STENT HAVING HELICAL ELEMENTS

• US 20080294243A1
• Filed: 07/24/2008
• Published: 11/27/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 06/13/1997
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: OrbusNeich Medical Pte Ltd
• Original Assignee: Orbusneich Medical Incorporated (Orbusneich Medical)
• Inventors: CAMP, David L. JR., BECKER, Gary J., PAZIENZA, John D., ADDONIZIO, Scott J.
• Application Number:
  US12/178,895
• Publication Number:
  US 20080294243A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 623/1.22
• 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 2002/91508 the meander having a difference in amplitude along the band
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/91516 the meander having a change in frequency along the band
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/91525 within the whole structure different bands showing different meander characteristics, e.g. frequency or amplitude
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/91533 characterised by the phase between adjacent bands
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/91541 Adjacent bands are arranged out of phase
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/9155 Adjacent bands being connected to each other
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/91558 connected peak to peak
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/91583 by a bridge, whereby at least one of its ends is connected along the length of a strut between two consecutive apices within a band
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2230/0013 Horseshoe-shaped, e.g. crescent-shaped, C-shaped, U-shaped

Abstract

An expandable stent comprised of a plurality of helical segments is disclosed. In one embodiment, the stent is generally cylindrical in shape having a cylindrical axis, and comprises a first and second set of helical segments. The helical segments in the first set are substantially parallel and have a first pitch forming a first helical angle with respect to the cylindrical axis. The helical segments in the second set are also generally parallel to each other and form a second pitch that differs from the first pitch, thereby forming a second helical angle with respect to the cylindrical axis. In an alternative embodiment, the stent comprises one set of helical segments and a plurality of circumferential elements that are joined together by the helical segments to form a plurality of cylindrical elements which are joined together to form a stent body. The stent may also have endzones.

Claims

1. An expandable stent having an unexpanded state, the unexpanded stent comprising:

a plurality of adjacent cylindrical elements circumscribing a cylindrical axis, at least two of the cylindrical elements being connected by a substantially S-shaped segment defining at least one generally linear portion, the linear portion being angled with respect to the cylindrical axis.

2. The stent of claim 1, wherein the angle between the linear portion and the cylindrical axis is greater than 0 degrees.

3. The stent of claim 2, wherein the angle between the linear portion and the cylindrical axis is less than 90 degrees.

4. The stent of claim 1, wherein the stent defines a plurality of expandable helical segments comprising expandable circumferential segments and H-shaped segments.

5. The stent of claim 4, wherein the circumferential segments further comprise a plurality of segments joined together to form a repeating pattern.

6. The stent of claim 5, wherein the repeating pattern comprises a square wave form having curved peaks and valleys.

7. The stent of claim 4, wherein each cylindrical element comprises:

(1) a first plurality of the expandable circumferential segments and (2) a second plurality of circumferential segments, wherein the first and second pluralities of circumferential segments are joined to each other by at least one of the S-shaped portion and H-shaped segment.

8. The stent of claim 7, wherein the first and second pluralities of circumferential segments comprise a majority of the circumference of each cylindrical element.

9. The stent of claim 7, wherein the first circumferential segments alternate with the second circumferential segments.

10. The stent of claim 7, wherein the circumferential dimensions of the first and second pluralities of circumferential segments are equal.

11. The stent of claim 7, wherein the circumferential dimension of at least one of the second plurality of circumferential segments is larger than the circumferential dimensions of the first plurality of circumferential segments.

12. The stent of claim 1, further comprising first and second endzones straddling a main body of the stent.

13. The stent of claim 12, wherein each endzone comprises a plurality of rings joined together by a plurality of struts.

14. The stent of claim 13, wherein the rings are comprised of a plurality of alternating linear and curved segments.

15. The stent of claim 1, wherein each substantially S-shaped portion defines three generally linear portions.

16. An expandable stent having an unexpanded state, the unexpanded stent comprising:

a plurality of adjacent cylindrical elements circumscribing a cylindrical axis, at least two of the cylindrical elements being connected by a substantially S-shaped segment, the S-shaped segment defining a generally linear portion, wherein the linear portion is nonparallel to the cylindrical axis.

17. The stent of claim 16, wherein the linear portion is not perpendicular to the cylindrical axis.

18. The stent of claim 16, wherein the stent defines a plurality of expandable helical segments comprising expandable circumferential segments and H-shaped segments.

19. The stent of claim 18, wherein the expandable circumferential segments each having a single substantially S-shaped segment.

20. An expandable stent having an unexpanded state, the unexpanded stent comprising:

a plurality of adjacent cylindrical elements circumscribing a cylindrical axis, a helical element connecting at least two of the cylindrical elements, the helical element having plurality of substantially S-shaped segments in an alternating pattern with a plurality of substantially H-shaped segments, each S-shaped segment defining at least one generally linear portion being angled greater than 0 degrees and less than 90 degrees with respect to the cylindrical axis.