# US 7,316,710 B1 · Flexible stent

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- Number: US 7,316,710 B1
- Document ID: US7316710B1
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B1
- Application number: 10/334,033
- Filed: 2002-12-30
- Granted: 2008-01-08
- Earliest claimed: 2002-12-30
- Assignees: Advanced Cardiovascular Systems, Inc.
- Inventors: E Tina Cheng; Santosh Prabhu; Kyle Marie Krueger; Diem Uyen Ta; Carla Rosa Pienknagura
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US7316710B1

## CPC

- A61F 2/915: with bands having a meander structure, adjacent bands being connected to each other
- A61F 2/91: made from perforated sheets or tubes, e.g. perforated by laser cuts or etched holes
- A61F 2002/91525: {within the whole structure different bands showing different meander characteristics, e.g. frequency or amplitude}
- A61F 2002/91541: {Adjacent bands are arranged out of phase}
- A61F 2002/91558: {connected peak to peak}
- A61F 2002/91575: {connected peak to trough}
- A61F 2002/91583: {by a bridge, whereby at least one of its ends is connected along the length of a strut between two consecutive apices within a band}
- A61F 2210/0004: bioabsorbable
- A61F 2230/0013: Horseshoe-shaped, e.g. crescent-shaped, C-shaped, U-shaped
- A61F 2250/0018: differing in elasticity, stiffness or compressibility
- A61F 2250/0029: differing in bending or flexure capacity
- A61F 2250/0036: differing in thickness
- A61F 2250/0067: Means for introducing or releasing pharmaceutical products into the body
- A61F 2250/0068: the pharmaceutical product being in a reservoir
- A61F 2250/0098: radio-opaque, e.g. radio-opaque markers
- A61F 2310/00017: Iron- or Fe-based alloys, e.g. stainless steel
- A61F 2310/00023: Titanium or titanium-based alloys, e.g. Ti-Ni alloys
- A61F 2310/00029: Cobalt-based alloys, e.g. Co-Cr alloys or Vitallium
- A61F 2310/00053: Vanadium or V-based alloys
- A61F 2310/00107: Palladium or Pd-based alloys
- A61F 2310/00131: Tantalum or Ta-based alloys
- A61F 2310/00137: Tungsten or W-based alloys
- A61F 2310/00143: Iridium or Ir-based alloys
- A61F 2310/00149: Platinum or Pt-based alloys
- A61F 2310/00155: Gold or Au-based alloys
- A61F: FILTERS IMPLANTABLE INTO BLOOD VESSELS; PROSTHESES; DEVICES PROVIDING PATENCY TO, OR PREVENTING COLLAPSING OF, TUBULAR STRUCTURES OF THE BODY, e.g. STENTS; ORTHOPAEDIC, NURSING OR CONTRACEPTIVE DEVICES; FOMENTATION; TREATMENT OR PROTECTION OF EYES OR EARS; BANDAGES, DRESSINGS OR ABSORBENT PADS; FIRST-AID KITS (dental prosthetics A61C)

## Abstract

The present invention is directed to a flexible expandable stent for implantation in a body lumen, such as a coronary artery. The stent generally includes a series of metallic cylindrical rings longitudinally aligned on a common axis of the stent and interconnected by a series of links which be polymeric or metallic. Varying configurations and patterns of the links and rings provides longitudinal and flexural flexibility to the stent while maintaining sufficient column strength to space the cylindrical rings along the longitudinal axis and providing a low crimp profile, enhanced stent security and radial stiffness.

## Claims

### Claim 1

An intravascular stent while in an unexpanded state, comprising:
a distal section, a proximal section, and a center section there between;
the distal section and the proximal section each having a single cylindrical ring and the center section having a plurality of cylindrical rings;
the cylindrical ring of the distal section and the cylindrical rings of the center section having U-shaped undulations with peaks and valleys, wherein each peak is connected to a valley by a first segment that extends along most of the distance between such peak and valley; and
the cylindrical ring in the proximal section having U-shaped undulations with peaks and valleys, wherein each peak is connected to a valley by a second segment that extends along most of the distance between such peak and valley;
wherein said first segments have a shape that is different than the shape of said second segments as each of said first segments defines a substantially straight line while each of said second segments defines a series of curves.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The stent of claim 1, wherein adjacent cylindrical rings are connected by links.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

The stent of claim 2, wherein two links connect the cylindrical ring in the distal section to an adjacent cylindrical ring in the center section.

### Claim 4 (depends on 2)

The stent of claim 2, wherein two links connect the cylindrical ring in the proximal section to an adjacent cylindrical ring in the center section.

### Claim 5 (depends on 2)

The stent of claim 2, wherein three links connect adjacent cylindrical rings in the center section.

### Claim 6 (depends on 2)

The stent of claim 2, wherein the cylindrical rings and the links are formed from a metallic material taken from the group of metals consisting of stainless steel, titanium, tungsten, tantalum, vanadium, nickel-titanium, cobalt-chromium, gold, palladium, platinum and platinum-iridium.

### Claim 7 (depends on 2)

The stent of claim 2, wherein at least a portion of the stent is coated with a therapeutic drug.

### Claim 8 (depends on 7)

The stent of claim 7, wherein at least one of the links includes micro depots for receiving the therapeutic drug.

### Claim 9 (depends on 7)

The stent of claim 7, wherein at least one of the links includes micro channels for receiving the therapeutic drug.

### Claim 10 (depends on 7)

The stent of claim 7, wherein at least one ring other than a center ring includes micro depots for receiving the therapeutic drug.

### Claim 11 (depends on 7)

The stent of claim 7, wherein at least one ring other than a center ring includes micro channels for receiving the therapeutic drug.