MIRROR IMAGE STENT AND METHOD OF USE

• US 20100228337A1
• Filed: 03/04/2009
• Published: 09/09/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 03/04/2009
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Abbott Laboratories Limited (Abbott Laboratories Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Abbott Laboratories Limited (Abbott Laboratories Incorporated)
• Inventors: MILISAV, OBRADOVIC
• Application Number:
  US12/397,817
• Publication Number:
  US 20100228337A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 623/1.160
• 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 2002/828 Means for connecting a plurality of stents allowing flexibility of the whole structure
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/91558 connected peak to peak
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2250/0018 differing in elasticity, stiffness or compressibility

Abstract

that at least a proximal end ring in combination with its associated links is the mirror image of a distal end ring and its associated links. The rings that form the proximal end and the rings that form the distal end have a radial stiffness associated therewith, and said stiffness is greater than a stiffness of the rings that form the interior portion of the stent. The dual stiffness of the stent leads to a more uniform expansion in the presence of uneven radial forces on the stent during the expansion process.

Claims

1. A stent, comprising:

undulating rings aligned about a common axis and links extending between adjacent rings, wherein said undulating rings and links are arranged so as to define a plane of symmetry extending through the center of the stent, and perpendicular to said axis.

2. A stent, comprising:

undulating rings aligned about a common axis and links extending between adjacent rings, wherein the rings that define a distal end and a proximal end of said stent are mirror images of one another.

3. The stent of claim 2 wherein the rings that define a distal end and a proximal end have a radial stiffness that is greater than a radial stiffness of the rings that are intermediate thereof.

4. The stent of claim 3 wherein a strut length of the rings defining a proximal end and distal end is greater than a strut length of rings that are intermediate thereof.

5. The stent of claim 3 wherein a thickness of the rings defining a proximal end and distal end is greater than a thickness of rings that are intermediate thereof.

6. The stent of claim 3 wherein a radius of curvature of an outer surface of the rings defining a proximal end and distal end is greater than a radius of curvature of an outer surface of rings that are intermediate thereof.

7. The stent of claim 3 wherein a radius of curvature of an inner surface of the rings defining a proximal end and distal end is greater than a radius of curvature of an inner surface of rings that are intermediate thereof.

8. The stent of claim 3 wherein a radius of curvature of an outer surface of the rings defining a proximal end and distal end is greater than a radius of curvature of an outer surface of rings that are intermediate thereof.

9. The stent of claim 3 wherein a radius of curvature of between a strut and a peak or valley of the rings defining a proximal end and distal end is less than a radius of curvature between a strut and a peak or valley of the rings that are intermediate thereof.

10. The stent of claim 2 having a plane of symmetry at a midpoint thereof, and having a larger gap between adjacent rings at the plane of symmetry than with other adjacent rings.

11. A stent having a plurality of interconnected sinusoidal rings connected by longitudinal struts to form a cylindrical structure comprising:

a plane of symmetry at a midpoint of the stent; and

at least one ring forming a proximal end portion and at least one ring forming a distal end portion, the proximal end portion and the distal end portion having a common radial stiffness that is greater than a radial stiffness of rings intermediate of the proximal and distal end portions.

12. The stent of claim 11 further comprising a gap between rings bordering the plane of symmetry that is greater than a gap between any other two adjacent rings.

13. The stent of claim 11 wherein the radial stiffness of rings intermediate of the proximal and distal end portions are is constant for each ring.

14. The stent of claim 11 wherein a length of a strut interconnecting the at least one ring of the proximal end portion is less than a length of a strut interconnecting rings intermediate of the proximal end portion and the plane of symmetry.

15. The stent of claim 15 wherein the length of a strut interconnecting the at least one ring of the proximal end portion is equal to a length of a strut interconnecting the at least one ring of the distal end portion.

16. A stent having a plurality of interconnected sinusoidal rings connected by longitudinal struts to form a cylindrical structure comprising:

at least one ring forming a proximal portion and at least one ring forming a distal portion, the proximal portion and the distal portion having a radial stiffness that is greater than a radial stiffness of rings intermediate of the proximal and distal portions; and

a first plant of symmetry immediately adjacent a distal end of the proximal portion and a second plane of symmetry immediately adjacent the proximal end of the distal portion.

17. The stent of claim 16 wherein the radial stiffness of the proximal portion is equal to the radial stiffness of the distal portion.

18. The stent of claim 17 wherein a radial stiffness of the rings intermediate of the proximal and distal portions is constant.