Extendible stent apparatus
First Claim
1. A stent, the stent comprising a radially expandable, generally tubular body, the tubular body having a first end and a second end, the tubular body comprising a plurality of struts and a plurality of connectors, the plurality of struts forming a plurality of circumferential rings, adjacent circumferential rings being engaged by the plurality of connectors, the plurality of struts and the plurality of connectors defining a plurality of cells, one of the plurality of cells being a side branch opening, the side branch opening being larger than each of the other cells in the plurality of cells, the side branch opening defined by at least one discontinuous side branch member, the at least one discontinuous side branch member comprising at least one strut and at least one connector, the at least one strut and the at least one connector alternating with one another.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
The present invention concerns novel stent apparatuses for use in treating lesions at or near the bifurcation point in bifurcated cardiac, coronary, renal, peripheral vascular, gastrointestinal, pulmonary, urinary and neurovascular vessels and brain vessels. More particularly, the invention concerns a stent apparatus with at least one side opening which may further comprise an extendable stent portion laterally extending from the side opening and at least partly in registry with the wall of the side opening. Devices constructed in accordance with the invention include, singularly or in combination, a main expandable stent comprising at least one substantially circular side opening located between its proximal and distal end openings, which side opening may further comprise an expandable portion extending radially outward from the edges of the side opening; and a branch stent comprising proximal and distal end openings and which may further comprise a contacting portion at its proximal end, and which may optionally be constructed to form either a perpendicular branch or a non-perpendicular branch when inserted through a side opening of the main stent. The stents of the invention are marked with, or at least partially constructed of, a material which is imageable during intraluminal catheterization techniques, most preferably but not limited to ultrasound and x-ray.
-
Citations
24 Claims
- 1. A stent, the stent comprising a radially expandable, generally tubular body, the tubular body having a first end and a second end, the tubular body comprising a plurality of struts and a plurality of connectors, the plurality of struts forming a plurality of circumferential rings, adjacent circumferential rings being engaged by the plurality of connectors, the plurality of struts and the plurality of connectors defining a plurality of cells, one of the plurality of cells being a side branch opening, the side branch opening being larger than each of the other cells in the plurality of cells, the side branch opening defined by at least one discontinuous side branch member, the at least one discontinuous side branch member comprising at least one strut and at least one connector, the at least one strut and the at least one connector alternating with one another.
Specification