Assymmetric bifurcated crown

• US 20040088007A1
• Filed: 11/05/2002
• Published: 05/06/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 11/05/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Boston Scientific Scimed (Boston Scientific Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Scimed Life Systems Incorporated (Boston Scientific Corporation)
• Inventors: Eidenschink, Tracee
• Granted Patent: US 7,326,242 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 607/1
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/848 having means for fixation to the vessel wall, e.g. barbs
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/856 Single tubular stent with a side portal passage
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/86 Stents in a form characterised by the wire-like elements; Stents in the form characterised by a net-like or mesh-like structure
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/954 for placing stents or stent-grafts in a bifurcation
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/958 Inflatable balloons for placing stents or stent-grafts
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2250/006 modular

Abstract

An expandable stent for percutaneous procedures comprises a tubular structure disposed about a longitudinal axis and a plurality of fingers. The plurality of fingers, upon expansion of the stent, extends from the tubular structure about a second longitudinal axis which is angularly offset from the first longitudinal axis. At least one of the plurality of fingers has a length that is greater than that of the other fingers.

Claims

1. A stent comprising:

a tubular structure, which is disposed about a first longitudinal axis;

a plurality of fingers which, upon expansion of the stent, extend from the tubular structure about a second longitudinal axis which is angularly offset from the first longitudinal axis, at least one of the plurality of fingers having a length that is greater than that of the other fingers.

2. The stent of claim 1 having an outer surface wherein in an unexpanded state the fingers lie substantially on the outer surface of the tubular structure.

3. The stent of claim 1 wherein the plurality of fingers are disposed about an opening in the stent, the opening and the fingers defining a crown.

4. The stent of claim 3, wherein the plurality of fingers includes a first group of fingers and a second group of fingers, the first group of fingers positioned on a proximal portion of the crown have an average length and the second group of fingers positioned on a distal portion of the crown have an average length, the average length of the first group of fingers positioned on the proximal portion of the crown being longer than the average length of the second group of fingers positioned on the distal portion of the crown.

5. The stent of claim 4, wherein at least one of the fingers positioned on the distal portion is shorter than any of the fingers on the proximal portion.

6. The stent of claim 3, wherein the plurality of fingers includes a first group of fingers and a second group of fingers, the first group of fingers positioned on a distal portion of the crown have an average length and the second group of fingers positioned on a proximal portion of the crown have an average length, the average length of the first group of fingers positioned on the distal portion of the crown being longer than the average length of the second group of fingers positioned on the proximal portion of the crown.

7. The stent of claim 6, wherein at least one of the fingers on the proximal portion is shorter than any of the fingers on the distal portion.

8. The stent of claim 3, wherein when the tubular structure is in an unexpanded state at least one of the fingers positioned on the crown overlaps at least one other finger on the crown.

9. The stent of claim 1, wherein when the tubular structure is in an unexpanded state the fingers are interlaced such that a portion of at least one finger is positioned at least partially between two other fingers.

10. The stent of claim 1, wherein when the tubular member is in an unexpanded state some fingers are situated proximally to other fingers and extend distally, and some fingers are situated distally to other fingers and extend proximally, and wherein the fingers situated proximally to the other fingers extend distally to a longitudinal point that is proximal to any portion of the fingers that extend proximally.

11. The stent of claim 1, wherein each of the fingers has a length less than 10.0 mm.

12. The stent of claim 1, wherein each finger has a length, one of the fingers having a shorter length than the other fingers, the finger with the shorter length having a length of about 1.0 mm.

13. The stent of claim 1, wherein the stent is self-expanding.

14. The stent of claim 1, wherein the stent is balloon expandable.

15. The stent of claim 1, wherein the plurality of fingers in an unexpanded condition are positioned to extend inwardly toward a central region of the crown.

16. The stent of claim 1, wherein all but at least one of the plurality of fingers are each adjacent to a finger having a smaller length and are adjacent to a finger having a longer length.

17. The stent of claim 1, wherein the plurality of fingers on the stent contains 2 to 25 fingers.

18. A bifurcated stent comprising:

a first tubular component and a second tubular component, the first tubular component defining a first longitudinal axis, the second tubular component defining a second longitudinal axis angularly offset relative to the first longitudinal axis, the second tubular component extending from the first tubular component, the second tubular component having a plurality of fingers, at least one of the plurality of fingers having a length that is greater than that of the other fingers.

19. The stent of claim 18 wherein the fingers are disposed about an opening

20. A bifurcated stent comprising:

a tubular structure with a first longitudinal axis, the tubular structure having fingers extending therefrom, the fingers positioned about a second longitudinal axis, offset from the first longitudinal axis, wherein at least one finger is longer than an adjacent finger.

21. The stent of claim 20 wherein the fingers are disposed about an opening.