Stent

• US 20020095208A1
• Filed: 03/28/2002
• Published: 07/18/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 09/22/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Boston Scientific Scimed (Boston Scientific Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Scimed Life Systems Incorporated (Boston Scientific Corporation)
• Inventors: Gregorich, Daniel, Girton, Timothy S.
• Granted Patent: US 8,070,792 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 623/1.15
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/91 made from perforated sheet material or tubes, e.g. perforated by laser cuts or etched holes
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/915 with bands having a meander structure, adjacent bands being connected to each other
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/91508 the meander having a difference in amplitude along the band
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/91516 the meander having a change in frequency along the band
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/91525 within the whole structure different bands showing different meander characteristics, e.g. frequency or amplitude
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/91533 characterised by the phase between adjacent bands
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/91558 connected peak to peak
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/91566 connected trough to trough
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/91575 connected peak to trough

Abstract

A stent comprises a plurality of circumferential bands. Circumferential bands which are adjacent one another are connected one to the other. The circumferential bands include peaks and troughs interconnected by bent struts. The bands may overlap or may be connected by connectors.

Claims

1. A stent comprising a plurality of circumferential bands,

circumferential bands which are adjacent one another connected one to the other via a plurality of connectors,

the circumferential bands including first circumferential bands characterized by a first number of alternating first peaks and first troughs joined by bent struts and second circumferential bands characterized by a second number of alternating second peaks and second troughs joined by bent struts, the second number different from the first number,

each second circumferential band connected to one adjacent first circumferential band via at least one connector, the connector extending from a peak on the adjacent first circumferential band to a peak on the second circumferential band,

each second circumferential band connected to another adjacent first circumferential band via at least one connector, the connector extending from a trough on the another first circumferential band to a trough on the second circumferential band.

2. The stent of claim 1 wherein each second circumferential band is connected to one adjacent first circumferential band via a plurality of connectors, the connectors extending from peaks on the adjacent first circumferential band to peaks on the second circumferential band,

each second circumferential band connected to another adjacent first circumferential band via a plurality of connectors, the connectors extending from troughs on the another first circumferential band to troughs on the second circumferential band.

3. The stent of claim 2 wherein the connectors are not straight.

4. The stent of claim 2 wherein the connectors are substantially parallel to the bent struts of the first circumferential bands.

5. The stent of claim 2 wherein the first and second circumferential bands are each characterized by a longitudinal extent, the longitudinal extent of each first circumferential band exceeding the longitudinal extent of each second circumferential band.

6. The stent of claim 2 wherein the first circumferential bands are each characterized by a first total circumferential length and the second circumferential bands are each characterized by a second total circumferential length, the first total circumferential length equal to the second total circumferential length.

7. A stent comprising a plurality of serpentine circumferential bands, adjacent serpentine circumferential bands connected one to the other, the serpentine circumferential bands including a first serpentine circumferential band having a first total circumferential length at a proximal end of the stent, a second serpentine circumferential band having a second total circumferential length at a distal end of the stent and a third serpentine circumferential band having a third total circumferential length between the proximal and distal ends of the stent, wherein the first and second total circumferential lengths differ from one another.

8. The stent of claim 7 wherein the first, second and third total circumferential lengths differ from one another.

9. The stent of claim 8 wherein the first and second total circumferential lengths are less than the third total circumferential length.

10. The stent of claim 8 wherein the serpentine circumferential bands include bands of a first longitudinal extent and bands of a second longitudinal extent different from the first longitudinal extent.

11. The stent of claim 10 wherein the first longitudinal extent is greater than the second longitudinal extent, the bands of first longitudinal extent having more peaks and troughs than the bands of the second longitudinal extent.

12. The stent of claim 8 wherein the serpentine circumferential bands include bands having a first number of peaks and troughs and bands having a second number of peaks and troughs, the second number less than the first number.

13. The stent of claim 7 wherein each serpentine circumferential band comprises a plurality of peaks and troughs with bent struts extending between adjacent peaks and troughs.

14. The stent of claim 13 wherein the serpentine circumferential bands include bands of a first longitudinal extent and bands of a second longitudinal extent different from the first longitudinal extent.

15. The stent of claim 14 wherein the first longitudinal extent is greater than the second longitudinal extent.

17. The stent of claim 16 wherein both the first and second total circumferential lengths differ from the third total circumferential length.

18. The stent of claim 16 wherein at least one of the first and second total circumferential lengths is less than the third total circumferential length.

19. The stent of claim 16 wherein adjacent serpentine circumferential bands are connected by connectors extending from peaks to troughs, the connectors shorter in length than the bent struts.

20. The stent of claim 16 wherein some of the peaks and troughs of adjacent serpentine circumferential bands overlap one another and are joined one to the other.

21. The stent of claim 20 wherein the overlapping peaks and troughs are longer than the remaining peaks and troughs.

22. The stent of claim 16 wherein some of the peaks and troughs of adjacent serpentine circumferential bands overlap one another forming a region of overlap, the region of overlap extending in a circumferential direction.

23. The stent of claim 16 wherein some of the peaks and troughs of adjacent serpentine circumferential bands overlap one another forming a region of overlap, the region of overlap extending in a longitudinal direction.

24. The stent of claim 16 wherein some of the peaks and troughs of adjacent serpentine circumferential bands overlap one another forming a region of overlap, the region of overlap extending in an oblique direction relative to the longitudinal axis of the stent.

26. The stent of claim 25 wherein at least one serpentine circumferential bands is of a greater total circumferential length than other of the serpentine circumferential bands.

28. The stent of claim 27 wherein the connections are in the form of linear segments extending from one serpentine circumferential band to another serpentine circumferential band.

29. The stent of claim 27 wherein the connections are in the form of overlapping regions of peaks and troughs on adjacent serpentine circumferential bands.

30. The stent of claim 27 wherein the first number of connections is twice the second number of connections.

31. The stent of claim 27 wherein at least one of the proximal-most serpentine circumferential band and the distal-most serpentine circumferential band is of a different total circumferential length than other of the serpentine circumferential bands.

16. A stent comprising a plurality of serpentine circumferential bands, each serpentine circumferential band comprising a plurality of peaks and troughs, adjacent peaks and troughs connected by bent struts, adjacent serpentine circumferential bands connected one to the other, the serpentine circumferential bands including a first serpentine circumferential band having a first total circumferential length at a proximal end of the stent, a second serpentine circumferential band having a second total circumferential length at a distal end of the stent and a third serpentine circumferential band having a third total circumferential length between the proximal and distal ends of the stent, wherein at least one of the first and second total circumferential lengths differ from the third total circumferential length.

25. A stent comprising a plurality of serpentine circumferential bands, each serpentine circumferential band comprising a plurality of peaks and troughs, adjacent peaks and troughs connected by bent struts, adjacent serpentine circumferential bands connected one to the other in one or more regions of overlap where a peak in one serpentine band overlaps with a trough in an adjacent serpentine circumferential band, the one or more regions of overlap extending in a longitudinal direction.

27. A stent comprising a plurality of serpentine circumferential bands, each serpentine circumferential band comprising a plurality of peaks and troughs, adjacent peaks and troughs connected by nested bent struts, serpentine circumferential bands which are adjacent one another connected via a plurality of connections, the stent including two serpentine circumferential bands which are connected via a first number of connections and two serpentine circumferential bands which are connected via a second number of connections, the second number different from the first number.

32. A stent comprising a plurality of adjacent serpentine circumferential bands containing alternating troughs and peaks, adjacent serpentine circumferential bands having a plurality of cells therebetween, at least two adjacent serpentine circumferential bands have a plurality of first cells therebetween and a plurality of second cells therebetween, the second cells larger than the first cells.

33. The stent of claim 32 wherein the first and second cells alternate with one another about the circumference of the stent.

34. The stent of claim 32 wherein at least two adjacent serpentine circumferential bands at the proximal end of the stent have a plurality of first cells therebetween and a plurality of second cells therebetween, the second cells larger than the first cells and at least two adjacent serpentine circumferential bands at the distal end of the stent have a plurality of first cells therebetween and a plurality of second cells therebetween, the second cells larger than the first cells.

35. The stent of claim 34 wherein the second cells are at least approximately twice the area of the first cells.

36. The stent of claim 35 wherein the first cells are bounded at one end by one peak and at another end by one trough.

38. The stent of claim 37 wherein the first and second serpentine circumferential bands are connected one to the other via a plurality of connectors.

39. The stent of claim 38 wherein the connectors are straight.

40. The stent of claim 38 wherein the connectors extend from peaks on the first serpentine circumferential bands to peaks on the second serpentine circumferential band.

41. The stent of claim 37 wherein the relatively straight struts are non-parallel to the longitudinal axis of the stent.

42. The stent of claim 37 comprising a plurality of the first serpentine circumferential bands and a plurality of the second serpentine circumferential bands, serpentine circumferential bands which are adjacent one another connected one to the other.

43. The stent of claim 42 wherein the first and second serpentine circumferential bands alternate with one another over the length of the stent.

44. The stent of claim 43 wherein the relatively straight struts are non-parallel to the longitudinal axis of the stent and adjacent first and second serpentine circumferential bands are connected one to the other via a plurality of straight connectors extending between peaks of the first and second serpentine circumferential bands.

37. A stent comprising a plurality of serpentine circumferential bands including a first serpentine circumferential band comprising a plurality of peaks and troughs, adjacent peaks and troughs connected by bent struts and a second serpentine circumferential band comprising a plurality of peaks and troughs, adjacent peaks and troughs connected by relatively straight struts, the first and second serpentine circumferential bands connected to one another.