# US 9,375,331 B2 · Flexible stent > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 9,375,331 B2 - Document ID: US9375331B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 11/970,374 - Filed: 2008-01-07 - Published: 2008-05-01 - Granted: 2016-06-28 - Earliest claimed: 2002-12-30 - Assignees: Abbott Cardiovascular Systems Inc. - Applicants: E Tina Cheng; Santosh Prabhu; Kyle Marie Krueger; Diem Uyen Ta; Carla Rosa Pienknagura - Inventors: E Tina Cheng; Santosh Prabhu; Kyle Marie Krueger; Diem Uyen Ta; Carla Rosa Pienknagura - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US9375331B2 ## 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, comprising: a plurality of undulating rings including a proximal end ring, a distal end ring, and a plurality of center section rings therebetween, each ring having peaks on a proximal end of the ring and valleys on a distal end of the ring; a plurality of straight links and a plurality of curved links, the straight links differentiated from the curved links in terms of flexibility; wherein the proximal end ring is connected to an adjacent one of the center section rings by only two said straight links and only two said curved links, and each of the only two said straight links and the only two said curved links extend from one of the valleys of the proximal end ring to one of the peaks of the adjacent one of the center section rings; and wherein each pair of adjacent center section rings being connected together by only two of said curved links and three of said straight links, each of said only two of curved links and three said straight links extending from one of the peaks of one of the center section rings to an adjacent one of the valleys on an adjacent one of the center section rings. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The intravascular stent of claim 1, wherein the straight links and the curved links have different shapes. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The intravascular stent of claim 1, wherein the curved links have an undulating shape. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The intravascular stent of claim 1, wherein the straight links and the curved links have different cross-sections. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The intravascular stent of claim 4, wherein the straight links and the curved links have different widths. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The intravascular stent of claim 5, wherein the undulating rings have a width smaller than the width of the straight links. ### Claim 7 (depends on 5) The intravascular stent of claim 5, wherein the undulating rings have a width greater than the width of the curved links. ### Claim 8 (depends on 5) The intravascular stent of claim 5, wherein the undulating rings have a width that is smaller than the width of the straight links and greater than the width of the curved links. ### Claim 9 (depends on 4) The intravascular stent of claim 4, wherein the undulating rings have a cross-section different than the cross-sections of the straight links and the curved links. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The intravascular stent of claim 1, wherein the stent is self-expanding and formed from a nickel-titanium alloy. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The intravascular stent of claim 1, wherein the stent is biodegradable. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The intravascular stent of claim 1, wherein the stent includes a material therein to enhance the radiopacity of the stent. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The intravascular stent of claim 1, wherein the undulating rings are formed from a metal selected from the group consisting of stainless steel, titanium, tungsten, tantalum, vanadium, nickel-titanium, cobalt-chromium, gold, palladium, platinum and platinum-iridium. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) The intravascular stent of claim 1, wherein at least a portion of the stent is coated with a therapeutic drug. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The intravascular stent of claim 14, wherein at least one of the straight links or the curved links include micro depots for accepting the therapeutic drug.