# US 8,771,339 B2 · Longitudinally flexible expandable stent > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 8,771,339 B2 - Document ID: US8771339B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 13/857,530 - Filed: 2013-04-05 - Published: 2013-08-29 - Granted: 2014-07-08 - Earliest claimed: 1995-03-01 - Assignees: Boston Scientific Scimed, Inc. - Applicants: Boston Scientific Scimed, Inc. - Inventors: Brian J. Brown - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US8771339B2 ## CPC - A61F 2/82: Devices providing patency to, or preventing collapsing of, tubular structures of the body, e.g. stents (stent-grafts for tubular structures of the body other than blood vessels A61F2/04; stent-grafts for blood vessels A61F2/07) - A61F 2/88: the wire-like elements formed as helical or spiral coils - A61F 2/89: the wire-like elements comprising two or more adjacent rings flexibly connected by separate members - A61F 2/91: made from perforated sheets or tubes, e.g. perforated by laser cuts or etched holes - A61F 2/915: with bands having a meander structure, adjacent bands being connected to each other - A61F 2002/91508: {the meander having a difference in amplitude along the band} - A61F 2002/91516: {the meander having a change in frequency along the band} - A61F 2002/91525: {within the whole structure different bands showing different meander characteristics, e.g. frequency or amplitude} - A61F 2002/91533: {characterised by the phase between adjacent bands} - A61F 2002/91558: {connected peak to peak} - 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 2210/0019: operated at only one temperature whilst inside or touching the human body, e.g. constrained in a non-operative shape during surgery, another temperature only occurring before the operation - A61F 2220/005: using adhesives - A61F 2220/0058: soldered or brazed or welded - A61F 2230/0054: V-shaped - A61F 2250/0018: differing in elasticity, stiffness or compressibility - 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 Segmented articulatable stent of open structure comprised of end-connected struts of first and second lengths making up first and second segments with angular interconnects between adjacent first and second segments. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An expandable stent, consisting of: a plurality of adjacent closed cylindrical bands, the closed cylindrical bands being contiguous patterns forming cylinders around the stent longitudinal axis, connected to one another by a plurality of interconnecting constituents of the stent, the interconnecting constituents joining two or more other constituents of the stent, wherein the other constituents comprise the adjacent closed cylindrical bands; and first and second end segments straddling a main body of the stent, each closed cylindrical band including a plurality of first circumferential segments, each first circumferential segment being a contiguous element coursing in a circumferential manner about the stent and spanning between exactly two interconnecting constituents and consisting of five linear segments connected with end portions; each closed cylindrical band including a plurality of second circumferential segments, each second circumferential segment being a contiguous element coursing in a circumferential manner about the stent and spanning between exactly two interconnecting constituents and consisting of three linear segments connected by end portions; the first and second circumferential segments alternating with one another in each closed cylindrical band; wherein the first circumferential segments of adjacent closed cylindrical bands are offset from each other to form a first continuous substantially repeating path coursing along the stent in a helical manner and consisting of a plurality of the first circumferential segments alternating with a plurality of the interconnecting constituents; and wherein the second circumferential segments of adjacent closed cylindrical bands are offset from each other to form a second continuous substantially repeating path coursing along the stent in a helical manner and consisting of a plurality of second circumferential segments alternating with a plurality of the interconnecting constituents. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The stent of claim 1, wherein the stent is in an unexpanded state. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The stent of claim 1, wherein the stent is in an expanded state. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The stent of claim 1, wherein the end portions include curved portions. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The stent of claim 4, wherein the curved portions of at least two adjacent closed cylindrical bands are circumferentially offset from one another. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The stent of claim 1, wherein the first continuous substantially repeating-path crosses the second continuous substantially repeating path. ### Claim 7 An expandable stent, consisting of: a plurality of adjacent closed cylindrical bands, the closed cylindrical bands being contiguous patterns forming cylinders around the stent longitudinal axis, and connected by a plurality of interconnecting constituents of the stent, the interconnecting constituents joining two or more other constituents of the stent, wherein the other constituents comprise the adjacent closed cylindrical bands; each closed cylindrical band defined by a plurality of first circumferential segments, the first circumferential segments being contiguous elements coursing in a circumferential manner about the stent and spanning between exactly two interconnecting constituents, alternating with a plurality of second circumferential segments, the second circumferential segments being contiguous elements coursing in a circumferential manner about the stent and spanning between exactly two interconnecting constituents, each first circumferential segment consisting of five linear struts connected by end portions, and each second circumferential segment consisting of three linear struts connected by end portions; at least one end segment connected to one of the closed cylindrical bands; a first continuous substantially repeating path coursing along the stent in a helical manner and consisting of a plurality of the first circumferential segments alternating with a plurality of the interconnecting constituents; and a second continuous substantially repeating path coursing along the stent in a helical manner and consisting of a plurality of the second circumferential segments alternating with a plurality of the interconnecting constituents. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The stent of claim 7, wherein the stent is in an unexpanded state. ### Claim 9 (depends on 7) The stent of claim 7, wherein the first continuous substantially repeating path crosses the second continuous substantially repeating path. ### Claim 10 (depends on 7) The stent of claim 7, wherein the end portions include curved portions. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The stent of claim 10, wherein the curved portions of at least two adjacent closed cylindrical bands are circumferentially offset from one another. ### Claim 12 (depends on 7) The stent of claim 7, wherein the stent defines a longitudinal axis and at least one of the interconnecting constituents forms an angle with respect to the longitudinal axis. ### Claim 13 An expandable stent, consisting of: a plurality of adjacent closed cylindrical bands, the closed cylindrical bands being contiguous patterns forming cylinders around the stent longitudinal axis, connected by a plurality of interconnecting constituents of the stent, the interconnecting constituents joining two or more other constituents of the stent, wherein the other constituents comprise the adjacent closed cylindrical bands; wherein the interconnecting constituents are spaced apart by: a plurality of first circumferential segments consisting of five linear struts connected by end portions, the first circumferential segments being contiguous elements coursing in a circumferential manner about the stent and spanning between exactly two interconnecting constituents, and a plurality of second circumferential segments consisting of three linear struts connected by end portions, the second circumferential segments being contiguous elements coursing in a circumferential manner about the stent and spanning between exactly two interconnecting constituents, in an alternating pattern to define: a first continuous substantially repeating path coursing along the stent in a helical manner and consisting of a plurality of the first circumferential segments alternating with a plurality of the interconnecting constituents, and a second continuous substantially repeating path coursing along the stent in a helical manner and consisting of a plurality of the second circumferential segments alternating with a plurality of the interconnecting constituents, wherein the first continuous substantially repeating path crosses the second continuous substantially repeating path. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The stent of claim 13, wherein the stent is in an unexpanded state. ### Claim 15 (depends on 13) The stent of claim 13, wherein the end portions include curved portions. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The stent of claim 15, wherein the curved portions of at least two adjacent closed cylindrical bands are circumferentially staggered from each another. ### Claim 17 (depends on 13) The stent of claim 13, wherein the plurality of adjacent closed cylindrical bands include at least one end segment connected to one of the closed cylindrical bands.