Stent with diagonal flexible connecting links
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A stent in the form of a multi-cellular, tubular structure having a longitudinal axis, the stent structure including:
- a plurality of sets of cylindrical strut members with each circumferential set of strut members consisting of a multiplicity of curved sections attached end-to-end to diagonal sections to form a closed, ring-like structure circumferentially situated around the stent'"'"'s longitudinal axis, one of the sets of strut members being located at each end of the stent, each circumferential set of strut members being longitudinally separated from an adjacent circumferential set of strut members and each circumferential set of strut members also being circumferentially displaced by between one-eighth and one-half cycle from the adjacent circumferential set of strut members; and
at least one diagonal flexible link joining each pair of adjacent circumferential sets of strut members with each diagonal flexible link having a first end that is fixedly attached at a first attachment point to a curved section of one circumferential set of strut members and a second end that is fixedly attached at a second attachment point to a curved section of an adjacent circumferential set of strut members, the first attachment point being circumferentially displaced from the second attachment point by at least a half cycle of the circumferential sets of strut members.
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Abstract
The present invention envisions an improved flexible connecting link used in conjunction with in-phase and half-phase circumferential sets of strut members. By increasing the total length and diagonality of the undulating connecting links, the present invention is a stent that provides increased flexibility during delivery and enhanced conformability to the shape of a curved artery when the stent is deployed into a curved vessel such as a tortuous coronary artery.
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Citations
12 Claims
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1. A stent in the form of a multi-cellular, tubular structure having a longitudinal axis, the stent structure including:
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a plurality of sets of cylindrical strut members with each circumferential set of strut members consisting of a multiplicity of curved sections attached end-to-end to diagonal sections to form a closed, ring-like structure circumferentially situated around the stent'"'"'s longitudinal axis, one of the sets of strut members being located at each end of the stent, each circumferential set of strut members being longitudinally separated from an adjacent circumferential set of strut members and each circumferential set of strut members also being circumferentially displaced by between one-eighth and one-half cycle from the adjacent circumferential set of strut members; and
at least one diagonal flexible link joining each pair of adjacent circumferential sets of strut members with each diagonal flexible link having a first end that is fixedly attached at a first attachment point to a curved section of one circumferential set of strut members and a second end that is fixedly attached at a second attachment point to a curved section of an adjacent circumferential set of strut members, the first attachment point being circumferentially displaced from the second attachment point by at least a half cycle of the circumferential sets of strut members. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. A stent in the form of a multi-cellular, tubular structure having a longitudinal axis, the stent structure including:
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a plurality of sets of cylindrical strut members with each circumferential set of strut members consisting of a multiplicity of curved sections attached end-to-end to diagonal sections to form a closed, ring-like structure circumferentially situated around the stent'"'"'s longitudinal axis, one of the sets of strut members being located at each end of the stent, each end circumferential set of strut members being longitudinally separated from an adjacent circumferential set of strut members by a greater length as compared to the longitudinal separation between adjacent central circumferential set of strut members; and
at least one diagonal flexible link joining each pair of adjacent circumferential sets of strut members with each diagonal flexible link having a first end that is fixedly attached at a first attachment point to a curved section of one circumferential set of strut members and a second end that is fixedly attached at a second attachment point to a curved section of an adjacent circumferential set of strut members, the length of any diagonal flexible link joined to a curved section of an end circumferential set of strut members being longer than the length of any diagonal flexible link that joins any pair of adjacent central circumferential sets of strut members.
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8. A stent in the form of a multi-cellular, tubular structure having a longitudinal axis, the stent structure including:
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a plurality of sets of cylindrical strut members with each circumferential set of strut members consisting of a multiplicity of curved sections with each curved section being connected at a point of attachment to a diagonal section to form a closed, ring-like structure circumferentially situated around the stent'"'"'s longitudinal axis, one of the sets of strut members being located at each end of the stent, each circumferential set of strut members being longitudinally separated from an adjacent circumferential set of strut members and each circumferential set of strut members also being circumferentially displaced by between one-eighth and one-half cycle from the adjacent circumferential set of strut members and at least one diagonal section being tapered to be widest at its center; and
at least one diagonal flexible link joining each pair of adjacent circumferential sets of strut members with each diagonal flexible link having a first end that is fixedly attached at a first attachment point to a curved section of one circumferential set of strut members and a second end that is fixedly attached at a second attachment point to a curved section of an adjacent circumferential set of strut members, the first attachment point being circumferentially displaced from the second attachment point by at least one-eighth of a cycle of the circumferential sets of strut members. - View Dependent Claims (9)
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10. A stent in the form of a multi-cellular, tubular structure having a longitudinal axis, the stent structure including:
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a plurality of sets of cylindrical strut members with each circumferential set of strut members consisting of a multiplicity of curved sections attached end-to-end to diagonal sections to form a closed, ring-like structure circumferentially situated around the stent'"'"'s longitudinal axis, one of the sets of strut members being located at each end of the stent, each circumferential set of strut members being longitudinally separated from an adjacent circumferential set of strut members with the longitudinal separation length between the end circumferential set of strut members and the adjacent central circumferential set of strut members being longer than the separation length of adjacent central circumferential sets of strut members; and
at least one diagonal flexible link joining each pair of adjacent circumferential sets of strut members with each diagonal flexible link connecting to an end circumferential set of strut members having a greater length as compared to the length of any diagonal flexible link that connects adjacent central circumferential sets of strut members thereby increasing the flexibility at each end of the stent.
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11. A stent in the form of a multi-cellular, tubular structure having a longitudinal axis, the stent structure including:
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a plurality of sets of cylindrical strut members with each circumferential set of strut members consisting of a multiplicity of curved sections attached end-to-end to diagonal sections to form a closed, ring-like structure circumferentially situated around the stent'"'"'s longitudinal axis, one of the sets of strut members being located at each end of the stent, each circumferential set of strut members being longitudinally separated from an adjacent circumferential set of strut members and each circumferential set of strut members also being circumferentially displaced by between one-eighth and one-half cycle from the adjacent circumferential set of strut members;
at least one diagonal flexible link joining each pair of adjacent circumferential sets of strut members with each diagonal flexible link having a first end that is fixedly attached at a first attachment point to a curved section of one circumferential set of strut members and a second end that is fixedly attached at a second attachment point to a curved section of an adjacent circumferential set of strut members, the first attachment point being circumferentially displaced from the second attachment point by at least a half cycle of the circumferential sets of strut members; and
at least one row of spines extending for the entire longitudinal length of the stent, the at least one row of spines consisting of a serially connected diagonal flexible links joined from the outside of one curved section to the inside of a curved section of an adjacent circumferential set of strut members.
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12. A cylindrical stent having a longitudinal axis and comprising:
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sets of cylindrical strut members consisting of a multiplicity of curved sections attached end-to-end to diagonal sections to form a closed, ring-like structure one of the sets of strut members being located at each end of the stent, each circumferential set of strut members being longitudinally separated and circumferentially displaced by between one-eighth and one-half cycle from the adjacent circumferential set of strut members; and
at least one diagonal flexible link joining each pair of adjacent circumferential sets of strut members.
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Specification