EXPANDABLE SLIDE AND LOCK STENT
First Claim
Patent Images
1. An expandable slide and lock polymer stent, the stent comprising:
- first and second helical backbones each comprising a plurality of slots, each slot having an axis extending in a circumferential direction, the first and second helical backbones extending in a helical path along an axis of the stent;
a first set of elongate members defining proximal and distal ends, the proximal ends of the first set of elongate members being coupled to the first helical backbone with the first set of elongate members extending in a circumferential direction from the first helical backbone through the slots of the second helical backbone, the first set of elongate members being axially offset from each other;
a first crossbar coupling the distal ends of the first set of elongate members;
a second set of elongate members defining proximal and distal ends, the proximal ends of the second set of elongate members being coupled to the second helical backbone and extending in a circumferential direction from the second helical backbone through the slots of the first helical backbone, the second set of elongate members being axially offset from each other and from the first set of elongate members; and
a second crossbar coupling the distal ends of the second set of elongate members;
wherein the first and second helical backbones and the first and second sets of elongate members and the first and second crossbars form first and second radial elements that can be interconnected to collectively form a tubular member having a circumference which is expandable between a collapsed diameter and an expanded diameter, the first and second radial elements configured to provide one-way expansion from the collapsed diameter to the expanded diameter.
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Abstract
An expandable slide and lock stent is provided that comprises a plurality of radial elements interconnected to form a tubular member. Each radial element can comprise a helical backbone and at least one elongate member extending from the helical backbone in a circumferential direction. Each backbone can have at least one slot that can be configured to receive an elongate member of an adjacent radial element.
113 Citations
20 Claims
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1. An expandable slide and lock polymer stent, the stent comprising:
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first and second helical backbones each comprising a plurality of slots, each slot having an axis extending in a circumferential direction, the first and second helical backbones extending in a helical path along an axis of the stent; a first set of elongate members defining proximal and distal ends, the proximal ends of the first set of elongate members being coupled to the first helical backbone with the first set of elongate members extending in a circumferential direction from the first helical backbone through the slots of the second helical backbone, the first set of elongate members being axially offset from each other; a first crossbar coupling the distal ends of the first set of elongate members; a second set of elongate members defining proximal and distal ends, the proximal ends of the second set of elongate members being coupled to the second helical backbone and extending in a circumferential direction from the second helical backbone through the slots of the first helical backbone, the second set of elongate members being axially offset from each other and from the first set of elongate members; and a second crossbar coupling the distal ends of the second set of elongate members; wherein the first and second helical backbones and the first and second sets of elongate members and the first and second crossbars form first and second radial elements that can be interconnected to collectively form a tubular member having a circumference which is expandable between a collapsed diameter and an expanded diameter, the first and second radial elements configured to provide one-way expansion from the collapsed diameter to the expanded diameter. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. An expandable stent, comprising a plurality of radial elements interconnected to form a tubular member, each radial element comprising a helical support member comprising a plurality of slots and a plurality of circumferential rails, wherein a first radial element is interconnected with a second radial element, such that the circumferential rails of the first radial element are received into the slots of the helical support member of the second radial element, wherein the expandable stent is made from a bioresorbable polymer and exhibits structural properties equivalent to a metal stent.
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15. A radial element for forming an expandable slide and lock polymer stent, the radial element comprising:
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a continuously-slotted helical backbone member having a plurality of engagement slots and a plurality of connection slots, at least one engagement slot being spaced between consecutive connection slots along the backbone, each helical backbone member generally defining a longitudinal axis; a plurality of elongate rib elements having proximal and distal portions, the proximal portion being interconnectable with one or more connections slots of the continuously slotted backbone member, each rib element being positionable generally circumferentially about the longitudinal axis and having a fixed engagement at a non-perpendicular angle with respect to the helical backbone member; wherein the plurality of elongate rib elements is arranged to interconnect with at least one other helical backbone member of another radial element so as to form an expandable tubular skeleton, the elongate rib elements having a one-way slidable engagement with the engagement slots of the helical backbone member of the other radial element, the tubular skeleton being configured to expand radially between a collapsed diameter and an expanded diameter upon circumferential motion of the slidable engagement of the rib elements to the helical backbone members; and wherein the slidable engagement includes a mechanism restraining collapse of the tubular skeleton from the expanded diameter towards the collapsed diameter. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification