Stent with ring architecture and axially displaced connector segments
First Claim
1. An expandable stent, comprising:
- a plurality of ring structures, each of said plurality of ring structures comprising an endless undulating pattern; and
a plurality of connector segments joining first and second ring structures of said plurality of ring structures, each of said plurality of connector segments having an undulating portion axially displaced from said undulating portion of an adjacent one of said plurality of connector segments.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An expandable stent is provided. The stent has a ring architecture in which a plurality of connector segments join a plurality of ring structures to form the stent. The ring structures are an endless pattern of unit structures, each of which has two lateral arms and a central portion, and is inverted with respect to the immediately adjacent unit structures of the same ring structure. The connector segments have an undulating portion and are preferably axially displaced relative to other, circumferentially adjacent connector segments when the stent is in an unexpanded configuration. A delivery system that includes a stent accordingly to the present invention is also provided.
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Citations
30 Claims
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1. An expandable stent, comprising:
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a plurality of ring structures, each of said plurality of ring structures comprising an endless undulating pattern; and
a plurality of connector segments joining first and second ring structures of said plurality of ring structures, each of said plurality of connector segments having an undulating portion axially displaced from said undulating portion of an adjacent one of said plurality of connector segments. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
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23. An expandable stent, comprising:
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a plurality of ring structures, each of said plurality of ring structures comprising an endless pattern of unit structures, each said unit structure comprising first and second lateral arms and a central region disposed between said first and second lateral arms, said central region having a peak disposed between first and second valleys, each said unit structure being inverted with respect to circumferentially adjacent unit structures; and
a plurality of connector segments joining first and second central regions of unit structures of adjacent ring structures, each of said plurality of connector segments having an undulating portion and being axially displaced from circumferentially adjacent connector segments. - View Dependent Claims (24, 25, 26, 27)
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28. A stent having radially unexpanded and expanded configurations, the stent comprising:
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a plurality of ring structures, each of said plurality of ring structures comprising an endless pattern of unit structures, each unit structure comprising first and second lateral arms and a central region disposed between said first and second lateral arms, said central region having a peak disposed between first and second valleys, each unit structure being inverted with respect to circumferentially adjacent unit structures; and
a plurality of connector segments joining adjacent ring structures, each of said plurality of connector segments having an undulating portion disposed between first and second ends, said undulating portion comprising a first u-shaped bend disposed between second and third ushaped bends;
wherein each of said plurality of connector segments is axially displaced from circumferentially adjacent connector segments when the stent is in the radially unexpanded configuration; and
wherein each of said plurality of connector segments is substantially axially aligned with circumferentially adjacent connector segments when the stent is in the radially expanded configuration. - View Dependent Claims (29, 30)
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Specification