Endoprosthesis having foot extensions

• US 20050107865A1
• Filed: 11/19/2004
• Published: 05/19/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 05/06/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Abbott Laboratories
• Original Assignee: Abbott Laboratories
• Inventors: Huang, Howard, Young, Eugene, Eli, Erik, Lowe, David, Pappas, Jeff, Kang, Kevin, Clifford, Anton, Muni, Ketan, Weldon, Lisa
• Granted Patent: US 7,625,398 B2
• 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 2002/91508 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 2220/0008 Fixation appliances for connecting prostheses to the body
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2230/0054 V-shaped
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2250/0098 radio-opaque, e.g. radio-opaque markers
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49826 Assembling or joining
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49908 Joining by deforming

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;

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, the first and second annular elements forming a generally tubular member having open ends; and

a marker associated with one of open ends of the generally tubular member.

2. The endoprosthesis of claim 1, further including a marker housing associated with one of the annular elements and extending from one of the ends.

3. The endoprosthesis of claim 2, wherein a portion of the marker extends beyond an outer and an inner surface of the generally tubular member.

4. The endoprosthesis of claim 3, wherein the marker comprises a rivet.

5. The endoprosthesis of claim 4, wherein the marker has a higher radiopacity than that of the material of the annular elements.

6. The endoprosthesis of claim 5, wherein the marker is made of Tantalum.

7. The endoprosthesis of claim 4, wherein the rivet is deformed axially after being disposed within the marker housing.

8. The endoprosthesis of claim 7, wherein the rivet is deformed radially after being disposed within the marker housing.

9. The endoprosthesis of claim 8, wherein the marker housing includes an aperture formed therein.

10. The endoprosthesis of claim 8, wherein the rivet has a first and second diameter, wherein the second diameter of the marker is greater than that of the aperture of the marker housing.

11. An endoprosthesis device for delivery in a body lumen, comprising:

a thin-walled, generally tubular member having open ends with a first diameter and a second diameter; and

at least one marker element connected to at least one end of the thin-walled generally tubular member, the marker comprising a marker housing and a rivet, a portion of the rivet extending generally beyond an outer surface and an inner surface of the substantially tubular member.

12. The endoprosthesis of claim 11, wherein the rivet is constructed of Tantalum.

13. The endoprosthesis of claim 11, wherein the marker housing includes an aperture formed therein, wherein the rivet is disposed within and extends from said aperture.

14. The endoprosthesis of claim 13, wherein said rivet is physically deformed after being disposed within the aperture of the marker housing.

15. The endoprosthesis of claim 14, wherein the rivet is deformed along an axis generally perpendicular to the rivet.

16. The endoprosthesis of claim 11, wherein the thin-walled generally tubular member is media blasted before insertion of the rivet.

17. The endoprosthesis of claim 16, wherein the thin-walled generally tubular member is electropolished before insertion of the rivet.

18. The endoprosthesis of claim 11, wherein the thin-walled generally tubular member includes at least one rivet disposed on each of the open ends.

19. The endoprosthesis of claim 11, wherein the rivet is frictionally retained within the marker housing.

20. A method of manufacturing an endoprosthesis device, comprising:

forming an endoprosthesis for delivery in a body lumen;

smoothing surfaces of the endoprosthesis by media blasting;

polishing the surfaces of the endoprosthesis with an electropolishing process;

disposing a radiopaque marker within an opening formed within a structure of an endoprosthesis device;

applying a force to said marker, thereby forming two heads on the marker, wherein each of the heads extends beyond and inner and an outer surface of the endoprosthesis device.

21. The method of claim 20, wherein the step of forming an endoprosthesis comprises forming a plurality of strut members defining at least one annular member, wherein the strut members have first and second ends and a pair of strut members are interconnected at a first end with a foot extension.

22. The method of claim 21, wherein the step of forming a plurality of strut members comprises laser cutting.

23. The method of claim 22, further comprising the step of honing an inner surface of the endoprosthesis before media blasting.

24. The method of claim 23, further comprising the step of heat treating the endoprosthesis before smoothing surfaces by media blasting.

25. The method of claim 24, further comprising the step of descaling the endoprosthesis before disposing the radiopaque marker in the opening.

26. The method of claim 25, wherein the descaling process comprises an acid soak.

28. The method of claim 20, wherein the marker comprises a generally cylindrical member.

29. The method of claim 28, wherein the cylindrical member includes a first and second end, the first end including an increased diameter portion.

30. The method of claim 29, wherein said endoprosthesis is formed from a unitary generally tubular member having an inner and an outer surface defining a wall thickness.

31. The method of claim 20, further comprising a first passivation processing after polishing.

32. The method of claim 20, further comprising a second passivation processing step after forming two heads on the marker.