engagement element in the third portion of the second backbone;
• wherein the rail member is configured to provide one-way movement of the second backbone away from the first backbone such that the tubular member can be expanded between a collapsed diameter and an expanded diameter.

A slide and lock stent configured to expand from a collapsed configuration to an expanded configuration, the stent comprising:

• first, second, and third longitudinal backbones, each having engagement area types 1, 2, 3;
• and
• first, second, and third circumferential rail members, each engaged with each of the backbones, wherein:
• the engagement between the first circumferential rail member and the first backbone is at engagement area type 1;
• the engagement between the second circumferential rail member and the first backbone is at engagement area type 2;
• the engagement between the third circumferential rail member and the first backbone is at engagement area type 3;
• the engagement between the first circumferential rail member and the second backbone is at engagement area type 2;
• the engagement between the second circumferential rail member and the second backbone is at engagement area type 3;
• the engagement between the third circumferential rail member and the second backbone is at engagement area type 1;
• the engagement between the first circumferential rail member and the third backbone is at engagement area type 3;
• the engagement between the second circumferential rail member and the third backbone is at engagement area type 1;
• and
• the engagement between the third circumferential rail member and the third backbone is at engagement area type 2.

A slide and lock stent configured to expand from a collapsed configuration to an expanded configuration, the stent comprising:

• a first backbone and a second backbone, the first and second backbones extending along the longitudinal axis and being circumferentially adjacent to one another, the first and second backbones each having:
• a first engagement area type;
• a second engagement area type;
• and
• a third engagement area type;
• wherein the first, second, and third engagement types on the same backbone are longitudinally spaced apart from one another, wherein the first engagement type is longitudinally offset from a first engagement type located on an adjacent backbone, wherein the second engagement type is longitudinally offset from a second engagement type located on an adjacent backbone, and wherein the third engagement type is longitudinally offset from a third engagement type located on an adjacent backbone;
• and
• at least one rail member having a proximal and distal end, the rail member having first, second, and third engagement portions, the first engagement portion being located nearest to the proximal end, the third engagement portion being located nearest the distal end, and the second engagement portion being located between the first and second engagement portions;
• wherein the first engagement portion of the rail member is configured to engage with one of the first engagement area types to form a first connection, the second engagement portion of the rail member is configured to engage with a second engagement area type on a backbone circumferentially adjacent to the backbone with the first connection to form a second connection, and the third engagement portion of the rail member is configured to engage with the third engagement area type on a backbone circumferentially adjacent to the backbone with the third connection to form a third connection.