AXIALLY NESTED SLIDE AND LOCK EXPANDABLE DEVICE
First Claim
1. An axially nested stent being expandable from an axially nested unexpanded state to an expanded state, the stent comprising a tubular member having longitudinal and circumferential axes, the tubular member comprising:
- a plurality of elongate linkage sections being circumferentially disposed about the longitudinal axis, each linkage section comprising at least one engagement aperture disposed in the linkage section, the engagement aperture being disposed through the linkage section in a circumferential direction; and
at least one interconnector module extending intermediate the engagement apertures of at least two linkage sections, the interconnector module being generally aligned with the circumferential axis of the tubular member, the interconnector module being configured to allow one-way slidable movement of the linkage sections relative to the interconnector module during expansion of the stent from the axially nested unexpanded state to the expanded state.
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0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
The inventions relate generally to expandable medical implants for maintaining support of a body lumen and, in particular, to an axially nested, diametrically expandable, slide and lock vascular device for enlarging an occluded portion of a vessel. The axially nested vascular device desirably achieves both competitive crossing profiles while maintaining other key features, such as, for example, radial strength and luminal patency. The collapsed profile can also be made very thin without compromising radial strength. Thus, the vascular device can advantageously be deployed in small and difficult to reach areas or vessels. The axial nesting substantially eliminates radial overlap between mating structural elements thereby desirably allowing for a low, uniform profile.
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Citations
24 Claims
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1. An axially nested stent being expandable from an axially nested unexpanded state to an expanded state, the stent comprising a tubular member having longitudinal and circumferential axes, the tubular member comprising:
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a plurality of elongate linkage sections being circumferentially disposed about the longitudinal axis, each linkage section comprising at least one engagement aperture disposed in the linkage section, the engagement aperture being disposed through the linkage section in a circumferential direction; and at least one interconnector module extending intermediate the engagement apertures of at least two linkage sections, the interconnector module being generally aligned with the circumferential axis of the tubular member, the interconnector module being configured to allow one-way slidable movement of the linkage sections relative to the interconnector module during expansion of the stent from the axially nested unexpanded state to the expanded state. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3)
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4. An axially nested stent being expandable from an axially nested unexpanded state to an expanded state, the stent comprising a tubular member having longitudinal and circumferential axes, the tubular member comprising:
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a plurality of elongate linkage sections being circumferentially disposed about the longitudinal axis, each linkage section comprising; a plurality of link elements defining proximal and distal ends; a flexible section extending intermediate the proximal end of a given link element and the distal end of another given link element to interconnect the plurality of link elements in an end-to-end manner; and at least one engagement aperture disposed in at least one link element of the linkage section, the engagement aperture being disposed through the link element in a circumferential direction; and at least one interconnector module extending intermediate the engagement apertures of at least two linkage sections, the interconnector module being generally aligned with the circumferential axis of the tubular member, the interconnector module being configured to allow one-way slidable movement of the linkage sections relative to the interconnector module during expansion of the stent from the axially nested unexpanded state to the expanded state. - View Dependent Claims (5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. An axially nested stent being expandable from an axially nested unexpanded state to an expanded state, the stent comprising a tubular member having longitudinal and circumferential axes, the tubular member comprising:
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a plurality of elongate linkage sections being circumferentially disposed about the longitudinal axis, each linkage section comprising; a plurality of link modules defining an A-frame and opposing lateral wings; a flexible section extending intermediate the lateral wing of a given link module and the lateral wing of another given link module to interconnect the plurality of link modules in an end-to-end manner; and at least one engagement aperture disposed in the A-frame of the link module of the linkage section, the engagement aperture being disposed through the link module in a circumferential direction; and a plurality of interconnector modules being circumferentially disposed about the longitudinal axis with a respective interconnector module being interposed between adjacent linkage sections, the interconnector module comprising a plurality of interconnection members extending intermediate the engagement apertures of the adjacent linkage sections, the interconnection members being generally aligned with the circumferential axis of the tubular member, the interconnection members being configured to allow one-way slidable movement of the linkage sections relative to the interconnection member during expansion of the stent from the axially nested unexpanded state to the expanded state. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22, 23, 24)
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Specification