Universal stent link design
AssigneeAdvanced Cardiovascular Systems, Inc.
InventorsKenny L. Dang, Andreina Gomez, Su-Wen Ueng
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
The present invention provides an improved stent design for repairing a vessel. The stent design incorporates crimpable, short non-linear links which are flexible in three dimensions and which include flexible arms. The ability to accommodate both small deformations that occur during delivery and larger deformations that occur upon expansion within the vessel is enhanced without sacrificing stent crimp diameter. The link may incorporate a short flexible link with a perpendicular transition to provide added flexibility.
Claims19
A stent, comprising:
- a cylindrical body having plurality of rings and a longitudinal axis;
- and
- at least one link connecting one of the plurality of rings to another of the plurality of rings, each link including a pa of flexible arms, the arms having a gap therebetween and connected such that they for an open loop which extends generally parallel to the longitudinal axis, the link further comprising a transition curve extending from one of the arms directed generally perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the body wherein the transition curve is separate from he arm.
A stent comprising:
- a cylindrical body having plurality of rings and a longitudinal axis;
- at least one link connecting one of the plurality of rings to another of the plurality of rings, each link including a plurality of flexible arms, the arms having gaps therebetween and connected such that they form a pair of open loops which extend generally parallel to the longitudinal axis, the link further comprising a transition curve extending from one of the arms directed generally perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the body wherein the transition curve is separate from the arm;
- and
- each ring including six first peaks and six second peaks, the first peaks and second peaks of adjacent rings spaced such that only three second peaks of adjacent rings are aligned and the three aligned second peaks of adjacent rings are connected by one of the links.
A stent comprising:
- a cylindrical body having plurality of rings and a longitudinal axis;
- at least one link connecting one of the plurality of rings to another of the plurality of rings, each link including a plurality of flexible arms, the arms having gaps therebetween and connected such that they form a pair of open loops which extend generally parallel to the longitudinal axis, the link further comprising a transition curve extending from one of the arms directed generally perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the body wherein the transition curve is separate from the arm.
A method of treating body lumens using a stent having a plurality of adjacently arranged rings connected to each other by at least one link defined by open loops extending generally parallel to a longitudinal axis of the stent and a plurality of flexible arms, the link further including a transition curve extending from one of the arms directed generally perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the stent wherein the transition curve is separate from the arm, comprising:
- applying a force to reduce a diameter of the stent;
- configuring the stent so that the link is compressed to a smaller dimension;
- placing the stent on a catheter;
- inserting the catheter within a body lumen;
- and
- deploying the stent within the body lumen.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.