SELF-EXPANDING STENT WITH ENHANCED DELIVERY PRECISION AND STENT DELIVERY SYSTEM
First Claim
1. A self-expanding stent having longitudinal flexibility for implanting in a body lumen and being expandable from a compressed condition to an expanded condition, comprising:
- a plurality of adjacent cylindrical elements made from a self-expanding material, each cylindrical element having a circumference extending around a longitudinal stent axis and being substantially independently expandable in the radial direction, wherein the plurality of adjacent cylindrical elements are arranged in alignment along the longitudinal stent axis and form a generally tubular member, the cylindrical elements at each end of the stent being formed in a generally serpentine wave pattern having a plurality of double curved portions which form the outermost edge of the stent; and
a plurality of interconnecting members extending between the adjacent cylindrical elements and connecting the adjacent cylindrical elements to one another, wherein some of the interconnecting members are aligned collinearly with respect to each other to form a continuous spine which extends along the length of the stent.
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Accused Products
Abstract
The invention is directed to a self-expanding stent for implantation into a body lumen, such as an artery. The stent consists of a plurality of radially expandable cylindrical elements generally aligned on a common longitudinal stent axis and interconnected by a plurality of interconnecting members placed on the stent in a collinear arrangement such as to create at least one continuous spine which extends along the length of the stent. The invention is also directed to a stent delivery system for implantation of a stent in a vessel which includes an outer tubular member having a restraining sheath and an inner tubular member having a distal end which has a compressed stent mounted thereto. The proximal end of the inner tubular member is connected to a housing assembly which prevents the inner tubular member from moving when the outer tubular member is retracted to deploy the stent. The proximal end of the outer tubular member is attached to a pull-back handle which is slidably mounted on the base of the housing assembly. When the pull-back handle is retracted, the restraining sheath is retracted to deploy the sheath, while the inner tubular member remains stationary.
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Citations
16 Claims
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1. A self-expanding stent having longitudinal flexibility for implanting in a body lumen and being expandable from a compressed condition to an expanded condition, comprising:
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a plurality of adjacent cylindrical elements made from a self-expanding material, each cylindrical element having a circumference extending around a longitudinal stent axis and being substantially independently expandable in the radial direction, wherein the plurality of adjacent cylindrical elements are arranged in alignment along the longitudinal stent axis and form a generally tubular member, the cylindrical elements at each end of the stent being formed in a generally serpentine wave pattern having a plurality of double curved portions which form the outermost edge of the stent; and a plurality of interconnecting members extending between the adjacent cylindrical elements and connecting the adjacent cylindrical elements to one another, wherein some of the interconnecting members are aligned collinearly with respect to each other to form a continuous spine which extends along the length of the stent. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A stent delivery system comprising:
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a delivery catheter having an inner tubular member having a region for mounting a compressed stent thereon with a tip assembly attached to the mounting region and an outer tubular member having a restraining sheath overlying said inner tubular member and adapted for axial movement with respect to said inner tubular member; a housing assembly having a pull-back handle slidably mounted on a base, said inner tubular member having a proximal end attached to said base and said outer tubular member having a proximal end attached to said pull-back handle whereby movement of said pull-back handle proximally retracts said restraining sheath proximally from the compressed stent on the inner tubular member, which the inner tubular member remains stationary. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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Specification