Expandable stents and method for making same
First Claim
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1. A longitudinally flexible stent for implanting in a body lumen, comprising:
- a plurality of cylindrical elements which are independently expandable in the radial direction and which are interconnected so as to be generally aligned on a common longitudinal axis;
a plurality of connecting elements for interconnecting said cylindrical elements, said connecting elements configured to interconnect only said cylindrical elements that are adjacent to each other; and
an outer wall surface on said cylindrical elements, said outer wall surface having a plurality of outwardly projecting edges which form as said stent is expanded radially outwardly from a first diameter to a second, enlarged diameter.
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Abstract
The invention is directed to an expandable stent for implantation in a body lumen, such as an artery, and a method for making it from a single length of tubing. The stent consists of a plurality of radially expandable cylindrical elements generally aligned on a common axis and interconnected by one or more interconnective elements. The individual radially expandable cylindrical elements consist of ribbon-like material disposed in an undulating pattern. Portions of the expanded stent project outwardly into engagement with the vessel wall to more securely attach the stent.
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Citations
24 Claims
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1. A longitudinally flexible stent for implanting in a body lumen, comprising:
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a plurality of cylindrical elements which are independently expandable in the radial direction and which are interconnected so as to be generally aligned on a common longitudinal axis;
a plurality of connecting elements for interconnecting said cylindrical elements, said connecting elements configured to interconnect only said cylindrical elements that are adjacent to each other; and
an outer wall surface on said cylindrical elements, said outer wall surface having a plurality of outwardly projecting edges which form as said stent is expanded radially outwardly from a first diameter to a second, enlarged diameter. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A longitudinally flexible stent, comprising:
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a plurality of cylindrical elements which are independently expandable in the radial direction and which are interconnected so as to be concentrically aligned on a common longitudinal axis; and
a plurality of generally parallel connecting elements for interconnecting said cylindrical elements, said connecting elements configured to interconnect only said cylindrical elements that are adjacent to each other, so that said stent, when expanded radially outwardly, retains its overall length without appreciable shortening. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
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23. A kit of parts, comprising:
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an elongated stent delivery catheter having a proximal end and a distal end, and an expandable member on the distal end; and
a longitudinally flexible stent which is adapted to be slidably mounted onto the expandable member of said catheter and which comprises a plurality of cylindrical elements which are independently expandable in the radial direction and which are interconnected so as to be concentrically aligned on a common longitudinal axis, wherein each said element is formed of a single elongated structural member forming a serpentine pattern having undulations with peaks and valleys, said elements being interconnected by a plurality of generally parallel interconnecting members between adjacent elements, each said interconnecting member configured to interconnect only said cylindrical elements that are adjacent to each other.
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24. A method of transluminally implanting a longitudinally flexible stent in a body lumen, said stent having a plurality of cylindrical elements which are independently expandable in the radial direction and which are interconnected so as to be concentrically aligned on a common longitudinal axis, wherein each said cylindrical element is interconnected a plurality of generally parallel connecting members between adjacent elements, the method comprising the steps of:
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placing the stent on an expandable portion of a catheter which is adapted to radially expand the stent;
delivering the stent to a desired location within the body lumen;
expanding said cylindrical elements with the expandable portion of the catheter;
contracting the expandable portion of the catheter; and
withdrawing the catheter, leaving the expanded stent implanted in the body lumen.
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Specification