Variable expansion force stent
AssigneeSciMed Life Systems, Inc.
InventorJon P. St. Germain
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A stent having varying outward radial force along its length. In use, the stent can provide greater force in vessel regions requiring greater force and less force in regions requiring less. In particular, more force is provided in the narrowed, center of a stenosis, while not applying too much force to the adjoining healthy tissue area. Greater stent expansion is provided in wider vessel geometries and less stent expansion in narrower regions. Varying force is achieved varying the number of elements, the density of elements, and the thickness of the elements.
Claims19
A self-expanding stent made of a shape memory material, the stent having a length, the stent expandable from an unexpanded state to an expanded state, the radius of the stent in the unexpanded state constant along the length of the stent, the stent comprising:
- a tubular shaped structure, said structure having a radially outward biased force, said force being varied along said length, said tubular structure having a first end region, a middle region, and a second end region, wherein said force is weakest in said first end region, stronger in said middle region than in said first region, and stronger in said second end region than in said middle region.
A stent having a length, the stent expandable from an unexpanded state to an expanded state, the radius of the stent in the unexpanded state constant along the length of the stent, the stent comprising:
- a tubular shaped structure, said structure having a radially outward biased force, said force being varied along said length, said tubular structure having a first end region, a middle region, and a second end region, wherein said force is weakest in said first end region, stronger in said middle region than in said first region, and stronger in said second end region than in said middle region,
- the structure including a plurality of intersecting elements, the intersecting elements intersecting at a junction including an amount of material, the junction material amount being greater in the second end region than in the middle region and greater in the middle region than in the first end region.
A stent having a length, the stent expandable from an unexpanded state to an expanded state, the radius of the stent in the unexpanded state constant along the length of the stent, the stent comprising:
- a tubular shaped structure, said structure having a radially outward biased force, said force being varied along said length, said tubular structure having a first end region, a middle region, and a second end region, wherein said force is weakest in said first end region, stronger in said middle region than in said first region, and stronger in said second end region than in said middle region,
- the structure including a plurality of zig-zag bands, adjacent zig-zag bands connected by interconnecting elements.
A stent having a length, the stent expandable from an unexpanded state to an expanded state, the radius of the stent in the unexpanded state constant along the length of the stent, the stent comprising:
- a tubular shaped structure, said structure having a radially outward biased force, said force being varied along said length, said tubular structure having a first end region, a middle region, and a second end region, wherein said force is weakest in said first end region, stronger in said middle region than in said first region, and stronger in said second end region than in said middle region,
- wherein the thickness of the tubular structure in the second end region is greater than the thickness of the tubular structure in the middle region and the thickness of the tubular structure in the middle region is greater than the thickness of the tubular structure in the first end region.
A self-expanding stent made of a shape memory material, the stent having a length, the stent expandable from an unexpanded state to an expanded state, the stent comprising:
- a tubular shaped structure, said structure having a means for exerting a radially outward force, said force being varied along said length, said tubular structure having a first end region, a middle region, and a second end region, wherein said force is weakest in said first end region, stronger in said middle region than in said first region, and stronger in said second end region than in said middle region.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.