Flexible resheathable stent design

• US 20060030925A1
• Filed: 08/03/2004
• Published: 02/09/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 08/03/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Medtronic Vascular, Inc. (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Medtronic Vascular, Inc. (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Pryor, Jack
• Granted Patent: US 7,240,516 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 623/1.120
• 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 2002/91541 Adjacent bands are arranged out of phase
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/91558 connected peak to peak
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/9528 for retrieval of stents
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2210/0019 operated at only one temperature whilst inside or touching the human body, e.g. constrained in a non-operative shape during surgery, another temperature only occurring before the operation
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2230/0013 Horseshoe-shaped, e.g. crescent-shaped, C-shaped, U-shaped
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2250/0059 temporary

Abstract

A self-expanding stent includes capture segments including a first capture segment and a second capture segment. The first capture segment includes a first crown coupled to a first crown of the second capture segment and a second crown, where the second crown is spaced apart from an adjacent second crown of the second capture segment when the self-expanding stent is in a relaxed state, and further where the second crown of the first capture segment captures the adjacent second crown of the second capture segment when the self-expanding stent is in a radially compressed state.

Claims

1. A self-expanding stent comprising:

capture segments comprising a first capture segment and a second capture segment;

said first capture segment comprising;

a first crown coupled to a first crown of said second capture segment; and

a second crown,

wherein said second crown is spaced apart from an adjacent second crown of said second capture segment when said self-expanding stent is in a relaxed state, and further wherein said second crown of said first capture segment captures said adjacent second crown of said second capture segment when said self-expanding stent is in a radially compressed state.

2. The self-expanding stent of claim 1 wherein said first capture segment is a mirror image of said second capture segment.

3. The self-expanding stent of claim 1 wherein said first capture segment further comprises:

a first arm having a first length coupled to said first crown of said first capture segment; and

a second arm having a second length coupled to said second crown of said first capture segment, said second length being greater than said first length.

4. The self-expanding stent of claim 3 wherein said first capture segment further comprise a third crown coupling said first arm to said second arm.

5. The self-expanding stent of claim 4 wherein said first arm extends between said first and third crowns of said first capture segment.

6. The self-expanding stent of claim 4 wherein said second arm extends between said third and second crowns of said first capture segment.

7. The self-expanding stent of claim 3 wherein an angle between said first arm and said second arm is greater when said self-expanding stent is in said relaxed state than when said self-expanding stent is in said radially compressed state.

8. The self-expanding stent of claim 3 wherein said second arm is curved.

9. The self-expanding stent of claim 8 wherein said second arm comprises at least one curve.

10. The self-expanding stent of claim 8 wherein said second arm comprises a first curve and an opposite second curve.

11. The self-expanding stent of claim 1 wherein said capture segments are in modified serpentine patterns.

12. The self-expanding stent of claim 1 further comprising a first connector between said first crown of said first capture segment and said first crown of said second capture segment.

13. A stent delivery system comprising a self-expanding stent comprising:

capture segments, wherein each capture segment captures the adjacent distal capture segment when said self-expanding stent is in a radially compressed state.

14. The stent delivery system of claim 13 wherein said capture segments are mirror images of one another.

15. The stent delivery system of claim 13 wherein said capture segments are identical to one another.

16. The stent delivery system of claim 15 wherein said capture segments are offset relative to one another.

17. A method comprising:

initiating deployment of a self-expanding stent comprising capture segments;

recapturing said self-expanding stent by sequentially collapsing said capture segments, wherein each of said capture segments captures the immediately adjacent distal capture segment during said recapturing;

repositioning said self-expanding stent; and

redeploying said self-expanding stent.

18. The method of claim 17 wherein said initiating deployment comprises retracting a sheath around said self-expanding stent.

19. The method of claim 17 wherein said recapturing comprises advancing a sheath over said self-expanding stent.

20. The method of claim 17 wherein said capture segments are sequentially collapsed by a distal end of said sheath.

21. The method of claim 17 wherein said capture segments are sequentially collapsed into a funnel shape by a distal end of said sheath.

22. A method of recapturing a stent comprising:

radially compressing said stent to cause a crown of a first segment of said stent to move longitudinally relative to a crown of a second segment of said stent so that said first segment captures said second segment.