Stent having flexibly connected adjacent stent elements

• US 10,456,281 B2
• Filed: 03/09/2017
• Issued: 10/29/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 11/16/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: W. L. Gore & Associates (W.L. Gore & Associates)
• Original Assignee: W. L. Gore & Associates (W.L. Gore & Associates)
• Inventors: Armstrong, Joseph R., Cully, Edward H., Hansen, Mark Y., Souter, Brian L., Kilgrow, Bret J., Kovach, Larry J., Silverman, James D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Dukert, Brian A
• Application Number:
  US15/454,328
• Publication Number:
  US 20180049898A1
• Time in Patent Office: 964 Days
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/89 the wire-like elements comprising two or more adjacent rings flexibly connected by separate members
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/075 the stent being loosely attached to the graft material, e.g. by stitching
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/825 having longitudinal struts
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/828 Means for connecting a plurality of stents allowing flexibility of the whole structure

Abstract

An open stent (a stent having open space through its thickness at locations between the ends of the stent), incorporating flexible, preferably polymeric, connecting elements into the stent wherein these elements connect adjacent, spaced-apart stent elements. Preferably the spaced-apart adjacent stent elements are the result of forming the stent from a helically wound serpentine wire having space provided between adjacent windings. Other stent forms such as multiple, individual spaced-apart ring-shaped or interconnected stent elements may also be used. The connecting elements are preferably longitudinally oriented.

Claims

1. A method of stenting vasculature of a patient, the method comprising:

delivering an implantable stent to a target site for treatment in the vasculature of a patient, the implantable stent defining a length and having a deployed diameter suitable for implantation and a compacted diameter suitable for passage of the stent through a body conduit, the implantable stent comprising adjacent metallic stent elements spaced apart longitudinally which are connected longitudinally by a polymeric cover; and

expanding the implantable stent from the compacted diameter to the deployed diameter to stent the vasculature of the patient at the target site, the deployed diameter including the cover having a multiplicity of individual apertures each having a minimum size of about 0.10 mm such that the implantable stent has a porosity index of at least 50% along the length of the implantable stent at the deployed diameter;

wherein the adjacent metallic stent elements that are spaced apart longitudinally are connected longitudinally only by the polymeric cover.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the cover comprises an integral, non-woven sheet having a length and width and an area defined as the length multiplied by the width, wherein said apertures collectively cover an area that is at least 50% of the sheet area.

3. A method according to claim 2 wherein said apertures have a generally hexagonal shape.

4. A method according to claim 1, wherein the implantable stent is a diametrically expandable stent comprising at least two circumferentially oriented spaced-apart stent elements and at least one substantially longitudinally oriented flexible connecting strip connecting adjacent spaced apart stent elements, said stent having a length between ends of the stent and a deployed circumference, wherein said stent has a tubular area comprising the stent length multiplied by the deployed circumference and wherein at least 50% of the tubular area is open.

5. A method according to claim 4 wherein at least 60% of the tubular area is open.

6. A method according to claim 4 wherein at least 70% of the tubular area is open.

7. A method according to claim 4 wherein at least 80% of the tubular area is open.

8. A method according to claim 4 wherein at least 90% of the tubular area is open.

9. A method according to claim 4 wherein at least 93% of the tubular area is open.

10. A method according to claim 4 wherein at least 80% of the tubular area is open and three connecting strips are used.

11. A method according to claim 1, wherein the target site to which the implantable stent is delivered includes an intersection of a first vessel with a second vessel.

12. A method according to claim 1, wherein the target site to which the implantable stent is delivered includes a plurality of vessel intersections.

13. A method of treating a patient, the method comprising:

delivering an implantable stent to a target site in a patient, the implantable stent defining a length and having a deployed diameter suitable for implantation and a compacted diameter suitable for passage of the stent through a body conduit, the implantable stent comprising adjacent metallic stent elements spaced apart longitudinally which are connected longitudinally by a polymeric cover; and

expanding the implantable stent from the compacted diameter to the deployed diameter at the target site, the deployed diameter including the cover having a multiplicity of individual apertures each having a minimum size of about 0.10 mm such that the implantable stent has a porosity index of at least 50% along the length of the implantable stent at the deployed diameter;

wherein the adjacent metallic stent elements that are spaced apart longitudinally are connected longitudinally only by the polymeric cover.

14. A method according to claim 13, wherein the implantable stent is a diametrically expandable stent comprising at least two circumferentially oriented spaced-apart stent elements and at least one substantially longitudinally oriented flexible connecting strip connecting adjacent spaced apart stent elements, said stent having a length between ends of the stent and a deployed circumference, wherein said stent has a tubular area comprising the stent length multiplied by the deployed circumference and wherein at least 50% of the tubular area is open.

15. A method according to claim 14 wherein at least 60% of the tubular area is open.

16. A method according to claim 14 wherein at least 70% of the tubular area is open.

17. A method according to claim 14 wherein at least 80% of the tubular area is open.

18. A method according to claim 14 wherein at least 90% of the tubular area is open.

19. A method according to claim 14 wherein at least 93% of the tubular area is open.

20. A method according to claim 14 wherein at least 80% of the tubular area is open and three connecting strips are used.