Radiopaque links for self-expanding stents
First Claim
1. A longitudinally flexible stent having high visibility under fluoroscopy for implanting in a body lumen, comprising:
- a plurality of adjacent cylindrical elements, each cylindrical element having a circumference extending about a longitudinal stent axis and being substantially independently expandable in the radial direction;
wherein the plurality of adjacent cylindrical elements are arranged in alignment along the longitudinal stent axis and form a generally serpentine wave pattern transverse to the longitudinal axis containing a plurality of alternating valley portions and peak portions;
a plurality of interconnecting elements extending between the adjacent cylindrical elements and connecting the adjacent cylindrical elements to one another;
a plurality of radiopaque interconnecting elements configured to be expandable while encapsulated by polymeric material;
wherein the plurality of radiopaque interconnecting elements are connected to the cylindrical elements at least at distal and proximal ends of the stent so that the radiopaque interconnecting elements are visible under fluoroscopy and the distal and proximal stent ends can be easily located in the body lumen at the implantation site.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
A longitudinally flexible stent having high visibility under fluoroscopy for implanting in a body lumen. The stent includes a plurality of radiopaque interconnecting elements, configured to be expandable and encapsulated by polymeric material in a coil-like configuration, that are connected to a plurality of cylindrical elements at least at distal and proximal ends of the stent such that the radiopaque interconnecting elements are visible under fluoroscopy to enable identification of the position, diameter, and length of the stent at the implantation site. Alternatively, the stent includes a plurality of radiopaque interconnecting elements having a polymeric material filled with a radiopaque material attached to the cylindrical elements of the stent at least at the distal and proximal ends of the stent.
94 Citations
41 Claims
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1. A longitudinally flexible stent having high visibility under fluoroscopy for implanting in a body lumen, comprising:
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a plurality of adjacent cylindrical elements, each cylindrical element having a circumference extending about a longitudinal stent axis and being substantially independently expandable in the radial direction;
wherein the plurality of adjacent cylindrical elements are arranged in alignment along the longitudinal stent axis and form a generally serpentine wave pattern transverse to the longitudinal axis containing a plurality of alternating valley portions and peak portions;
a plurality of interconnecting elements extending between the adjacent cylindrical elements and connecting the adjacent cylindrical elements to one another;
a plurality of radiopaque interconnecting elements configured to be expandable while encapsulated by polymeric material;
wherein the plurality of radiopaque interconnecting elements are connected to the cylindrical elements at least at distal and proximal ends of the stent so that the radiopaque interconnecting elements are visible under fluoroscopy and the distal and proximal stent ends can be easily located in the body lumen at the implantation site. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24)
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25. A longitudinally flexible stent having high visibility under fluoroscopy for implanting in a body lumen, comprising:
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a plurality of adjacent cylindrical elements, each cylindrical element having a circumference extending about a longitudinal stent axis and being substantially independently expandable in the radial direction;
wherein the plurality of adjacent cylindrical elements are arranged in alignment along the longitudinal stent axis and form a generally serpentine wave pattern transverse to the longitudinal axis containing a plurality of alternating valley portions and peak portions;
a plurality of interconnecting elements extending between the adjacent cylindrical elements and connecting the adjacent cylindrical elements to one another; and
a plurality of radiopaque interconnecting elements configured to be expandable while encapsulated by polymeric material, wherein the radiopaque interconnecting elements are connected to the cylindrical elements of the stent so that the radiopaque interconnecting elements are visible under fluoroscopy and the stent can be easily located in the body lumen at the implantation site.
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26. A longitudinally flexible stent having high visibility under fluoroscopy for implanting in a body lumen, comprising:
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a plurality of adjacent cylindrical elements, each cylindrical element having a circumference extending about a longitudinal stent axis and being substantially independently expandable in the radial direction;
wherein the plurality of adjacent cylindrical elements are arranged in alignment along the longitudinal stent axis and form a generally serpentine wave pattern transverse to the longitudinal axis containing a plurality of alternating valley portions and peak portions;
a plurality of interconnecting elements extending between the adjacent cylindrical elements and connecting the adjacent cylindrical elements to one another; and
a plurality of radiopaque interconnecting elements having a polymeric material filled with a radiopaque material attached to the cylindrical elements of the stent, the plurality of radiopaque interconnecting elements connected to the cylindrical elements at least at distal and proximal ends of the stent so that the radiopaque material is visible under fluoroscopy and the distal and proximal stent ends can be easily located in the body lumen at the implantation site. - View Dependent Claims (27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41)
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Specification