Flexible stent

• US 20050165474A1
• Filed: 03/18/2005
• Published: 07/28/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 03/01/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: David C. Majercak, Hikmat Hojeibane, Robert Burgermeister
• Original Assignee: David C. Majercak, Hikmat Hojeibane, Robert Burgermeister
• Inventors: Burgermeister, Robert, Hojeibane, Hikmat, Majercak, David C.
• Granted Patent: US 7,594,927 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 623/1.160
• 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 2002/91566 connected trough to trough
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/91575 connected peak to trough
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/91583 by a bridge, whereby at least one of its ends is connected along the length of a strut between two consecutive apices within a band
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2230/0054 V-shaped
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2250/0036 differing in thickness
• CPC Class Codes: C23F 1/02 Local etching

Abstract

A stent provides a folded strut section that provides both structural rigidity and reduction in foreshortening of the stent mechanism. A flexible section provides flexibility for delivery of the stent mechanism. In a second embodiment, flexible section columns are angled with respect to each other, and to the longitudinal axis of the stent. These relatively flexible sections are oppositely phased in order to negate any torsion along their length. In yet another embodiment, the flexible connector can take on an undulating shape (like an “N”), but such that the longitudinal axis of the connector is not parallel with the longitudinal axis of the stent. Finally, a new method is disclosed for making stents.

Claims

1. (canceled)

8. The stent of claim 1 wherein in each ring of radial struts a pair of adjacent radial struts is placed about 90°

out of phase with the pair of radial struts closest to it in an adjacent ring of radial struts.

9. The stent of claim 1 wherein a series of flexible struts forms a spiral shape around the circumference of the stent.

2. (canceled)

3. (canceled)

4. (canceled)

5. (canceled)

6. (canceled)

7. A stent having an unexpanded configuration with a generally tubular configuration and a longitudinal axis, comprising:

a plurality of rings of radial strength portions connected to an adjacent radial strength portion by a flexible portion, each of said radial strength portions comprising a plurality of radial struts and each said flexible portion comprising a plurality of flexible struts, and a flexible strut intersecting with a radial strut at the midpoint of the radial strut, with said flexible strut and said radial strut generally are parallel to each other at said intersection.