STENT SEGMENTS AXIALLY CONNECTED BY THIN FILM

• US 20090112306A1
• Filed: 10/24/2007
• Published: 04/30/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 10/24/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Vactronix Scientific, LLC
• Original Assignee: Advanced Bio Prosthetic Surfaces, Ltd.
• Inventors: RICE, Carolyn, Bonsignore, Craig
• Granted Patent: US 8,142,490 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 623/1.150
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/07 Stent-grafts
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/844 folded prior to deployment
• 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 2002/072 Encapsulated stents, e.g. wire or whole stent embedded in lining
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/075 the stent being loosely attached to the graft material, e.g. by stitching
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2220/005 using adhesives
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2220/0058 soldered or brazed or welded
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2250/0023 differing in porosity
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49982 Coating
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49995 Shaping one-piece blank by removing material

Abstract

In accordance with the present invention, there is provided a stent for insertion into a vessel of a patient. The stent has a front and back open ends and a longitudinal axis extending therebetween. The stent has a plurality of adjacent hoops that are held in alignment with the longitudinal axis between the front and back open ends by a thin film tube. The hoops are attached to either the inner or outer surface of the thin film tube. The stent is compressed into a first smaller diameter for insertion into the vessel with a delivery tube and a second larger diameter for deployment into the vessel. The inventive stent can be retracted into the delivery tube if it is improperly deployed.

Claims

1. A stent for insertion into a vessel of a patient, the stent comprising:

a) a tubular member having front and back open ends and a longitudinal axis extending therebetween, the tubular member having a first smaller diameter for insertion into the vessel and a second larger diameter for deployment into the vessel;

b) the tubular member comprising a plurality of adjacent hoops having inner and outer diameters and extending between the front and back ends of the tubular member, the hoops comprise a plurality of longitudinal struts and a plurality of loops connecting adjacent struts; and

c) a thin film tube having inner and outer diameters, the thin film tube holding the plurality of hoops apart from each other and in alignment with the longitudinal axis.

2. The stent according to claim 1 wherein the inner diameter of the thin film tube is attached to the outer diameters of at least some of the plurality of adjacent hoops.

3. The stent according to claim 1 wherein the outer diameter of the thin film tube is attached to the inner diameter of at least some of the plurality of adjacent hoops.

4. The stent according to claim 1 wherein when the tubular member is in the first smaller diameter, portions of the thin film tube are folded between at least some of the of the longitudinal struts.

5. The stent according to claim 1 wherein the thin film tube is attached to some of the tubular member with a welded connection.

6. The stent according to claim 1 wherein the thin film tube is attached to some of the tubular member with an adhesive bond.

7. The stent according to claim 1 wherein the thin film tube is attached to some of the tubular member with a mechanical connection.

8. The stent according to claim 1 wherein a portion of the thin film tube is porous.

9. The stent according to claim 1 wherein the thin film tube is cut in a pattern to improve radial and longitudinal flexibility of the stent.

10. The stent according to claim 6 wherein the thin film tube has a larger pore size at an end of the thin film tube than in the center of the thin film tube.

16. The stent according to claim 9 wherein the thin film tube is cut in a pattern to improve the flexibility of the stent.

11. A stent for insertion into a vessel of a patient, the stent comprising:

a) a tubular member having front and back open ends and a longitudinal axis extending therebetween, the tubular member having a first smaller diameter for insertion into the vessel and a second larger diameter for deployment into the vessel;

b) the tubular member comprising a plurality of adjacent hoops made from a superelastic nickel titanium alloy, the hoops having a thickness and inner and outer diameters and extending between the front and back ends of the tubular member, the hoops comprise a plurality of longitudinal struts and a plurality of loops connecting adjacent struts; and

c) a thin film tube made from a superelastic nickel titanium alloy, the thin film tube having inner and outer diameters and holding the plurality of hoops apart from each other and in alignment with the longitudinal axis.

12. The stent according to claim 11 wherein the inner diameter of the thin film tube is attached to the outer diameters of at least some of the plurality of adjacent hoops.

13. The stent according to claim 11 wherein the outer diameter of the thin film tube is attached to the inner diameter of at least some of the plurality of adjacent hoops.

14. The stent according to claim 11 wherein when the tubular member is in the first smaller diameter, portions of the thin film tube are folded between at least some of the of the longitudinal struts.

15. The stent according to claim 11 wherein the thin film tube is attached to some of the tubular member with a welded connection.

17. The stent according to claim 11 wherein the loops and struts have widths which are less than the thickness of the hoops.

18. A method for fabricating a stent for insertion into a vessel of a patient, the method comprising:

a) forming a plurality of hoops by cutting a tube having a thickness and inner and outer diameters into patterns comprising a plurality of longitudinal struts and a plurality of loops connecting adjacent struts;

b) vapor depositing a thin film tube having inner and outer diameters; and

c) attaching the thin film tube to the plurality of hoops.

19. The method for fabricating the stent of claim 18 wherein the thin film tube is vapor deposited directly onto the outer diameter of the plurality of hoops:

20. The method for fabricating the stent of claim 18 further comprising:

breaking the thin film tube at a gap between two of the adjacent hoops.