Selectively thinned coiled-sheet stents and methods for making them
AssigneeEndotex Interventional Systems, Inc.
InventorsJonathan M. Rourke, Yi Yang
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A coiled-sheet stent includes a tubular body having a longitudinal axis, a circumference, and a thickness, and having a size configured for introduction into a body lumen. The tubular body includes a plurality of cylindrical bands, each band including a generally zig-zag pattern defined by a series of sequential arcuate-shaped diagonal elements connected to one another and extending about the circumference. Longitudinal connectors extend between adjacent cylindrical bands. Slots are formed in the tubular body oriented about the circumference of the tubular body, thereby providing reduced thickness regions in the longitudinal connectors that have a thickness that is substantially smaller than the thickness of the cylindrical bands of the tubular body.
Claims11
A stent, comprising:
- a generally tubular body having a longitudinal axis and a circumference, and having a size configured for introduction into a body lumen, the tubular body being expandable between a contracted condition for facilitating introduction into a body lumen and an enlarged condition for engaging a wall of a body lumen;
- a plurality of cylindrical bands formed in the tubular body, each band comprising a generally zig-zag pattern;
- and
- a plurality of longitudinal connectors extending between and connecting adjacent cylindrical bands, the longitudinal connectors having reduced thickness regions having a thickness t1 in a radial direction that is substantially smaller than a thickness t0 of the adjacent cylindrical bands, the longitudinal connectors assuming a substantially straight configuration when the tubular body is in its expanded condition.
A stent, comprising:
- a coiled-up sheet having a longitudinal axis and a circumference, the coiled-up sheet being expandable between a contracted condition for facilitating introduction into a body lumen and an enlarged condition for engaging a wall of a body lumen, the coiled-up sheet comprising overlapping inner and outer longitudinal sections that may slide in the circumferential direction with respect to one another to allow radial expansion;
- a plurality of cylindrical bands formed in the coiled-up sheet, each band comprising a generally zig-zag pattern;
- and
- a plurality of longitudinal connectors extending between and connecting adjacent cylindrical bands, the longitudinal connectors having reduced thickness regions having a thickness t1 in a radial direction that is substantially smaller than a thickness t0 of the adjacent cylindrical bands, the longitudinal connectors assuming a substantially straight configuration when the coiled-up sheet is in its expanded condition.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.