Methods and apparatus for a stent having an expandable web structure

• US 20040193250A1
• Filed: 12/22/2003
• Published: 09/30/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 09/05/1998
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Jomed GmbH
• Original Assignee: Jomed GmbH
• Inventors: Seibold, Gerd, Von Oepen, Randolf
• Granted Patent: US 7,789,904 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 623/1.16
• 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 2002/91533 characterised by the phase between adjacent bands
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/91558 connected peak to peak

Abstract

The present invention provides a stent comprising a tubular flexible body having a wall with a web structure that is expandable from a contracted delivery configuration to deployed configuration. The web structure comprises a plurality of neighboring web patterns, where each web patterns is composed of adjoining webs, and the web patterns are interconnected. Each adjoining web comprises a central section interposed between two lateral sections to form concave or convex configurations.

Claims

1. A stent comprising:

a tubular body with a wall having a web structure configured to expand from a contracted delivery configuration to an expanded deployed configuration,

the web structure comprising a plurality of interconnected, neighboring web patterns, each web pattern having a plurality of adjoining webs, each adjoining web comprising a central section interposed between first and second lateral sections,

wherein the central section is substantially parallel to a longitudinal axis of the stent when in a contracted delivery configuration, each of the first lateral sections joins the central section at a first angle, each of the second lateral sections joins the central section at a second angle, and adjacent ones of the neighboring web patterns having alternating concavity.

2. The stent of claim 1, wherein each of the three sections of each adjoining web is straight.

3. The stent of claim 1, wherein the first angle comprises a first obtuse angle, and wherein the second angle comprises a second obtuse angle.

4. The stent of claim 1, wherein the first angle is equal to the second angle.

5. The stent of claim 1, wherein each adjoining web has a bowl-like appearance.

6. The stent of claim 1 further comprising a plurality of connection elements configured to interconnect the plurality of web patterns.

7. The stent of claim 6, wherein each of the plurality of connection elements comprises a straight section.

8. The stent of claim 6, wherein each web pattern comprises a plurality of connection sections, the connection elements configured to couple neighboring connection sections together to interconnect the plurality of web patterns.

9. The stent of claim 6, wherein the plurality of connection elements comprise a first plurality of connection elements disposed in a first orientation and a second plurality of connection elements disposed in a second orientation.

10. The stent of claim 9, wherein the first and second plurality of connection elements, respectively, are disposed between neighboring web patterns in an alternating arrangement.

11. The stent of claim 1 further comprising a plurality of transition sections configured to interconnect neighboring web patterns.

12. The stent of claim 11, wherein the transition sections comprise extensions of neighboring adjoining webs.

13. The stent of claim 1, wherein the web structure is fabricated from a superelastic material.

14. The stent of claim 1, wherein the stent is fabricated from a biocompatible or biodegradable material.

15. The stent of claim 1, wherein the tubular body is flexible in the contracted delivery configuration.

16. The stent of claim 1, wherein the web structure is configured to self-expand from the contracted delivery configuration to the expanded deployed configuration.

17. The stent of claim 1, wherein the web structure is configured to expand by application of pressure to an interior surface of the stent from the contracted delivery configuration to the expanded deployed configuration.

18. The stent of claim 1, wherein a third angle is formed where adjoining web patterns are joined, the third angle being acute in the contracted delivery configuration.

19. The stent of claim 18, wherein the third angle increases in magnitude when the web structure deploys from the contracted delivery configuration to the expanded deployed configuration.

20. The stent of claim 18, wherein the third angle approaches a right angle after deployment of the stent.

21-35. -35. (canceled)