NONEXPANDABLE STENT

• US 20080091275A1
• Filed: 10/16/2007
• Published: 04/17/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 10/16/2006
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Cook Medical Incorporated (Cook Group Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Wilson-Cook Medical Incorporated (Cook Group Incorporated)
• Inventors: Ducharme, Richard
• Application Number:
  US11/873,167
• Publication Number:
  US 20080091275A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 623/23.7
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/94 Stents retaining their form, i.e. not being deformable, after placement in the predetermined place
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 27/008 pre-shaped, for use in the urethral or ureteral tract

Abstract

Disclosed herein is a nonexpandable stent and a method of making and deploying the stent. The stent includes a tubular body having a distal portion, a proximal portion, a central longitudinal portion between the distal and proximal portions, and a substantially nonexpandable diameter. The stent includes at least one securing element. The securing element includes a reinforcement member comprising a shape memory material. The securing element comprises a first configuration of the reinforcement member for delivery to a treatment site within a body vessel and a second configuration of the reinforcement member for deployment at the treatment site.

Claims

1. A nonexpandable stent comprising:

a tubular body having a distal portion, a proximal portion, a central longitudinal portion between the distal and proximal portions, and a substantially nonexpandable diameter,

wherein the tubular body comprises at least one securing element, the securing element including a reinforcement member comprising a shape memory material;

wherein the securing element comprises a first configuration of the reinforcement member for delivery to a treatment site within a body vessel and a second configuration of the reinforcement member for deployment at the treatment site.

2. The stent according to claim 1, wherein the securing element is configured to facilitate movement of the stent through the body vessel when the reinforcement member is in the first configuration.

3. The stent according to claim 1, wherein the securing element is configured to inhibit movement of the stent with respect to the body vessel when the reinforcement member is in the second configuration.

4. The stent according to claim 1, wherein the shape memory material comprises a nickel-titanium alloy and the reinforcement member comprises a martensitic phase of the nickel-titanium alloy in the first configuration and an austenitic phase of the nickel-titanium alloy in the second configuration.

5. The stent according to claim 1, wherein the securing element is disposed in at least one of the distal portion and the proximal portion of the tubular body.

6. The stent according to claim 1, wherein the securing element extends in a direction of the central longitudinal portion when the reinforcement member is in the first configuration.

7. The stent according to claim 1, wherein the securing element extends in a direction away from the central longitudinal portion when the reinforcement member is in the second configuration.

8. The stent according to claim 7, wherein the securing element comprises a curve when the reinforcement member is in the second configuration.

9. The stent according to claim 7, wherein the securing element is a flap.

10. The stent according to claim 1, wherein the securing element is a bend in the central longitudinal portion when the reinforcement member is in the second configuration.

11. The stent of claim 1 comprising two or more reinforcement members.

12. The stent of claim 1, wherein the securing element is integrally formed with the tubular body, the tubular body comprising a polymer.

13. The stent of claim 12, wherein the reinforcement member is embedded in the polymer.

14. The stent according to claim 12, wherein the polymer is Thoralon.

15. A method of using a nonexpandable stent, the method comprising:

providing a stent comprising a tubular body having a distal portion, a proximal portion, a central longitudinal portion between the distal and proximal portions, and a substantially nonexpandable diameter, wherein the tubular body comprises at least one securing element, the securing element including a reinforcement member comprising a shape memory material;

delivering the stent to a treatment site in a body vessel, wherein the securing element comprises a first configuration of the reinforcement member when the stent is being delivered; and

deploying the stent at the treatment site, wherein the securing element comprises a second configuration of the reinforcement member when the stent is deployed.

16. The method according to claim 15, wherein deploying the stent comprises removing a constraining member overlying or underlying the stent.

17. The method according to claim 15, wherein deploying the stent comprises warming the stent to a temperature above an austenite finish temperature of the shape memory material.

18. A method of making a nonexpandable stent, the method comprising:

providing at least one reinforcement member comprising a shape memory material, the reinforcement member held adjacent to a mandrel with a spacing therebetween along a length of the reinforcement member;

applying a coating solution to the reinforcement member and the mandrel;

removing the mandrel, thereby forming a nonexpandable stent.

19. The method of claim 18, further comprising curing the coating solution, thereby obtaining a polymer layer on the reinforcement member and the mandrel.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein the applying and curing are repeated sequentially to form successive polymer layers on the reinforcement member and the mandrel before removing the mandrel.