MRI compatible stent
AssigneeAdvanced Cardiovascular Systems, Inc.
InventorStephen Dirk Pacetti
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An expandable metallic stent has discontinuities of non-conducting material. These eliminate electrically conducting paths in the stent rings and cells. This makes the stent easier to image with magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). The non-conducting material can include adhesives, polymers, ceramics, composites, nitrides, oxides, silicides, and carbides. The discontinuity is preferably shaped so that during expansion the discontinuity is placed in primarily a compressive stress.
Claims41
An expandable metallic stent, for use in a body lumen, that can be visualized by magnetic resonance imaging, comprising:
- a generally cylindrical metal tube with apertures that form a cage of electrically conducting cells and circumferential rings in the stent that shield the body lumen from electromagnetic radiation generated by magnetic resonance imaging;
- and
- a plurality of electrical discontinuities in the metal tube to substantially reduce or eliminate the shielding of the body lumen from electromagnetic radiation, the discontinuities including an electrically non-conducting material.
An expandable metallic stent for use in a body lumen and with an improved visibility for MRI, comprising:
- a plurality of metallic, electrically conducting rings and cells that form a cage that shields the body lumen from electromagnetic radiation, each ring defining a generally cylindrical surface;
- at least one connector connecting each ring to an adjacent ring, the connectors and the adjacent rings forming at least one cell;
- an electrical discontinuity in a plurality of the rings to substantially reduce or eliminate the shielding of the body lumen from electromagnetic radiation, the discontinuity being configured so as to be subject to primarily a compressive force during the expansion of the stent;
- and
- an electrically non-conducting material disposed in each discontinuity.
In a metallic, expandable stent for use in a body lumen and comprised of interconnected, electrically conducting rings, the stent having an improved visibility to electromagnetic radiation of MRI, the improvement comprising:
- an electrical discontinuity, disposed in a plurality of the rings, to substantially reduce or eliminate shielding of the body lumen from electromagnetic radiation caused by MRI.
In a metallic, expandable stent for use in a body lumen and comprised of a plurality of electrically conducting cells with an improved visibility to electromagnetic radiation of MRI, the improvement comprising:
- an electrical discontinuity, disposed in a plurality of cells and including an electrically non-conducting material, to substantially reduce or eliminate the shielding of the body lumen from the electromagnetic radiation caused by the MRI.
In a metallic endoluminal prosthesis having a cage of electrical current paths inducible by MRI, the improvement comprising:
- a plurality of electrical discontinuities having an electrically non-conducting material, the discontinuities being disposed in the current paths to substantially reduce or eliminate MRI induced current in the cage.
An expandable metallic stent for use in a body lumen and with an improved visibility for MRI, comprising:
- a plurality of metallic, electrically conducting rings and cells that form a cage shielding the body lumen from electromagnetic radiation from the MRI, each ring defining a generally cylindrical surface;
- at least one connector connecting each ring to an adjacent ring, the connectors and adjacent rings forming at least one cell;
- an electrical discontinuity in a plurality of the cells to substantially reduce or eliminate the shielding of the body lumen from electromagnetic radiation from the MRI, the discontinuity being configured so as to be subject to primarily a compressive force during the expansion of the stent;
- and
- an electrically non-conducting material disposed in each discontinuity.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.