Expandible stent

• US 20050060024A1
• Filed: 01/20/2004
• Published: 03/17/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 07/25/1995
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Christine Mastrangelo, Katherine H. Crewe, Lee J. Michael
• Original Assignee: Christine Mastrangelo, Katherine H. Crewe, Lee J. Michael
• Inventors: Crewe, Katherine H., Lee, J. Michael, Mastrangelo, Christine
• Application Number:
  US10/759,527
• Publication Number:
  US 20050060024A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 623/1.160
• 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 2002/91533 characterised by the phase between adjacent bands
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/9155 Adjacent bands being connected to each other
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/91575 connected peak to trough
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2230/0013 Horseshoe-shaped, e.g. crescent-shaped, C-shaped, U-shaped

Abstract

A stent has a tubular body with longitudinal struts interconnected by multi-bar linkages. The struts inhibit foreshortening of the body and relative rotation between the links in the linkages permits radial expansion. The links are plastically deformed as they are expanded to maintain the expanded diameter.

Claims

1. A stent having a generally tubular body with a plurality of circumferentially spaced longitudinal struts extending parallel to a longitudinal axis of said body, circumferentially adjacent pairs of said struts being interconnected solely b)(a set) of linkages axially spaced from one another and defining a predetermined space between adjacent pairs of said struts, each of said linkages having a plurality of links angularly disposed relative to one another in an unexpanded condition such that when a radial force is exerted-on-said tubular body, relative rotation between adjacent links and plastic deformation occurs, thereby increasing said space between said adjacent pairs of said struts and permitting radial expansion of said stent, said struts inhibiting relative axial movement between said linkages and foreshortening of said body, each of said linkages having hinge points spaced apart along said linkage, said hinge points deforming upon radial expansion of said stent to facilitate relative rotation of said links, wherein said hinge points are provided by zones of relative weakness along said links.

2. A stent according to claim 1 wherein said zones of relative weakness are provided by a reduced cross-sectional area.