US 5,741,327 A · Surgical stent featuring radiopaque markers

Abstract

Radiopaque marker elements for attachment to ends of a radially expandable surgical stent are disclosed. Each radiopaque marker element is homogeneously formed from a radiopaque material and attached through an attachment means to ends of the stent. The radiopaque marker elements enhance the visibility of the stent when the stent is viewed with a medical imaging device, such as a fluoroscope. The marker elements extend beyond ends of the stent. The marker elements are attached to the stent before radial expansion and are configured to radially expand along with the stent during surgical implantation thereof within a body lumen, such as an artery. The radiopaque marker elements can either be attached to an unmodified radially expandable surgical stent or to a prepped stent which includes receivers at ends of the stent particularly configured to attach to the radiopaque marker elements. The radiopaque marker elements include tabs which match a contour of the receivers so that secure attachment of the radiopaque marker elements to the receivers at the ends of the stent is provided.

Claims10

Dependent claims

A radiopaque radially expandable stent for surgical implantation into a body lumen, such as an artery, said stent having a generally cylindrical contour both before and after expansion thereof, said stent further comprising in combination:

a first end and a second end opposite said first end;
at least two marker elements including a first marker element and a second marker element, each marker element being homogeneous and formed from a material which is radiopaque;
and
said first marker element attached to said first end and said second marker element attached to said second end;
wherein said stent includes a means to attach said first marker element and said second marker element to said stent, said attachment means located on at least two discreet locations at said first end of said stent and on at least two discreet locations at said second end of said stent;
and
where said attachment means includes at least one receiver extending from said first end of said stent and at least one tab extending from a side of said first marker element facing said first end, at least a portion of said tab having a tab contour which matches a receiver contour of at least a portion of said receiver, said tab of said first marker element located adjacent said receiver of said first end with said tab contour abutting said receiver contour.

4 more elements

A radially expandable surgical stent featuring separate radiopaque marker elements joined thereto, said stent further comprising in combination:

a first end and a second end opposite said first end and connected to said first end by a plurality of stent elements arranged in a generally cylindrical form together forming said stent, said stent elements including means to be radially expanded from a first diameter to a second diameter;
at least one marker element, said marker element formed from a material which is radiopaque;
and
a means to join said marker element to one of said ends of said stent;
and
wherein said joining means includes a receiver on said stent and a tab on said marker element.

3 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Surgical stent featuring radiopaque markers

Life of this patent

Surgical stent featuring radiopaque markers

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims10