Axially-elongating stent and method of deployment

• US 20070173924A1
• Filed: 01/23/2006
• Published: 07/26/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 01/23/2006
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: LG Research Limited Partnership
• Original Assignee: LG Research Limited Partnership
• Inventors: Gelbart, Daniel, Lichtenstein, Samuel
• Application Number:
  US11/336,803
• Publication Number:
  US 20070173924A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 623/1.150
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/852 Two or more distinct overlapping stents
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/88 the wire-like elements formed as helical or spiral coils forming a net-like or mesh-like structure A61F2/90
• 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 2/95 Instruments specially adapted for placement or removal of stents or stent-grafts
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/958 Inflatable balloons for placing stents or stent-grafts
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/91575 connected peak to trough
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/9528 for retrieval of stents
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2210/0057 stretchable
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2250/0007 for adjusting length
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2250/0063 Nested prosthetic parts
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2025/1068 having means for varying the length or diameter of the deployed balloon, this variations could be caused by excess pressure
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2025/1084 having features for increasing the shape stability, the reproducibility or for limiting expansion, e.g. containments, wrapped around fibres, yarns or strands

Abstract

A stent is capable of expanding both radially and axially during deployment. The stent can be balloon expandable or self expanding. In the balloon expandable version, circumferentially expandable structures are connected with folded links. When stent pulled axially, those links allow axial expansion without reducing radial expansion. A specially designed balloon, also capable of radial and axial expansion, is used to deploy the stent. A self-expanding version of this stent can be deployed without a balloon.

Claims

1. A stent capable of a significant increase in the axial dimension during deployment.

2. A stent as in claim 1 wherein the axial dimension is increased at least by 50% during deployment.

3. A balloon for deployment of stents as in claim 1, said balloon capable of both axial and radial expansion when pressurized.

4. A stent as in claim 1, wherein said stent is self-expanding.

5. A stent as in claim 1 wherein said stent is made in the form of a wound ribbon.

6. A stent as in claim 1 wherein said stent is removable.

7. A stent as in claim 1 wherein said stent has a functional coating.

8. A method of deploying a stent, said method comprising the steps of:

mounting said stent on a balloon capable of axial and radial expansion when pressurized;

inserting said balloon into a vessel inside the human body and pressurizing balloon; and

expanding said stent both radially and axially before removing pressure from said balloon.

9. A method of deploying a self expanding spring-like stent, said method comprising the steps of:

compressing said stent into a cylindrical cavity;

placing said cavity in a vessel inside the human body; and

releasing said stent from said cavity, allowing it to expand both radially and axially.