STENT, STENT DELIVERY DEVICE AND STENT DELIVERY METHOD
First Claim
1. A stent possessing an axis and comprising:
- a plurality of wavy annular members arranged axially adjacent one another along an axial extent of the stent to form a tubular-shaped stent;
the stent being expandable from a first state of a first size permitting the stent to be positioned in a lumen of a living body to an expanded second state of a second size larger than the first size upon application of a radially outwardly directed expansion force from inside the stent;
the wavy annular members comprising a first wavy annular member, a second wavy annular member axially adjacent the first wavy annular member without any other wavy annular member positioned between the first and second wavy annual members, and a third wavy annular member axially adjacent the second wavy annular member without any other wavy annular member positioned between the second and third wavy annual members;
the first, second and third wavy annular members each comprising;
a plurality of straight line portions positioned parallel to the axis of the stent when the stent is in both the first state and the expanded second state;
a plurality of additional portions angled with respect to one another; and
the plurality of straight line portions and the plurality of additional portions being interconnected so that each of the first, second and third wavy annular members is a continuous wavy annular member;
a first connection portion connecting one of the straight line portions of the first wavy annular member to one of the straight line portions of the second wavy annular member, a second connection portion connecting another one of the straight line portions of the first wavy annular member to another one of the straight line portions of the second wavy annular member, a third connection portion connecting one of the straight line portions of the second wavy annular member to one of the straight line portions of the third wavy annular member, and a fourth connection portion connecting another one of the straight line portions of the second wavy annular member to another one of the straight line portions of the third wavy annular member;
the first and second connection portions being circumferentially offset from one another, the third and fourth connection portions being circumferentially offset from one another; and
the third and fourth connection portions not being aligned with the first and second connection portions in the axial direction of the stent.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A stent to be implanted in a living body is formed substantially as a tube having a form in which plural wavy annular members are arranged adjacent to each other in the axial direction of the stent, with the axially adjacent wavy annular members connected to each other. The stent possesses an outer diameter whose dimension is so set that the stent is insertable into a lumen inside a living body, and is expandable when a force spreading radially from the inside of the tube is applied. The wavy annular member has parallel straight-line portions extending parallel to the axis of the stent before and after the stent expands. The stent has connection portions each connecting ends of the parallel straight-line portions of the adjacent wavy annular members to each other.
33 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A stent possessing an axis and comprising:
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a plurality of wavy annular members arranged axially adjacent one another along an axial extent of the stent to form a tubular-shaped stent; the stent being expandable from a first state of a first size permitting the stent to be positioned in a lumen of a living body to an expanded second state of a second size larger than the first size upon application of a radially outwardly directed expansion force from inside the stent; the wavy annular members comprising a first wavy annular member, a second wavy annular member axially adjacent the first wavy annular member without any other wavy annular member positioned between the first and second wavy annual members, and a third wavy annular member axially adjacent the second wavy annular member without any other wavy annular member positioned between the second and third wavy annual members; the first, second and third wavy annular members each comprising;
a plurality of straight line portions positioned parallel to the axis of the stent when the stent is in both the first state and the expanded second state;
a plurality of additional portions angled with respect to one another; and
the plurality of straight line portions and the plurality of additional portions being interconnected so that each of the first, second and third wavy annular members is a continuous wavy annular member;a first connection portion connecting one of the straight line portions of the first wavy annular member to one of the straight line portions of the second wavy annular member, a second connection portion connecting another one of the straight line portions of the first wavy annular member to another one of the straight line portions of the second wavy annular member, a third connection portion connecting one of the straight line portions of the second wavy annular member to one of the straight line portions of the third wavy annular member, and a fourth connection portion connecting another one of the straight line portions of the second wavy annular member to another one of the straight line portions of the third wavy annular member; the first and second connection portions being circumferentially offset from one another, the third and fourth connection portions being circumferentially offset from one another; and the third and fourth connection portions not being aligned with the first and second connection portions in the axial direction of the stent. - View Dependent Claims (2)
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3. A stent possessing an axis, formed substantially as a tube and comprising a plurality of wavy annular members arranged along an axial extent of the stent so that the plurality of wavy annular members are axially adjacent wavy annular members, with axially adjacent wavy annular members connected to each other, the axially adjacent annular members being configured so that the stent possesses a relatively smaller outer diameter dimensioned to be inserted into a lumen inside a living body, and expandable to a relatively larger outer diameter when a force spreading radially from an inside of the tube is applied to the stent, each of the plurality of wavy annular members comprising parallel straight-line portions extending parallel to the axis of the stent before and after the stent is expanded;
- and the stent comprising connection portions each connecting together opposed ends of the parallel straight-line portions of the axially adjacent wavy annular members.
- View Dependent Claims (4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. A method of using a stent comprising;
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positioning a stent on an expandable balloon, the stent possessing an axis and comprising a plurality of axially adjacent wavy annular members arranged along an axial extent of the stent, each of the plurality of wavy annular members comprising a straight-line portion, the stent further comprising a plurality of connection portions each connecting together the straight-line portion of one of the wavy annular members and the straight line portion of the axially adjacent wavy annular member; the positioning of the stent on the expandable balloon comprising the stent possessing a relatively smaller outer diameter dimensioned to be inserted into a lumen inside a living body; inserting the stent into the lumen inside the living body; expanding the balloon to outwardly expand the stent positioned in the lumen inside the living body, the straight line portion of each wavy annular member remaining parallel to the axis of the stent during the outward expansion of the stent.
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Specification