Stent having a multiplicity of undulating longitudinals

• US 20040230294A1
• Filed: 09/15/2003
• Published: 11/18/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 02/25/1994
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: David R. Fischell, Robert E. Fischell, Tim A. Fischell
• Original Assignee: David R. Fischell, Robert E. Fischell, Tim A. Fischell
• Inventors: Fischell, David R., Fischell, Robert E., Fischell, Tim A.
• Application Number:
  US10/662,792
• Publication Number:
  US 20040230294A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 623/1.16
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/844 folded prior to deployment
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/90 characterised by a net-like or mesh-like structure
• 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 2002/825 having longitudinal struts
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/91533 characterised by the phase between adjacent bands
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/9155 Adjacent bands being connected to each other
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2210/0019 operated at only one temperature whilst inside or touching the human body, e.g. constrained in a non-operative shape during surgery, another temperature only occurring before the operation

Abstract

A method for implanting a balloon expandable stent at a site within a passageway of a curved coronary article. The stent includes at least two longitudinally spaced apart circumferential rings. At least one longitudinally extending connector extends between adjacent rings. The connector has at least one turn back portion that can expand or contract in length while being passed through a curved passageway. The stent is disposed on a stent delivery catheter having an inflatable balloon. The stent delivery catheter and the stent is delivered through the passageway to the site of implementation with the connector member expanding or contracting in length to facilitate delivery and placement of the stent. The stent is expanded at the site of implantation by inflating the balloon to force the stent radially outward against the wall of the coronary artery.

Claims

1-35. -35 (Cancelled)

36. :

A generally cylindrical stent for delivery to a coronary artery, said stent having a first pre-deployment diameter and a second deployed diameter, said stent being cut from a pre-existing metal tube and having a circumference and a longitudinal axis, said stent having sufficient flexibility to permit percutaneous delivery to a curved coronary artery;

said stent in its first diameter comprising;

at least two longitudinally spaced apart circumferential rings, each of said circumferential rings defining a portion of the circumference of the stent, each of said circumferential rings having at least two peak segments and at least two valley segments; and

at least one connector having a first end portion and a second end portion, said first end portion being fixedly connected to a peak segment of a first of said circumferential rings and said second end portion being fixedly connected to a valley segment of a circumferential ring adjacent to said first circumferential ring, at least one of said first and second end portions of said connector including a straight segment that is substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the stent, said connector having at least one circumferentially extending generally U-shaped turn back portion between its first and second end portions that can expand or contract in length, as measured by the straight line distance between its first and second end portions, while being passed through a curved coronary artery.

37. :

The stent of claim 36, wherein the turn back portion has a first end point and a second end point, and a line drawn from the first end point to the second end point is generally parallel to the longitudinal axis of the stent.

38. :

The stent of claim 37, wherein said line drawn from the first end point to the second end point remains generally parallel to the longitudinal axis of the stent when the stent is expanded into its second deployed diameter.

39. :

The stent of claim 36, wherein the stent is laser-cut from a pre-existing metal tube.

40. :

The stent of claim 36, wherein at least three circumferentially spaced connectors connect said first circumferential ring and a circumferential ring adjacent to said first circumferential ring.

41. :

The stent of claim 36, wherein said connector has at least two turn back portions between its first and second end portions.

42. :

The stent of claim 36, wherein each of said first and second end portions of said connector includes a straight segment and a straight line drawn therethrough is substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the stent.

43. :

The stent of claim 36, wherein at least one turn back portion of said connector is located entirely within a valley segment of a circumferential ring.

44. :

The stent of claim 36, wherein said connector includes at least two generally U-shaped turn back portions that open in opposite directions.

45. :

A generally cylindrical stent for delivery to a coronary artery, said stent having a first pre-deployment diameter and a second deployed diameter, said stent being cut from a preexisting metal tube and having a longitudinal axis, said stent having sufficient flexibility to permit percutaneous delivery to a curved coronary artery;

said stent in its first diameter comprising;

a multiplicity of closed perimeter cells, each of said cells including at least one generally U-shaped turn back portion having a first end point and a second end point wherein a line drawn from the first end point to the second end point is generally parallel to the longitudinal axis of the stent.

46. :

The stent of claim 45, wherein said line drawn from the first end point to the second end point remains generally parallel to the longitudinal axis of the stent when the stent is expanded into its second deployed diameter.

47. :

The stent of claim 45, wherein each of said cells has at least one circumferentially adjacent cell which shares one generally U-shaped turn back portion.

48. :

The stent of claim 45, wherein the stent includes at least two longitudinally spaced apart circumferential rings, each of said circumferential rings having at least two peak segments and at least two valley segments; and

at least one connector having a first end portion and a second end portion, said first end portion being fixedly connected to a peak segment of a first of said circumferential rings and said second end portion being fixedly connected to a valley segment of a circumferential ring adjacent to said first circumferential ring, said connector having at least one of said generally U-shaped turn back portions, wherein each of said closed perimeter cells includes at least a portion of two circumferentially adjacent rings and at least one connector.

49. :

The stent of claim 45, wherein the stent is laser-cut from a pre-existing metal tube.

50. :

The stent of claim 45, wherein each of said cells includes at least two generally U-shaped turn back portions.

51. :

A generally cylindrical stent for delivery to a coronary artery, said stent having a first pre-deployment diameter and a second deployed diameter, said stent being cut from a pre-existing metal tube and having a longitudinal axis, said stent having sufficient flexibility to permit percutaneous delivery to a curved coronary artery;

said stent in its first diameter comprising;

at least two longitudinally spaced apart circumferential rings and at least one connector, said connector having a first end portion fixedly connected to a first of said circumferential rings and a second end portion fixedly connected to a circumferential ring adjacent to said first circumferential ring, said connector including at least one generally U-shaped turn back portion having a first end point and a second end point so that a line drawn from the first end point to the second end point is generally parallel to the longitudinal axis of the stent so as to define a multiplicity of perimeter cells that include at least a portion of two circumferentially adjacent rings and at least one connector.

52. :

The stent of claim 51, wherein said line drawn from the first end point to the second end point remains generally parallel to the longitudinal axis of the stent when the stent is expanded into its second deployed diameter.

53. :

The stent of claim 51, wherein the stent is laser-cut from a pre-existing metal tube.

54. :

The stent of claim 51, wherein at least three circumferentially spaced connectors connect said first circumferential ring and a circumferential ring adjacent to said first circumferential ring.

55. :

The stent of claim 51, wherein said connector has at least two turn back portions between its first and second end portions.

56. :

The stent of claim 51, wherein said connector includes at least two generally U-shaped turn back portions that open in opposite directions.