CONTROLLED FRACTURE CONNECTIONS FOR STENT

• US 20090036970A1
• Filed: 04/25/2006
• Published: 02/05/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 04/25/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Covidien LP (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: ev3, Inc. (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Ma, Jianlu, Khouengboua, Ott, Grafov, Alex
• Granted Patent: US 8,961,585 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 623/1.150
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/89 the wire-like elements comprising two or more adjacent rings flexibly connected by separate members
• 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 2002/91525 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 2002/9155 Adjacent bands being connected to each other
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/91558 connected peak to peak
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/91591 Locking connectors, e.g. using male-female connections
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2210/0004 bioabsorbable
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2250/0071 breakable or frangible

Abstract

The invention provides for intra-luminal stents, especially stent having controlled fracture connection, as well as, methods of making and using the same. In one embodiment, a stent for implantation into a vessel has a plurality of annular segments collectively forming tubular shape, characterized by at least first and second adjacent annular segments each defined by a plurality of struts and at least one joint interconnecting respective struts of the first and second segments on a non-permanent basis.

Claims

1-12. -12. (canceled)

13. A stent for implantation into a body vessel, the stent having a generally tubular shape with a circumference and extending along a longitudinal axis, the stent comprising:

a first segment having a plurality of struts disposed along a first portion of the longitudinal axis and forming a plurality of circumferentially disposed closed cells having peaks;

a second segment, adjacent the first segment, having a plurality of sinusoidal struts disposed along a second portion of the longitudinal axis and forming a plurality of open cells disposed in an arc about less than the circumference of the tubular shape of the stent; and

the struts of the second segment interconnecting peaks of the cells from the first segment.

14. The stent of claim 13, further comprising a plurality of first and second segment arranged in an alternating pattern along the longitudinal axis.

15. The stent of claim 14, wherein struts of a second segment interconnect cells from different of the plurality of the first segments.

16. The stent of claim 15, wherein the different or the first segments interconnected by the struts of a second segment are offset about the circumference of the stent.

17. The stent of claim 15, wherein the different of the first segments interconnected by the struts of a second segment are offset about the longitudinal axis of the stent.

18. The stent of claim 13, wherein the plurality of struts of the second segment temporarily interconnect cells from different of the plurality of the first segments.

19. The stent of claim 13, wherein the struts of the second segment expand independent of each other.

20. The stent of claim 14, wherein the struts forming the open cells of the second segment are disposed in an arc of less than 60 degrees about the circumference of the stent.

21. The stent of claim 13, wherein the struts forming the open cells of the second segment are disposed in an arc of less than 180 degrees about the circumference of the stent.

22. The stent of claim 13, wherein the struts of the second segment comprise a biodegradeable material.

23. An expandable stent for implantation into a body vessel comprising:

a plurality of annular segments collectively forming a tubular shape having a circumference and extending along a longitudinal axis,

a plurality of connectors joining at least first and second of the annular segments,

the first and second annular segments disposed adjacent to each other along the longitudinal axis,

the plurality of connectors having a sinusoidal pattern and having a larger dimension along the circumference than along the longitudinal axis of the stent.

24. The stent of claim 23, wherein the first and second annular segments define peaks, and the sinusoidal connectors are attached to a peak of each of the first and second annular segments.

25. The stent of claim 23, wherein the sinusoidal connectors are connected to each of the first and second annular segments at no more than one location of each of said annular segments.

26. The stent of claim 23, wherein the sinusoidal connectors have a plurality of struts, wherein no more than one strut of each sinusoidal connector is attached to each of the first and second annular segments.

27. The stent of claim 23, wherein the first and second annular segments include closed cells.

28. The stent of claim 23, wherein the sinusoidal connectors each encompass less than a 180 degree arc around the circumference of the stent.

29. The stent of claim 23, wherein the sinusoidal connectors each encompass less than a 60 degree arc around the circumference of the stent.

30. The stent of claim 23, wherein the sinusoidal connectors are capable of expanding independently of each other.

31. The stent of claim 23, wherein the sinusoidal connectors comprise a biodegradeable material.

32. A stent for implantation into a body lumen, the stent comprising:

a plurality of first and second segments arranged in an interconnected alternating pattern to form a generally tubular shape with a circumference and extending along a longitudinal axis,

the first segments comprising a plurality of struts forming closed cells having peaks disposed about the circumference of the stent; and

the second segments comprising a plurality of undulating struts forming a plurality of open cells disposed in an arc about less than the circumference of the stent.

33. The stent of claim 32, wherein the struts of the second annular segments are capable of expanding independently of each other.

34. The stent of claim 32, wherein the peaks of selected cells of different first segments are interconnected by struts of adjacent second segments, said selected cells being offset about the circumference of the stent.

35. The stent of claim 32, wherein the peaks of selected cells of different first segments are interconnected by struts of adjacent second segments, said selected cells being offset about the longitudinal axis of the stent.

36. The stent of claim 32, wherein the plurality of struts of the second segments comprise a biodegradeable material.

37. A method for placing a stent with a body lumen comprising:

providing a stent having a plurality of first and second segment arranged in an interconnected alternating pattern to form a generally tubular shape having a circumference, the first segments comprising a plurality of struts forming closed cells disposed about the circumference of the stent, the second segments comprising a plurality of sinusoidal struts forming a plurality of open cells disposed in an arc about less than the circumference of the stent;

positioning the stent within the body lumen with a delivery mechanism;

causing the stent to expand within the body lumen in a manner which enables the struts of the second segments to expand independent of each other in an arc about less than the circumference of the stent.