Stent with improved flexibility
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A stent comprising:
- at least two serpentine circumferential bands including a first serpentine circumferential band and a second serpentine circumferential band, each serpentine circumferential band having alternating peaks and troughs, there being a plurality of unconnected peak-trough pairs, each unconnected peak-trough pair comprising a peak on the first serpentine circumferential band and a trough on the second serpentine circumferential band which is substantially circumferentially aligned with the peak when the stent is in an unexpanded configuration, the trough not connected to the peak, there being a plurality of connected peak-trough pairs, each connected peak-trough pair comprising a peak on the first serpentine circumferential band and a trough on the second serpentine circumferential band which is substantially circumferentially aligned with the peak when the stent is in an unexpanded configuration, the trough connected to the peak, the distance along the first serpentine circumferential band between each peak of a connected peak-trough pair and an adjacent peak of an unconnected peak-trough pair differing from the distance along the second serpentine circumferential band between the trough of the connected-trough pair and an adjacent trough of an unconnected peak-trough pair, the adjacent peak substantially opposite the adjacent trough.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A stent comprises a plurality of connected serpentine circumferential bands. Adjacent serpentine circumferential bands are connected via a plurality of longitudinal connectors extending between peaks on one serpentine circumferential band and troughs on the serpentine circumferential band adjacent thereto. The struts of the serpentine bands are arranged such that on expansion of the stent, peaks and troughs which are substantially circumferentially aligned with one another, but not connected with one another, on adjacent serpentine circumferential bands are circumferentially displaced from one another.
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Citations
42 Claims
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1. A stent comprising:
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at least two serpentine circumferential bands including a first serpentine circumferential band and a second serpentine circumferential band, each serpentine circumferential band having alternating peaks and troughs, there being a plurality of unconnected peak-trough pairs, each unconnected peak-trough pair comprising a peak on the first serpentine circumferential band and a trough on the second serpentine circumferential band which is substantially circumferentially aligned with the peak when the stent is in an unexpanded configuration, the trough not connected to the peak, there being a plurality of connected peak-trough pairs, each connected peak-trough pair comprising a peak on the first serpentine circumferential band and a trough on the second serpentine circumferential band which is substantially circumferentially aligned with the peak when the stent is in an unexpanded configuration, the trough connected to the peak, the distance along the first serpentine circumferential band between each peak of a connected peak-trough pair and an adjacent peak of an unconnected peak-trough pair differing from the distance along the second serpentine circumferential band between the trough of the connected-trough pair and an adjacent trough of an unconnected peak-trough pair, the adjacent peak substantially opposite the adjacent trough. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A stent, comprising:
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a plurality of serpentine circumferential bands comprising alternating peaks and troughs, adjacent serpentine circumferential bands connected to one another, the serpentine circumferential bands including a first serpentine circumferential band, a second serpentine circumferential band and a third serpentine circumferential band, the first serpentine circumferential band including high peaks and low peaks, the second serpentine circumferential band including high peaks and low peaks, high troughs and low troughs, the third serpentine circumferential band including high troughs and low troughs, the high peaks of the first serpentine circumferential band substantially circumferentially aligned with the low troughs of the second serpentine circumferential band and the low peaks of the first serpentine circumferential band substantially circumferentially aligned with the high troughs of the second serpentine circumferential band, the high peaks of the second serpentine circumferential band substantially circumferentially aligned with the low troughs of the third serpentine circumferential band and the low peaks of the second serpentine circumferential band substantially circumferentially aligned with the high troughs of the third serpentine circumferential band, wherein the first serpentine circumferential band is interlaced with the second serpentine circumferential band and the second serpentine circumferential band is interlaced with the third serpentine circumferential band. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24)
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- 25. A stent having a proximal end and a distal end comprising a plurality of connected serpentine circumferential bands, each serpentine band comprising a plurality of struts arranged in alternating peaks and troughs, adjacent serpentine circumferential bands connected via a plurality of longitudinal connectors extending between peaks on one serpentine circumferential band and troughs on the serpentine circumferential band adjacent thereto, the struts of the serpentine bands arranged such that on expansion of the stent, peaks and troughs which are substantially circumferentially aligned with one another, but not connected with one another, on adjacent serpentine circumferential bands are circumferentially displaced from one another.
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29. A stent comprising:
at least one circumferential serpentine band disposed about a longitudinal axis, the serpentine band comprising a plurality of struts, adjacent struts connected one to the other, the serpentine band having alternating peaks and troughs, the serpentine band including at least three peaks which are circumferentially and longitudinally offset from one another. - View Dependent Claims (30, 31, 32)
- 33. A stent comprising at least one serpentine circumferential band comprising a repeat pattern of three or more struts of different lengths arranged in a pattern of alternating peaks and troughs.
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35. A stent comprising:
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at least two serpentine bands including a first serpentine band and a second serpentine band, each serpentine band having alternating peaks and troughs, the first serpentine band including connected peaks and unconnected peaks, the second serpentine band including connected troughs and unconnected troughs, the peaks of the first serpentine band being substantially longitudinally aligned with the troughs of the second serpentine band when the stent is in an unexpanded state, the connected peaks connected to the connected troughs with connectors, each of the connectors having two ends which are substantially circumferentially aligned with one another wherein the unconnected peaks of each band become circumferentially displaced from the unconnected troughs of an adjacent band, and the unconnected troughs of each band become circumferentially displaced from the unconnected peaks of an adjacent band. - View Dependent Claims (36, 37)
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38. A stent comprising:
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at least two serpentine bands including a first serpentine band and a second serpentine band, each serpentine band having alternating peaks and troughs, the first serpentine band including connected peaks and unconnected peaks, the second serpentine band including connected troughs and unconnected troughs, the first and second serpentine bands having an identical number of peaks, the peaks of the first serpentine band being substantially longitudinally aligned with the troughs of the second serpentine band when the stent is in an unexpanded state, the connected peaks connected to the connected troughs, wherein the unconnected peaks of each band become circumferentially displaced from the unconnected troughs of an adjacent band, and the unconnected troughs of each band become circumferentially displaced from the unconnected peaks of an adjacent band on expansion of the stent. - View Dependent Claims (39, 40, 41, 42)
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Specification