Stent, stent removal and repositioning device, and associated methods

• US 20080033528A1
• Filed: 08/01/2006
• Published: 02/07/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 08/01/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Merit Medical Systems, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Alveolus, Inc. (Merit Medical Systems, Inc.)
• Inventors: Satasiya, Pankaj, Mangiardi, Eric K.
• Granted Patent: US 8,080,053 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 623/1.15
• 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 2002/91566 connected trough to trough
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/91575 connected peak to trough
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/9528 for retrieval of stents
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/9534 for repositioning of stents
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2230/0054 V-shaped

Abstract

A removable stent for placement within a lumen is provided. The stent includes a scaffolding of struts formed from a tube of memory material and having a proximal end, a distal end, and an interior region. The stent includes at least two flexible elements independently secured to the scaffolding and spaced circumferentially from one another. Each element defines an engageable member such that an inwardly directed force applied to the engageable members reduces a diameter of the scaffolding.

Claims

1. A removable stent for placement within a lumen comprising:

a scaffolding of struts formed from a tube of memory material and having a proximal end, a distal end, and an interior region; and

at least two flexible elements independently secured to the scaffolding and spaced circumferentially from one another, wherein each element defines an engageable member such that an inwardly directed force applied to the engageable members reduces a diameter of the scaffolding.

3. The stent according to claim 1, further comprising at least one eyelet positioned at the proximal and distal ends of the stent, wherein each element extends through at least one eyelet.

4. The stent according to claim 1, wherein each engageable member is equidistantly spaced from one another.

5. The stent according to claim 1, wherein each element is arranged proximate to at least one of the proximal and distal ends of the scaffolding.

6. The stent according to claim 1, wherein at least a portion of each engageable member extends inwardly into the interior region of the scaffolding.

7. The stent according to claim 1, wherein free ends of each element are joined together to define a respective engageable member.

8. The stent according to claim 1, wherein free ends of each element are joined to the scaffolding to define a respective engageable member.

9. The stent according to claim 1, wherein each element comprises a suture material.

10. The stent according to claim 9, wherein free ends of each element are joined with a knot.

11. The stent according to claim 10, wherein each knot is positioned outside of the interior region of the scaffolding.

2. The stent according to claim 2, wherein each element is intertwined about the scaffolding.

12. A removable stent for placement within a lumen comprising:

a scaffolding of struts formed from a tube of memory material and having a proximal end, a distal end, and an interior region; and

at least two elements independently coupled to the scaffolding and spaced circumferentially from one another, wherein each element is coupled to the scaffolding at at least two locations to define an engageable member such that an inwardly directed force applied to the engageable members reduces a diameter of the scaffolding.

13. The stent according to claim 12, wherein each engageable member is equidistantly spaced from one another.

14. The stent according to claim 12, wherein each element is arranged proximate to at least one of the proximal and distal ends of the scaffolding.

15. The stent according to claim 12, wherein each element includes first and second opposing ends.

16. The stent according to claim 15, wherein at least a portion of each engageable member extending between the first and second ends extends inwardly into the interior region of the scaffolding.

17. The stent according to claim 15, wherein the first and second ends of each element are joined together to define a respective engageable member.

18. The stent according to claim 15, wherein the first and second ends of each element are joined to the scaffolding to define a respective engageable member.

29. The method according to claim 12, wherein engaging comprises engaging the engageable members at equidistant locations about the circumference of the stent.

30. The method according to claim 12, wherein engaging comprises engaging the engageable members in an interior region of the stent.

31. The method according to claim 12, wherein applying comprises applying the inward radial force to each of the engageable members at a proximal end of the stent.

19. A removable stent for placement within a lumen comprising:

a scaffolding of struts comprising a plurality of interconnected legs arranged circumferentially about the stent and a plurality of connectors interconnecting the legs and extending along a longitudinal axis of the stent, the scaffolding having a proximal end, a distal end, and an interior region; and

at least two elements independently coupled to the scaffolding and spaced circumferentially from one another, wherein each element extends across at least one of a plurality of legs and connectors to define an engageable member such that an inwardly directed force applied to the engageable members reduces a diameter of the scaffolding.

20. The stent according to claim 19, wherein each engageable member is equidistantly spaced from one another.

21. The stent according to claim 19, wherein each element is arranged proximate to at least one of the proximal and distal ends of the scaffolding.

22. The stent according to claim 19, wherein at least a portion of each engageable member extends inwardly into the interior region of the scaffolding.

23. The stent according to claim 19, wherein each element comprises first and second opposing ends.

24. The stent according to claim 23, wherein the first and second ends are joined to at least one of the legs and at least one of the connectors.

25. The stent according to claim 23, wherein the first and second ends are attached to a plurality of legs or a plurality of connectors.

26. The stent according to claim 19, wherein at least a portion of each element is intertwined circumferentially about at least one of a plurality of legs and connectors.

27. The stent according to claim 19, wherein each element comprises a suture material.

28. A method for removing or repositioning a stent within a lumen comprising:

engaging at least two engageable members defined by respective elements spaced circumferentially from one another about the stent and independently secured to the stent; and

applying an inwardly directed force to each engageable member such that a diameter of the stent is reduced.