Endoprosthesis having foot extensions

• US 20040093073A1
• Filed: 05/06/2003
• Published: 05/13/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 05/08/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Abbott Laboratories Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Abbott Laboratories Incorporated
• Inventors: Clifford, Anton G., Eli, Erik, Huang, Howard H., Lowe, David, Pappas, Jeff, Kang, Kevin
• Granted Patent: US 7,128,756 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 623/1.15
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/91 made from perforated sheet material or tubes, e.g. perforated by laser cuts or etched holes
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/915 with bands having a meander structure, adjacent bands being connected to each other
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/91508 the meander having a difference in amplitude along the band
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/91516 the meander having a change in frequency along the band
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/91525 within the whole structure different bands showing different meander characteristics, e.g. frequency or amplitude
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/91533 characterised by the phase between adjacent bands
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/91558 connected peak to peak
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2210/0076 multilayered, e.g. laminated structures
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2230/0043 L-shaped
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2230/0054 V-shaped

Abstract

Endoprosthesis, such as a stent, includes at least one annular element defined by a first set of strut members interconnected to define apices proximate opposite sides of the annular element. The annular element further includes a foot extension extending between at least one pair of circumferentially-adjacent strut members. The foot extension has first and second foot portions extending circumferentially from corresponding ends of the circumferentially-adjacent strut members, and are contoured to provide at least two areas of flexure. The first and second foot portions are joined at a toe portion of the foot extension, and define a circumferentially-directed apex between the pair of circumferentially-adjacent strut members. Preferably, at least one or more additional annular elements, each defined by interconnected strut members, are provided. The annular elements are generally expandable between a delivery configuration and a deployed configuration. The annular elements are longitudinally aligned and connected at connection locations. Preferably, each connection location includes a foot extension, such as by an overlapping pattern between the longitudinally-adjacent annular elements or by a connector extending therebetween.

Claims

1. An endoprosthesis for delivery in a body lumen comprising:

a first set of interconnected strut members defining a first annular element, each strut member of the first annular element including a first end and a second end; and

a second set of interconnected strut members defining a second annular element, each strut member of the second annular element including a first end and a second end;

the first annular element and the second annular element aligned longitudinally adjacent to each other along a longitudinal axis and connected to each other at at least one connection location, the first and second annular elements being expandable between a delivery configuration and a deployed configuration;

at least one of the first and second annular elements including a foot extension extending between at least one pair of circumferentially-adjacent strut members, the foot extension including a first foot portion extending circumferentially from the first end of one of the circumferentially-adjacent strut members of the pair and a second foot portion extending circumferentially from the first end of the other of the circumferentially-adjacent strut members, the first and second foot portions joined at a toe portion of the foot extension.

2. The endoprosthesis of claim 1, wherein the first end of selected circumferentially-adjacent strut members of the first annular element are interconnected to define apices proximate a first longitudinal side of the first annular element and the second end of selected circumferentially-adjacent strut members of the first annular element are interconnected to define apices proximate a second longitudinal side of the first annular element, and further wherein the first end of selected circumferentially-adjacent strut members of the second annular element are interconnected to define apices proximate a first longitudinal side of the second annular element and the second end of selected circumferentially-adjacent strut members of the second annular element are interconnected to define apices proximate a second longitudinal side of the second annular element, the foot extension defining the apex between the pair of circumferentially-adjacent strut members of the at least one of the first and second annular elements.

3. The endoprosthesis of claim 2, wherein each strut member of at least one of the first and second annular elements is interconnected continuously at its first and second ends with an adjacent strut member, respectively, to define the at least one annular element as a closed ring.

4. The endoprosthesis of claim 2, wherein each strut member of at least one of the first and second annular elements is a straight member.

5. The endoprosthesis of claim 4, wherein each straight strut member is substantially parallel with the longitudinal axis when in the delivery configuration.

6. The endoprosthesis of claim 2, wherein a plurality of the strut members of at least one of the first and second annular elements each has a substantially uniform width along its length between the first and second ends.

7. The endoprosthesis of claim 2, wherein at least one strut member of the pair of the circumferentially-adjacent strut members has a varied width along its length between the first and second ends.

8. The endoprosthesis of claim 7, wherein the varied width is defined by a taper from a first width at the first end of the strut and a second width at the second end of the strut, the first width being greater than the second width.

9. The endoprosthesis of claim 8, wherein a plurality of remaining strut members of the at least one of the first and second annular elements each has a substantially uniform width along its length between the first and second ends, the first width of the pair of the circumferentially-adjacent strut members being greater than the substantially uniform width of the plurality of remaining strut members.

10. The endoprosthesis of claim 2, wherein at least one of the apices of the first and second annular elements defines a V-shape with the circumferentially-adjacent strut members when in the deployed configuration.

11. The endoprosthesis of claim 2, wherein at least one of the apices of the first and second annular elements has an arcuate shape.

12. The endoprosthesis of claim 2, wherein the first and second foot portions of the foot extension have an average width greater than an average width of each remaining apex of the at least one of the first and second annular elements.

13. The endoprosthesis of claim 2, wherein the first side of the first annular element is longitudinally adjacent the second side of the second annular element, and further wherein the apices proximate the first side of the first annular element are circumferentially out of alignment with the apices proximate the second side of the second annular element.

14. The endoprosthesis of claim 2, wherein the foot extension of the at least one of the first and second annular elements extends in a first circumferential direction, the at least one of the first and second annular -elements including a circumferentially adjacent apex located proximate the foot extension in the first circumferential direction, the circumferentially adjacent apex positioned longitudinally on the first side of the at least one of the first and second annular elements to mate with the foot extension when in the delivery configuration.

15. The endoprosthesis of claim 2, wherein the foot extension of the at least one of the first and second annular elements extends in a first circumferential direction, the at least one of the first and second annular elements including a circumferentially adjacent apex located proximate the foot extension in the first circumferential direction, the circumferentially adjacent apex positioned longitudinally on the first side of the at least one of the first and second annular elements to contact the toe portion of the foot extension when in the delivery configuration.

16. The endoprosthesis of claim 2, wherein a plurality of apices of the first and second annular elements are defined by foot extensions, each foot extension extending between a pair of circumferentially-adjacent strut members.

17. The endoprosthesis of claim 16, wherein at least one foot extension extends in a first circumferential direction about the longitudinal axis and at least another foot extension extends in a second circumferential direction opposite the first circumferential direction.

18. The endoprosthesis of claim 16, wherein each foot extension of at least one of the first and second annular elements extends in a first circumferential direction about the longitudinal axis.

19. The endoprosthesis of claim 16, wherein the foot extensions of at least one of the first and second annular elements are located proximate only one of the first and second sides of the annular element.

20. The endoprosthesis of claim 16, wherein the first and second annular elements are connected at a plurality of connection locations, each connection location including at least one of the foot extensions.

21. The endoprosthesis of claim 1, wherein the connection location between the first and second annular elements includes the foot extension.

22. The endoprosthesis of claim 1, further comprising at least one connector extending between the first annular element and the second annular element at the connection location, the connector having a first end and a second end.

23. The endoprosthesis of claim 22, wherein the connector includes an L-shaped portion between the first and second ends, the L-shaped portion including a first leg and a second leg angled relative to the first leg.

24. The endoprosthesis of claim 23, wherein the first leg has a length different than a length of the second leg.

25. The endoprosthesis of claim 22, wherein the connector includes a curved portion between the first end and the second end.

26. The endoprosthesis of claim 1, wherein at least one of the strut members of the pair of circumferentially-adjacent strut members has a length greater than a length of remaining strut members of the at least one of the first and second annular elements.

27. The endoprosthesis of claim 1, wherein the foot extension defines at least two areas of flexure between the pair of circumferentially-adjacent strut members.

28. The endoprosthesis of claim 1, wherein the foot extension extends circumferentially at an angle relative to a line parallel to the longitudinal axis.

29. The endoprosthesis of claim 1, wherein at least one of the first and second foot portions includes a curved portion.

30. The endoprosthesis of claim 1, wherein at least one of the first and second foot portions defines a base of the foot extension, the base generally facing the other of the at least one of the first and second annular elements.

31. The endoprosthesis of claim 30, wherein the base is defined as a generally straight member.

32. The endoprosthesis of claim 30, wherein the base is defined as a contoured member directed longitudinally toward the other of the at least one of the first and second annular elements.

33. The endoprosthesis of claim 32, wherein the contoured member generally has a V-shape including a first portion and a second portion.

34. The endoprosthesis of claim 33, wherein the first portion of the V-shape has a width different than the second portion.

35. The endoprosthesis of claim 30, wherein the connection location is defined by an overlapping pattern of the base of the foot extension with the other of the at least one of the first and second annular elements.

36. The endoprosthesis of claim 30, wherein the connection location includes a connector extending between the base portion and the other of the at least one of the first and second annular elements.

37. The endoprosthesis of claim 1, wherein the endoprosthesis is a self-expanding stent.

38. The endoprosthesis of claim 1, wherein the endoprosthesis is a balloon expandable stent.

39. The endoprosthesis of claim 1, further comprising a radiopaque material incorporated with at least one of the first and second annular elements.

40. The endoprosthesis of claim 39, wherein the radiopaque material is attached as a marker to at least one of the first and second annular elements.

41. The endoprosthesis of claim 39, wherein at least one of the first and second annular elements is formed of the radiopaque material.

42. The endoprosthesis of claim 39, wherein the at least one of the first and second annular elements is formed with a first layer of a base material and a second layer of the radiopaque material.

43. The endoprosthesis of claim 1, wherein at least one of the first and second annular elements is balanced for uniform expansion between the delivery configuration and the deployed configuration.

44. The endoprosthesis of claim 1, wherein the first annular element has a first radial bias and the second annular element has a second radial bias, the first radial bias being different than the second radial bias.

45. The endoprosthesis of claim 1, further comprising a third set of interconnected strut members defining a third annular element, the third annular element aligned longitudinally adjacent to the second annular element along the longitudinal axis and connected to the second annular element at at least one connection location.

46. An endoprosthesis for delivery in a body lumen comprising:

a first set of interconnected strut members defining a first annular element, each strut member of the first annular element including a first end and a second end, and

a foot extension extending between at least one pair of circumferentially-adjacent strut members, the foot extension including a first foot portion extending circumferentially from the first end of one of the circumferentially-adjacent strut members of the pair and a second foot portion extending circumferentially from the first end of the other of the circumferentially-adjacent strut members, the first and second foot portions joined at a toe portion of the foot extension,

the first annular element defining a longitudinal axis and being expandable between a delivery configuration and a deployed configuration.

47. The endoprosthesis of claim 46, further comprising a second set of interconnected strut members defining a second annular element, the second annular element aligned longitudinally adjacent to the first annular element along the longitudinal axis and connected to the first annular element at at least one connection location, the connection location including the foot extension of the first annular element.

48. The endoprosthesis of claim 47, wherein the foot extension has a first longitudinal dimension in the delivery configuration and a second longitudinal dimension in the deployed configuration.