Radially expansible vessel scaffold and assembly for its delivery

• US 20050075721A1
• Filed: 03/26/2004
• Published: 04/07/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 05/29/1996
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Avantec Vascular Corporation
• Original Assignee: Avantec Vascular Corporation
• Inventors: Klein, Enrique J.
• Application Number:
  US10/810,259
• Publication Number:
  US 20050075721A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 623/1.340
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/0095 Packages or dispensers for prostheses or other implants for intraocular lenses A61F2/1691; for dental surgery A61C19/02
• 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 2/88 the wire-like elements formed as helical or spiral coils forming a net-like or mesh-like structure A61F2/90
• 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 2/958 Inflatable balloons for placing stents or stent-grafts
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/825 having longitudinal struts
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/8486 provided on at least one of the ends
• 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 2002/91541 Adjacent bands are arranged out of phase
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/9155 Adjacent bands being connected to each other
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/91558 connected peak to peak
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/91566 connected trough to trough
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2250/0018 differing in elasticity, stiffness or compressibility
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2250/0039 differing in diameter
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2250/0098 radio-opaque, e.g. radio-opaque markers

Abstract

The present invention provides improved prostheses and methods for their endolumenal placement within body lumens, particularly blood vessels. In one embodiment, the prosthesis of the present invention comprises a plurality of radially expansible rings having, a plurality of beams connecting axially remote points on adjacent rings, and a plurality of expansion joints connecting axially proximate points on adjacent rings. The beams maintain the remote points at a fixed distance when the prosthesis is radially expanded and the expansion joints allow for relative movement of the proximate points during delivery of the prosthesis. The combination of the beams and expansion joints minimizes the risk of injury to the body lumen during delivery of the prosthesis to a target site and provides improved tracking capabilities.

Claims

1. An expandable tubular stent comprising:

an expandable tubular body having a plurality of interconnected cylindrical wall sections including a first cylindrical wall section at one end of the tubular body formed at least in part by an undulated structure and at least one intermediate cylindrical wall section formed at least in part by an undulated structure adjacent to the first cylindrical wall sections, and

at least one S-shaped connector which extends between and is secured to an undulation of the first cylindrical wall section and an undulation of the adjacent intermediate cylindrical wall section and which is configured to provide both expansion and contraction.

2. The expandable tubular stent of claim 1, wherein one end of the S-shaped connector is secured to a bend point of an undulation of the first cylindrical wall section at a location off-set from the most proximate portion of the bend point of the undulation and wherein an opposite end of the S-shaped connector is secured to a bend point of an undulation of the adjacent intermediate cylindrical wall section at a location off-set from the most proximate portion of the bend point.

3. An expandable tubular stent comprising:

an expandable tubular body having a plurality of interconnected cylindrical wall sections including a first cylindrical wall section at one end of the tubular body formed at least in part by an undulated structure and at least one intermediate cylindrical wall section formed at least in part by an undulated structure adjacent to the first cylindrical wall sections, and

at least connector which is formed at least in part by an S-shaped structure and which extends between and is secured to an undulation of the first cylindrical wall section and an undulation of the adjacent intermediate cylindrical wall section.

4. An expandable tubular stent comprising:

an expandable tubular body having a plurality of interconnected cylindrical wall sections including a first cylindrical wall section at one end of the tubular body formed at least in part by an undulated structure and at least one intermediate cylindrical wall section formed at least in part by an undulated structure adjacent to the first cylindrical wall sections, and

at least one connector which is formed at least in part by a structure having at least one double curvature and which extends between and is secured to an undulation of the first cylindrical wall section and an undulation of the adjacent intermediate cylindrical wall section.

5. An expandable tubular stent comprising:

an expandable tubular body having a plurality of interconnected cylindrical wall sections including a first cylindrical wall section at one end of the tubular body formed at least in part by a serpentine structure and at least one intermediate cylindrical wall section formed at least in part by a serpentine structure adjacent to the first cylindrical wall sections, and

at least one S-shaped connector which extends between and is secured to a protruding element of the first cylindrical wall section and a protruding element of the adjacent intermediate cylindrical wall section and which is configured to provide both expansion and contraction.

6. The expandable tubular stent of claim 5, wherein one end of the S-shaped connector is secured to a bend point of the protruding element of the first cylindrical wall section at a location off-set from the most proximate portion of the bend point of the protruding element and wherein an opposite end of the S-shaped connector is secured to a bend point of a protruding element of the adjacent intermediate cylindrical wall section at a location off-set from the most proximate portion of the bend point.

7. An expandable tubular stent comprising:

an expandable tubular body having a plurality of interconnected cylindrical wall sections including a first cylindrical wall section at one end of the tubular body formed at least in part by a serpentine structure and at least one intermediate cylindrical wall section formed at least in part by a serpentine structure adjacent to the first cylindrical wall sections, and

at least connector which is formed at least in part by an S-shaped structure and which extends between and is secured to a protruding element of the first cylindrical wall section and a protruding element of the adjacent intermediate cylindrical wall section.

8. An expandable tubular stent comprising:

an expandable tubular body having a plurality of interconnected cylindrical wall sections including a first cylindrical wall section at one end of the tubular body formed at least in part by a serpentine structure and at least one intermediate cylindrical wall section formed at least in part by a serpentine structure adjacent to the first cylindrical wall sections, and

at least one connector which is formed at least in part by a structure having at least one double curvature and which extends between and is secured to a protruding element of the first cylindrical wall section and a protruding element of the adjacent intermediate cylindrical wall section.

9. A catheter/prosthesis assembly comprising:

a catheter body having a prosthesis delivery balloon;

an expandable tubular body having a plurality of interconnected cylindrical wall sections including a first cylindrical wall section at one end of the tubular body formed at least in part by an undulated structure and at least one intermediate cylindrical wall section formed at least in part by an undulated structure adjacent to the first cylindrical wall sections, and

at least one S-shaped connector which extends between and is secured to an undulation of the first cylindrical wall section and an undulation of the adjacent intermediate cylindrical wall section and which is configured to provide both expansion and contraction.

10. The catheter/prosthesis assembly of claim 9, wherein one end of the S-shaped connector is secured to a bend point of an undulation of the first cylindrical wall section at a location off-set from the most proximate portion of the bend point of the undulation and wherein an opposite end of the S-shaped connector is secured to a bend point of an undulation of the adjacent intermediate cylindrical wall section at a location off-set from the most proximate portion of the bend point.

11. A catheter/prosthesis assembly comprising:

a catheter body having a prosthesis delivery balloon;

an expandable tubular body having a plurality of interconnected cylindrical wall sections including a first cylindrical wall section at one end of the tubular body formed at least in part by an undulated structure and at least one intermediate cylindrical wall section formed at least in part by an undulated structure adjacent to the first cylindrical wall sections, and

at least connector which is formed at least in part by an S-shaped structure and which extends between and is secured to an undulation of the first cylindrical wall section and an undulation of the adjacent intermediate cylindrical wall section.

12. A catheter/prosthesis assembly comprising:

a catheter body having a prosthesis delivery balloon;

an expandable tubular body having a plurality of interconnected cylindrical wall sections including a first cylindrical wall section at one end of the tubular body formed at least in part by an undulated structure and at least one intermediate cylindrical wall section formed at least in part by an undulated structure adjacent to the first cylindrical wall sections, and

at least one connector which is formed at least in part by a structure having at least one double curvature and which extends between and is secured to an undulation of the first cylindrical wall section and an undulation of the adjacent intermediate cylindrical wall section.

13. A catheter/prosthesis assembly comprising:

a catheter body having a prosthesis delivery balloon;

an expandable tubular body having a plurality of interconnected cylindrical wall sections including a first cylindrical wall section at one end of the tubular body formed at least in part by a serpentine structure and at least one intermediate cylindrical wall section formed at least in part by a serpentine structure adjacent to the first cylindrical wall sections, and

at least one S-shaped connector which extends between and is secured to a protruding element of the first cylindrical wall section and a protruding element of the adjacent intermediate cylindrical wall section and which is configured to provide both expansion and contraction.

14. The catheter/prosthesis assembly of claim 13, wherein one end of the S-shaped connector is secured to a bend point of the protruding element of the first cylindrical wall section at a location off-set from the most proximate portion of the bend point of the protruding element and wherein an opposite end of the S-shaped connector is secured to a bend point of a protruding element of the adjacent intermediate cylindrical wall section at a location off-set from the most proximate portion of the bend point.

15. A catheter/prosthesis assembly comprising:

a catheter body having a prosthesis delivery balloon;

an expandable tubular body having a plurality of interconnected cylindrical wall sections including a first cylindrical wall section at one end of the tubular body formed at least in part by a serpentine structure and at least one intermediate cylindrical wall section formed at least in part by a serpentine structure adjacent to the first cylindrical wall sections, and

at least connector which is formed at least in part by an S-shaped structure and which extends between and is secured to a protruding element of the first cylindrical wall section and a protruding element of the adjacent intermediate cylindrical wall section.

16. A catheter/prosthesis assembly comprising:

a catheter body having a prosthesis delivery balloon;

an expandable tubular body having a plurality of interconnected cylindrical wall sections including a first cylindrical wall section at one end of the tubular body formed at least in part by a serpentine structure and at least one intermediate cylindrical wall section formed at least in part by a serpentine structure adjacent to the first cylindrical wall sections, and

at least one connector which is formed at least in part by a structure having at least one double curvature and which extends between and is secured to a protruding element of the first cylindrical wall section and a protruding element of the adjacent intermediate cylindrical wall section.