Rail stent

• US 20020138131A1
• Filed: 03/20/2002
• Published: 09/26/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 03/20/2001
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: GMP Cardiac Care, Inc.
• Original Assignee: GMP Cardiac Care, Inc.
• Inventors: Solovay, Kenneth S., Jacobs, Thomas P.
• Application Number:
  US10/100,986
• Publication Number:
  US 20020138131A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 623/1.15
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/88 the wire-like elements formed as helical or spiral coils forming a net-like or mesh-like structure A61F2/90
• 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 2002/825 having longitudinal struts
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/828 Means for connecting a plurality of stents allowing flexibility of the whole structure
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/91533 characterised by the phase between adjacent bands
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/9155 Adjacent bands being connected to each other
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/91558 connected peak to peak
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/91575 connected peak to trough
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/91591 Locking connectors, e.g. using male-female connections
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2230/0013 Horseshoe-shaped, e.g. crescent-shaped, C-shaped, U-shaped

Abstract

A stent with a plurality of support elements that are deployable within a body for supporting a vessel or other body structure. The stent includes first and second terminal ends and a length extending between the terminal ends. Support rails extend between the terminal ends and through the support members in a direction parallel to the longitudinal axis of the stent. The support elements can include openings for receiving the rails. The rails can be formed of a spring so that the stent can easily conform to the minor bend of a curved vessel when the stent is deployed.

Claims

1. A stent comprising:

a stent element helically wound about an axis; and

at least one rail element extending in parallel with said axis, each said rail element passing alternatingly to the interior and the exterior of said stent element, wherein said stent element is freely movable along and relative to said rail elements.

2. The stent according to claim 1, wherein said at least one rail element includes a plurality of rail elements and at least some of said rail elements include restricting structures at respective ends thereof for restricting movement of said stent element.

3. The stent according to claim 1, wherein said stent element is metallic.

4. The stent according to claim 1, wherein said stent element is made from a resorbable material.

5. The stent according to claim 1, wherein said at least one rail element is metallic.

6. The stent according to claim 1, wherein said at least one rail element is made from one of glass and a polymer.

7. The stent according to claim 1, wherein said stent element is an undulating wire.

8. The stent according to claim 7, wherein said wire has a sawtooth shape.

9. The stent according to claim 7, wherein said wire has a smooth sinusoidal wave shape.

10. The stent according to claim 7, wherein said wire includes diamond shapes distributed along the length thereof.

11. The stent according to claim 9, wherein a peak portion of at least one said sinusoidal wave has a laterally inward narrowed portion to define a restricted passage through which a respective said rail element passes.

12. The stent according to claim 9, wherein a peak portion of at least one said sinusoidal wave has an opening formed therethrough to define a passage through which a respective said rail element passes.

13. The stent according to claim 1 wherein said at least one rail element carries a therapeutic agent and said stent element is free of said agent.

14. The stent according to claim 1 wherein said at least one rail element includes a plurality of rail elements, and at least two of said rail elements carry different therapeutic agents.

16. The stent according to claim 15, wherein said at least one rail element includes a plurality of rail elements and at least some of said rail elements include restricting structures at respective ends thereof for restricting movement of said stent element.

17. The stent according to claim 15, wherein said stent element is metallic.

18. The stent according to claim 15, wherein said stent element is made from a resorbable material.

19. The stent according to claim 15, wherein said at least one rail element is metallic.

20. The stent according to claim 15, wherein said at least one rail element is made from one of glass and a polymer.

21. The stent according to claim 15, wherein said stent element is an undulating wire.

22. The stent according to claim 21, wherein said wire has a sawtooth shape.

23. The stent according to claim 21, wherein said wire has a smooth sinusoidal wave shape.

24. The stent according to claim 21, wherein said wire includes diamond shapes distributed along the length thereof.

25. The stent according to claim 23, wherein a peak portion of at least one said sinusoidal wave has a laterally inward narrowed portion to define a restricted passage through which a respective said rail element passes.

26. The stent according to claim 23, wherein a peak portion of at least one said sinusoidal wave has an opening formed therethrough to define a passage through which a respective said rail element passes.

27. The stent according to claim 15 wherein said at least one rail element carries a therapeutic agent and said hoop elements are free of said agent.

28. The stent according to claim 15 wherein said at least one rail element includes a plurality of rail elements, and at least two of said rail elements carry different therapeutic agents.

30. The stent according to claim 29 wherein each said support element includes a first side proximate said first end and a second side proximate said second end, and each opening extends between said first and second sides of a respective one of said support elements.

31. The stent according to claim 29 wherein a first of said support elements is secured to said at least one rail at said first end of said stent;

a second of said support elements is secured to said at least one rail at said second end and wherein said remaining support elements are moveable along said at least one rail between said first and second support elements.

32. The stent according to claim 29 wherein said support elements include support hoops.

33. The stent according to claim 32 further comprising a plurality of bridging elements, each said bridging element extending between adjacent support hoops for securing said adjacent support hoops together.

34. The stent according to claim 29 wherein each said support element has an undulating profile including peaks and troughs, and wherein each said aperture is formed in a peak of its respective support element.

35. The stent according to claim 29 wherein said openings extend in a direction substantially parallel to said stent length before deployment of said stent within said body.

36. The stent according to claim 29 wherein said at least one rail is formed of a flexible material.

37. The stent according to claim 29 wherein said at least one rail includes a spring.

38. The stent according to claim 29 wherein said at least one rail is one of a plurality of rails that extend through said support elements, and wherein said rails each comprise a spring.

39. The stent according to claim 38 wherein said rails each comprise a spring.

40. The stent according to claim 39 wherein each said rail extends through an aligned aperture in adjacent support elements.

41. The stent according to claim 29 wherein said at least one support rail carries a therapeutic agent and said support elements are free of said agent.

42. The stent according to claim 29 wherein said at least one rail includes a plurality of rails, and at least two of said rails carry different therapeutic agents.

15. A stent comprising:

a plurality of generally parallel hoop elements; and

at least one rail element passing alternatingly to the interior and the exterior respective said hoop elements, wherein said hoop elements are freely movable along and relative to said at least one rail element.

29. A stent for deploying within a body, said stent comprising:

first and second terminal ends and a length extending between said terminal ends;

at least one support rail extending between said terminal ends; and

a plurality of circumferentially extending support elements, said support elements each having an aperture that extends along a portion of the length of said stent, said at least one support rail being received within respective apertures so that said support elements are moveable relative to said rail between said terminal ends of said stent.

43. A stent for deploying within a body, said stent comprising:

first and second terminal ends and a length extending between said terminal ends;

at least one support rail extending between said terminal ends; and

a plurality of circumferentially extending support elements, said support elements each having an opening for receiving the at least one support rail so that said support elements are moveable relative to said rail between said terminal ends of said stent and a portion of the stent can longitudinally collapse when positioned within a vessel.

44. The stent according to claim 43 wherein said support rail comprises a spring.

45. The stent according to claim 44 wherein said at least one support rail is one of a plurality of support rails positioned circumferentially around said stent.

46. The stent according to claim 43 wherein said openings extend through said support elements and extend in a direction parallel the length of the stent.

47. The stent according to claim 43 wherein said openings are formed by laterally inward narrowed portions of respective support elements that define restricted passages through which said at least one support rail passes.

48. The stent according to claim 43 wherein a therapeutic agent is carried by said at least one support rail.