STENT HAVING HELICAL ELEMENTS

• US 20100211152A1
• Filed: 03/19/2010
• Published: 08/19/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 06/13/1997
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: OrbusNeich Medical Pte Ltd
• Original Assignee: Orbusneich Medical Incorporated (Orbusneich Medical)
• Inventors: CAMP, David L. JR., BECKER, Gary J., PAZIENZA, John D., ADDONIZIO, Scott J.
• Granted Patent: US 8,372,135 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 623/1.200
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/88 the wire-like elements formed as helical or spiral coils forming a net-like or mesh-like structure A61F2/90
• 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 2002/91508 the meander having a difference in amplitude along the band
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/91516 the meander having a change in frequency along the band
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/91525 within the whole structure different bands showing different meander characteristics, e.g. frequency or amplitude
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/91533 characterised by the phase between adjacent bands
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/91541 Adjacent bands are arranged out of phase
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/9155 Adjacent bands being connected to each other
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/91558 connected peak to peak
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/91583 by a bridge, whereby at least one of its ends is connected along the length of a strut between two consecutive apices within a band
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2230/0013 Horseshoe-shaped, e.g. crescent-shaped, C-shaped, U-shaped

Abstract

An expandable stent comprised of a plurality of helical segments is disclosed. In one embodiment, the stent is generally cylindrical in shape having a cylindrical axis, and comprises a first and second set of helical segments. The helical segments in the first set are substantially parallel and have a first pitch forming a first helical angle with respect to the cylindrical axis. The helical segments in the second set are also generally parallel to each other and form a second pitch that differs from the first pitch, thereby forming a second helical angle with respect to the cylindrical axis. In an alternative embodiment, the stent comprises one set of helical segments and a plurality of circumferential elements that are joined together by the helical segments to form a plurality of cylindrical elements which are joined together to form a stent body. The stent may also have endzones.

Claims

1. An expandable stent, comprising:

a plurality of adjacent cylindrical elements axially spaced along a cylindrical axis, the cylindrical elements joined together by a plurality of connecting segments, wherein each connecting segment includes at least one substantially linear portion nonparallel with respect to a cylindrical axis;

the cylindrical elements comprising a plurality of substantially linear portions joined together by a plurality of curved portions, wherein at least one cylindrical element includes a repeating pattern of a first segment having three substantially linear portions alternating with a second segment having five substantially linear portions extending between the connecting segments; and

a plurality of expandable helical segments that comprise a plurality of the first segments connected by the connecting segments.

2. The stent of claim 1, wherein the stent is in an unexpanded state.

3. The stent of claim 1, wherein the stent is in an expanded state.

4. The stent of claim 1, wherein the curved portions of at least two adjacent cylindrical elements are circumferentially offset from one another.

5. The stent of claim 1, wherein each cylindrical element is bounded by an upper plane and a lower plane parallel to the upper plane.

6. The stent of claim 1, wherein the linear portion of the connecting segment forms an angle of at least approximately 14 degrees with respect to the cylindrical axis.

7. The stent of claim 6, wherein the linear portion of the connecting segment forms an angle less than approximately 45 degrees with respect to the cylindrical axis.

8. An expandable stent, comprising:

a plurality of expandable helical segments, each helical segment including a plurality of circumferential elements alternating with a plurality of connecting segments, each circumferential element comprising three linear portions and each connecting segment including at least one linear segment set at a first angle with respect to a cylindrical axis; and

a plurality of adjacent, non-helical cylindrical elements, each cylindrical element formed from a plurality of circumferential segments alternating with the circumferential elements, the cylindrical elements being attached to one another by the connecting-segments.

9. The stent of claim 8, wherein the circumferential segments of at least two adjacent cylindrical elements are circumferentially offset from one another.

10. The stent of claim 8, wherein at least one circumferential segment includes five linear portions joined together by curved portions.

11. The stent of claim 8, wherein each cylindrical element forms an individual cylinder defining an upper planar boundary and a lower planar boundary parallel to the upper planar boundary.

12. The stent of claim 8, wherein the first angle is at least approximately 14 degrees.

13. The stent of claim 8, wherein the first angle is less than approximately 90 degrees and greater than 0 degrees.

14. The stent of claim 8, wherein each of the three linear portions of at least one of the circumferential elements are nonparallel to the cylindrical axis.

15. The stent of claim 8, wherein the stent is in an unexpanded state.

16. The stent of claim 8, wherein the stent is in an expanded state.

17. An expandable stent, comprising:

a plurality of expandable helical segments, each helical segment including a plurality of circumferential elements and a plurality of connecting segments, each circumferential element comprising three linear portions joined by curved portions, and each connecting segment including at least one linear segment set at a first angle with respect to a cylindrical axis; and

a plurality of adjacent cylindrical elements, each cylindrical element forming an individual cylinder defining an upper planar boundary and a lower planar boundary parallel to the upper planar boundary, each cylindrical element formed from a plurality of circumferential segments alternating with at least two of the circumferential elements, wherein at least one circumferential segment includes five linear portions joined together by curved portions, wherein the circumferential segments of at least two adjacent cylindrical elements are circumferentially offset from one another, and wherein the cylindrical elements are attached to one another by the connecting-segments.

18. An expandable stent, comprising:

a plurality of adjacent serpentine bands axially spaced along a cylindrical axis, the serpentine bands joined together by a plurality of connecting struts, wherein each connecting strut includes at least one substantially linear portion nonparallel with respect to a cylindrical axis;

the serpentine bands comprising a plurality of straight portions joined together by a plurality of curved portions, wherein at least one serpentine band includes a repeating pattern of a first segment having three straight portions alternating with a second segment having five straight portions extending between the connecting struts; and

a plurality of helical segments that comprise a plurality of the first segments connected by the connecting struts.

19. The stent of claim 18, wherein the curved portions of at least two adjacent serpentine bands are circumferentially offset from one another.

20. The stent of claim 18, wherein each serpentine band is bounded by an upper plane and a lower plane parallel to the upper plane.