Stent

• US 20070150049A1
• Filed: 09/15/2006
• Published: 06/28/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 03/16/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Merit Medical Systems, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Alveolus, Inc. (Merit Medical Systems, Inc.)
• Inventors: Nissl, Thomas
• Granted Patent: US 8,652,196 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 623/1.160
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/848 having means for fixation to the vessel wall, e.g. barbs
• 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 2002/91533 characterised by the phase between adjacent bands
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/91575 connected peak to trough
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2230/0054 V-shaped

Abstract

A stent and associated method for implanting a stent within a body conduit are provided. According to one embodiment, the stent includes a plurality of annular segments arranged peripherally along a longitudinal axis to define opposing free ends, wherein each annular segment includes a plurality of interconnected segment struts. The stent also includes a plurality of connector struts each extending along the longitudinal axis between, and connecting, adjacent annular segments, wherein each connector strut includes an axial section and a compensating section. In addition, at least a portion of each of the segment struts, axial sections, and compensating sections is curved.

Claims

1. A stent comprising:

a plurality of annular segments arranged peripherally along a longitudinal axis to define opposing free ends, each annular segment comprising a plurality of interconnected segment struts; and

a plurality of connector struts each extending along the longitudinal axis between, and connecting, adjacent annular segments, each connector strut comprising an axial section and a compensating section,

wherein at least a portion of each of the segment struts, axial sections, and compensating sections is curved.

2. The stent according to claim 1, wherein each of the segment struts and axial sections is curved in a wave shape.

3. The stent according to claim 1, wherein each of the segment struts extends obliquely with respect to the longitudinal axis.

4. The stent according to claim 1, wherein each of the compensating sections comprises a V-shaped section having a pair of curved inclined sections.

5. The stent according to claim 4, wherein each of the compensating sections comprises a pair of arms extending parallel to one another and from the pair of curved inclined sections to define a closed end.

6. The stent according to claim 5, wherein each of the closed ends extend in a same peripheral direction.

7. The stent according to claim 1, wherein adjacent segment struts are adjoined to one another at respective ends via a transition section.

8. The stent according to claim 7, wherein each of the compensating sections are attached directly to a respective transition section.

9. The stent according to claim 7, wherein respective ends of each connector strut are adjoined to respective transition sections.

10. The stent according to claim 7, further comprising a plurality of head ends extending from respective transition sections at one or more of the free ends.

11. The stent according to claim 1, wherein a width of at least a portion of each of the connector struts is less than a width of each of the segments struts.

12. The stent according to claim 11, wherein a width of each axial section is less than a width of each segment strut.

13. The stent according to claim 1, wherein each of the segment struts widens from a middle area to its respective ends.

14. The stent according to claim 1, wherein each annular segment comprises a plurality of segment struts defining a plurality of peaks and valleys each extending in a same axial direction along the longitudinal axis, and wherein each of the plurality of connector struts extends between respective peaks of the segment struts.

15. A stent comprising:

a plurality of annular segments arranged peripherally along a longitudinal axis to define opposing free ends, each annular segment comprising a plurality of segment struts;

a plurality of connector struts extending along the longitudinal axis between, and connecting, adjacent annular segments; and

a plurality of head ends extending from at least one of the free ends, wherein at least one of the head ends is offset axially from at least one other head end along the longitudinal axis.

16. The stent according to claim 15, wherein adjacent segment struts are adjoined to one another via a transition section.

17. The stent according to claim 16, wherein each of the head ends extends from respective transition sections.

18. The stent according to claim 15, wherein each of the offset head ends comprises a coupling section.

19. The stent according to claim 18, wherein each of the coupling sections comprises a pair of concave rounded side grooves that are capable of engaging adjacent head ends when the head ends are contracted.

20. The stent according to claim 15, wherein each of the head ends comprises a concavely rounded front section.

21. The stent according to claim 15, wherein each of the head ends comprises an eyelet.

22. The stent according to claim 21, further comprising a thread positioned within each of the eyelets.

23. The stent according to claim 15, wherein each annular segment comprises a plurality of segment struts defining a plurality of peaks and valleys each extending in a same axial direction along the longitudinal axis, and wherein each of the plurality of connector struts extends between respective peaks of the segment struts.

24. The stent according to claim 23, wherein each of the plurality of head ends extends from respective peaks at one of the free ends.

25. A method for implanting a stent within a body conduit, the method comprising:

providing a plurality of annular segments arranged peripherally along a longitudinal axis, and comprising a plurality of interconnected segment struts, and a plurality of connector struts extending between, and connecting, adjacent annular segments; and

contracting the annular segments and connector struts to a contracted state such that a plurality of head ends and offset head ends extending from an annular element at a free end, and axially offset from one another along the longitudinal axis, engage with one another in the contracted state.

26. The method according to claim 25, wherein contracting comprises contracting the annular segments and connector struts such that adjacent head ends engage respective concave rounded side grooves defined in each of the offset head ends.

27. The method according to claim 25, wherein providing comprises providing a plurality of curved segment struts and a plurality of curved connector struts.

28. The method according to claim 25, wherein providing comprises providing a plurality of connector struts having a width that is less than a width of a plurality of segments struts.

29. The method according to claim 25, wherein providing comprises providing a plurality of connector segments each comprising a compensating section, and wherein each compensating section comprises a V-shaped section having a pair of curved inclined sections.

30. The method according to claim 25, wherein contracting comprises engaging an eyelet defined in at least one of the head ends and offset head ends.

31. A stent comprising:

a plurality of annular segments arranged peripherally along a longitudinal axis to define opposing free ends, each annular segment comprising a plurality of interconnected segment struts; and

a plurality of connector struts each extending along the longitudinal axis between, and connecting, adjacent annular segments,

wherein adjacent segment struts and a respective connector strut extending therebetween are adjoined to one another via a transition section, and

wherein a width of each transition section is approximately equal to a width of adjacent segments struts and a respective connector strut extending therebetween.

32. The stent according to claim 31, wherein each of the segment struts and connector struts is curved.

33. The stent according to claim 31, wherein each connector strut comprises an axial section and a compensating section, and wherein at least a portion of the axial section and compensating section is curved.

34. The stent according to claim 33, wherein each of the segment struts and axial sections is curved in a wave shape.

35. The stent according to claim 34, wherein each of the segment struts extends obliquely with respect to the longitudinal axis such that adjacent segment struts are capable of conforming to a respective axial section extending therebetween when contracted.