Stent with an end member having a lateral extension

• US 20060025847A1
• Filed: 07/28/2004
• Published: 02/02/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 07/28/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cook Medical Technologies, LLC (Cook Group Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Cook Incorporated (Cook Group Incorporated)
• Inventors: Parker, Fred T.
• Granted Patent: US 7,763,066 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 623/1.150
• 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 2002/91516 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 2002/91575 connected peak to trough
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/91591 Locking connectors, e.g. using male-female connections
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2230/0054 V-shaped
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2250/0098 radio-opaque, e.g. radio-opaque markers

Abstract

A marker and pushing member are provided with lateral extensions connected to a connecting portion. The connecting portion connects the marker/pushing member to a proximal or distal end of the stent. The lateral extensions distribute forces applied to the marker/pushing member so that part of the force is applied to the connecting member and part of the force is applied to a portion of the stent structure that is not directly connected to the connecting member.

Claims

1. An expandable stent for medical implantation, comprising:

a stent structure formed from a series of structural members, said stent structure being generally cylindrical with an inner surface, an outer surface, a proximal end, and a distal end, wherein a series of radial openings extend through said stent structure between said inner and outer surfaces thereby adapting said stent structure to expand from a compressed diameter to an expanded diameter; and

a pushing member connected to at least one of said proximal and distal ends of said stent structure, said pushing member being connected along a first side of said pushing member through a connecting portion, said pushing member further comprising a second side disposed away from said first side and a longitudinal member connected to said first and second sides, whereby said second side is adapted to contact a holder and said longitudinal member is adapted to transmit force applied by said holder to said connecting portion and said stent structure;

wherein said longitudinal member and said connecting portion are further connected to a lateral extension, said lateral extension being disposed along said first side and adjacent said stent structure, whereby a portion of said force transmitted by said longitudinal member is distributed to a portion of said stent structure that is not directly connected to said connecting portion.

2. The stent according to claim 1, wherein said pushing member comprises two of said longitudinal members and an opening extending radially through said pushing member, said opening being defined by said two longitudinal members and said first and second sides of said pushing member, said opening being filled with a radiopaque material.

3. The stent according to claim 1, wherein a side surface of said lateral extension disposed adjacent said stent structure has a concave shape corresponding to a convex shape of a joined portion of two of said structural members.

4. The stent according to claim 1, wherein said second side is rounded, an end surface of said pushing member thereby forming an apex away from said first side.

5. The stent according to claim 4, wherein a side surface of said longitudinal member extending between said apex and said lateral extension is angled from a longitudinal axis of said stent structure.

6. The stent according to claim 5, wherein a side surface of said lateral extension disposed adjacent said stent structure has a concave shape corresponding to a convex shape of a joined portion of two of said structural members.

7. The stent according to claim 6, wherein said pushing member comprises two of said longitudinal members and an opening extending radially through said pushing member, said opening being defined by said two longitudinal members and said first and second sides of said pushing member, said opening being filled with a radiopaque material, and further comprising two of said lateral extensions disposed on opposite sides of said opening, said side surfaces of each of said two longitudinal members being angled from said longitudinal axis of said stent structure, wherein said apex is disposed along a centerline of said opening.

8. The stent according to claim 1, wherein said second side is flat, an end surface of said pushing member thereby extending parallel to said one of said proximal and distal ends.

9. The stent according to claim 8, wherein a side surface of said longitudinal member extending between said flat end surface and said lateral extension is generally parallel to a longitudinal axis of said stent structure.

10. The stent according to claim 9, wherein a side surface of said lateral extension disposed adjacent said stent structure has a concave shape corresponding to a convex shape of a joined portion of two of said structural members.

11. The stent according to claim 10, wherein said pushing member comprises two of said longitudinal members and an opening extending radially through said pushing member, said opening being defined by said two longitudinal members and said first and second sides of said pushing member, said opening being filled with a radiopaque material, and further comprising two of said lateral extensions disposed on opposite sides of said opening, said side surfaces of each of said two longitudinal members being generally parallel to said longitudinal axis of said stent structure, wherein said opening is disposed along a centerline of said pushing member.

12. An expandable stent for medical implantation, comprising:

a stent structure formed from a series of structural members, said stent structure being generally cylindrical with an inner surface, an outer surface, a proximal end, and a distal end, said structural members defining a series of radial openings extending through said stent structure between said inner and outer surfaces thereby adapting said stent structure to expand from a compressed diameter to an expanded diameter, wherein at least two of said structural members extend generally parallel to each other along a longitudinal axis of said stent structure in said compressed diameter, said two structural members being connected together at one of said proximal and distal ends along a joined portion; and

a pushing member connected to said one of said proximal and distal ends of said stent structure, said pushing member being connected along a first side of said pushing member through a connecting portion, said connecting portion being disposed adjacent said joined portion, said pushing member further comprising a second side disposed away from said first side, whereby said second side is adapted to contact a holder, a force applied by said holder being transmitted through said pushing member to said connecting portion and said stent structure;

wherein said pushing member and said connecting portion are further connected to a lateral extension, said lateral extension being disposed along said first side and adjacent said joined portion, whereby a portion of said force transmitted through said pushing member is distributed to said joined portion away from said connecting portion.

13. The stent according to claim 12, wherein a side surface of said lateral extension disposed adjacent said joined portion has a concave shape corresponding to a convex shape of said joined portion of said two structural members, said second side of said pushing member being rounded with an end surface thereof forming an apex away from said first side, a side surface of said pushing member extending between said apex and said lateral extension thereby being angled from a longitudinal axis of said stent structure.

14. The stent according to claim 13, wherein said pushing member comprises an opening extending radially through said pushing member, said opening being defined by said first and second sides of said pushing member and two longitudinal members connecting said first and second sides, said opening being filled with a radiopaque material, and further comprising two of said lateral extensions disposed on opposite sides of said opening, side surfaces of each of said two longitudinal members being angled from said longitudinal axis of said stent structure, wherein said apex is disposed along a centerline of said opening.

15. The stent according to claim 12, wherein a side surface of said lateral extension disposed adjacent said joined portion has a concave shape corresponding to a convex shape of said joined portion of said two structural members, said second side of said pushing member being flat with an end surface thereof extending parallel to said one of said proximal and distal ends, a side surface of said pushing member extending between said flat end surface and said lateral extension thereby being generally parallel to a longitudinal axis of said stent structure.

16. The stent according to claim 15, wherein said pushing member comprises an opening extending radially through said pushing member, said opening being defined by said first and second sides of said pushing member and two longitudinal members connecting said first and second sides, said opening being filled with a radiopaque material, and further comprising two of said lateral extensions disposed on opposite sides of said opening, side surfaces of each of said two longitudinal members being generally parallel to said longitudinal axis of said stent structure, wherein said opening is disposed along a centerline of said pushing member.

17. An expandable stent for medical implantation, comprising:

a stent structure formed from a series of structural members, said stent structure being generally cylindrical with an inner surface, an outer surface, a proximal end, and a distal end, wherein a series of radial openings extend through said stent structure between said inner and outer surfaces thereby adapting said stent structure to expand from a compressed diameter to an expanded diameter; and

a marker connected to at least one of said proximal and distal ends of said stent structure, said marker being connected along a first side of said marker through a connecting portion, said marker further comprising a second side disposed away from said first side and side surfaces attaching said first and second sides;

wherein said side surfaces and said connecting portion are further connected to lateral extensions extending circumferentially outward from said connecting portion, said lateral extensions being disposed along said first side and adjacent said stent structure.

18. The stent according to claim 17, wherein said side surfaces of said marker are angled from a longitudinal axis of said stent structure.

19. The stent according to claim 18, wherein said second side is rounded, an end surface of said marker thereby forming an apex away from said first side.

20. The stent according to claim 19, wherein side surfaces of said lateral extensions disposed adjacent said stent structure each have a concave shape corresponding to a convex shape of a joined portion of two of said structural members.

21. The stent according to claim 17, wherein said side surfaces of said marker are generally parallel to a longitudinal axis of said stent structure.

22. The stent according to claim 21, wherein said second side is flat, an end surface of said marker thereby extending parallel to said one of said proximal and distal ends.

23. The stent according to claim 22, wherein side surfaces of said lateral extensions disposed adjacent said stent structure each have a concave shape corresponding to a convex shape of a joined portion of two of said structural members.