Hybrid stent

• US 20060122691A1
• Filed: 01/13/2006
• Published: 06/08/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 12/03/1998
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Medinol Limited (Medinol USA Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Medinol Limited (Medinol USA Incorporated)
• Inventors: Richter, Jacob
• Application Number:
  US11/331,639
• Publication Number:
  US 20060122691A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 623/1.160
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/07 Stent-grafts
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/89 the wire-like elements comprising two or more adjacent rings flexibly connected by separate members
• 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 2002/826 more than one stent being applied sequentially
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/828 Means for connecting a plurality of stents allowing flexibility of the whole structure
• 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 2250/0071 breakable or frangible

Abstract

A stent is provided with a series of short pieces or sections connected together by a bioresorbable polymer. The stent sections are designed to separate or articulate with time as the polymer biodegrades. The time of separation can be controlled by the characteristics of the bioresorbable polymer to allow the stent to be buried in neo-intima. By using a tube made of a bioresorbable polymer, the continuous covering of the tubing may inhibit embolization in the first few weeks after stent implantation within the walls of a vessel and timing for removal of the tube through formulation of the bioresorbable polymer can be controlled to occur when embolization is no longer a risk. When the detachment of the stent pieces or sections occurs, they are fixedly secured within the vessel and each is able to flex with the vessel independently of the other stent segments.

Claims

1. A stent for implantation in a vessel, comprising:

a plurality of short stent segments;

a durable polymeric mesh for connecting adjacent the plurality of stent segments; and

the durable polymeric mesh adapted to provide longitudinal flexibility between adjacent stent segments.

2. The stent of claim 1, wherein the polymeric mesh is expanded polytetrafluoroethylene.

3. The stent of claims 1 or 2 where the polymeric mesh is in the form of intertwined fibers.

4. The stent of claims 1 or 2 where the mesh is made porous as expanded.

5. The stent of claims 1 or 2 where the mesh is made porous by introducing fenestrations in it after it is manufactured.

6. A stent for implantation in a vessel, comprising:

a plurality of separate metal sections held together by a longitudinal structure;

the longitudinal structure being made of a different material and relatively softer than the separate metal sections for providing radial resistance and flexible longitudinal bending.

7. The stent of claim 6 where the longitudinal structure is a polymeric material.

8. The stent of claim 6 where the longitudinal structure is ePTFE.

9. A stent for implantation in a vessel, comprising:

a plurality of short stent segments;

a longitudinal structure for connecting adjacent the plurality of stent segments; and

the polymeric mesh adapted to provide longitudinal flexibility between adjacent stent segments by either removing with time the longitudinal structure or by making the longitudinal structure from a different soft material with low resistance to longitudinal flexing as compared to the short stent segments.

10. The stent of claim 9 where the longitudinal structure is a polymeric mesh.

11. The stent of claim 9 where the short stent segments are metal.

12. The stent of claim 9 where the longitudinal structure is removed by fragmentation or biodegradation.

13. The stent of claim 9 where the longitudinal structure remains in the vessel and is not removed.

14. The stent of claim 13 where the longitudinal structure is a soft longitudinal backbone as compared to the stent segments.

15. The stent of claim 14 where the longitudinal structure is a durable polymer material.