Polymeric Stent
First Claim
1. An endoprosthesis comprising:
- a tubular body formed of a polymer, the tubular body including an end segment and an intermediate segment adjoining the end segment, the end segment including a circumferential series of closed cells having a first W-shape, the intermediate segment including a circumferential series of closed cells having second W-shape, there being linear link struts at opposite ends of the individual first and second W-shapes, the linear link struts of the first W-shape being longer than linear link struts of the second W-shape.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A strut pattern of an endoprosthesis includes a plurality of W-shape cells that define a tubular body, the W-shaped cells at the opposite ends of the tubular body have a modified configuration that is different than the W-shaped cells at the middle portion of the tubular body. At the distal end of the tubular body, the W-shaped cells have crests with axial positions that are axially spaced apart, and have troughs with circumferential positions that are spaced apart. At the intermediate and distal end of the tubular body, the W-shaped cells crests with axial positions that coincide and have troughs with circumferential positions that coincide. The strut pattern is cut from a tubular precursor construct made of PLLA that has been radially expanded and axially extended by blow molding.
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Citations
19 Claims
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1. An endoprosthesis comprising:
a tubular body formed of a polymer, the tubular body including an end segment and an intermediate segment adjoining the end segment, the end segment including a circumferential series of closed cells having a first W-shape, the intermediate segment including a circumferential series of closed cells having second W-shape, there being linear link struts at opposite ends of the individual first and second W-shapes, the linear link struts of the first W-shape being longer than linear link struts of the second W-shape. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. An endoprosthesis comprising:
ring structures made of polymer material, the ring structures forming a tubular body having a distal end, a proximal end, and an intermediate segment between the distal and proximal ends, the ring structures connected to each other by linear link struts that are oriented axially, the ring structures and link struts forming W-shape closed cells, the W-shape closed cells including nominal cells within the intermediate segment of the tubular body and end cells at the distal and proximal ends of the tubular body, the linear link struts of the end cells being axially longer than the linear link struts of the nominal cells. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. A method of making an endoprosthesis, the method comprising:
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radially expanding and axially extending a polymer tube; and removing portions of the polymer tube to form an open framework of struts defining a tubular body having end segment and an intermediate segment adjoining the end segment, the end segment including a circumferential series of closed cells having a first W-shape, the intermediate segment including a circumferential series of closed cells having second W-shape, there being linear link struts at opposite ends of the individual first and second W-shapes, the linear link struts of the first W-shape being longer than linear link struts of the second W-shape.
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Specification