Integration Of Markers Into Bar Arms

• US 20090005853A1
• Filed: 06/26/2007
• Published: 01/01/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 06/26/2007
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Abbott Laboratories Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Abbott Laboratories Incorporated
• Inventors: Osman, Karim
• Application Number:
  US11/768,477
• Publication Number:
  US 20090005853A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 623/1.150
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/915 with bands having a meander structure, adjacent bands being connected to each other
• 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 2002/91541 Adjacent bands are arranged out of phase
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/91558 connected peak to peak
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2220/0058 soldered or brazed or welded
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2230/005 Rosette-shaped, e.g. star-shaped
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2230/0054 V-shaped
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2250/0032 differing in radiographic density
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2250/0036 differing in thickness
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2250/0098 radio-opaque, e.g. radio-opaque markers

Abstract

A stent having a body capable of visualization under X-ray fluoroscopic techniques. The stent body includes radiopaque strut members. The stent body can also have a radiopacity gradient along the length of the stent body.

Claims

1. A stent comprising:

a body having a length and including a first annular element including a plurality of interconnected strut members, at least some of the plurality of strut members having a gap defined along a length thereof, and

radiopaque material disposed in the gap to define a marker.

2. The stent of claim 1, wherein the gap is formed by removing material from the strut member by laser cutting or chemical etching techniques.

3. The stent of claim 1, wherein strut members including opposing first and second surface, and further wherein the gap extends through the first and second surfaces to define an opening.

4. The stent of claim 3, wherein the radiopaque material completely fills the opening.

5. The stent of claim 1, wherein at least some strut members are configured to include a first width and a second width, the first width being different than the second width.

6. The stent of claim 5, wherein the gap has a first width and a second width corresponding to the first and second widths of the strut member.

7. The stent of claim 5, wherein the gap is defined in only one of the first or second widths of the strut member.

8. The stent of claim 5, wherein the strut member includes a plurality of widths to define a zig-zag configuration.

9. The stent of claim 8, wherein the gap has a corresponding zig-zag configuration.

10. The stent of claim 1, wherein the gap has a predetermined shape and the radiopaque material has a corresponding predetermined shape.

11. The stent of claim 10, the predetermined shape is selected from the group including rectangular, rounded, diamond-shaped, curved, and linear.

12. The stent of claim 1, wherein the interconnected strut members include alternating strut members and crowns.

13. The stent of claim 12, wherein the alternating strut members and crowns define an undulating pattern.

14. The stent of claim 1, wherein the first annular element is associated with a second annular element, the second annular element including a plurality of interconnected strut members.

15. The stent of claim 14, wherein the interconnected strut members of the first annular element are in phase with the interconnected strut members of the second annular element.

16. The stent of claim 15, wherein the interconnected strut members of the first annular element is axially offset from the interconnected strut members of the second annular element.

17. The stent of claim 1, including at least a first annular element comprising alternating strut and crown members associated with a second annular element comprising alternating strut and crown members, wherein adjacent strut members and crowns define a generally continuous wave along a line segment parallel to a longitudinal axis of the stent.

18. The stent of claim 1, wherein the first annular element and the second annular element are associated at a plurality of connection sites.

19. The stent of claim 18, wherein the stent includes a plurality of annular elements axially aligned and a plurality of connection sites that associate with adjacent annular elements, wherein the number of connection sites varies along a length of the stent.

20. A stent comprising a stent body, the stent body including a proximal section, a distal section and an intermediate section therebetween, each section including at least one annular element of interconnected strut members, wherein at least some of the strut members include radiopaque material such that at least one section has greater radiopacity than the other sections.

21. The stent of claim 20, wherein the stent body includes a gradient of radiopacity along the length thereof.

22. The stent of claim 21, wherein the radiopacity gradient continuously increases distally along the length of the stent body.

23. The stent of claim 21, wherein the radiopacity gradient is a stepped increase over a length of the stent body.

24. The stent of claim 20, wherein each of the distal and proximal sections have greater radiopacity than the intermediate section.

25. The stent of claim 20, wherein the radiopaque material is disposed in a gap defined along a length of at least some strut members.

26. The stent of claim 25, wherein the gap is formed by chemical etching or laser cutting techniques.

27. The stent of claim 20, wherein the radiopaque material is coated on a surface of at least some of the strut members.