FLEXIBLE ENDOLUMINAL DEVICE

• US 20140142684A1
• Filed: 11/13/2013
• Published: 05/22/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 11/16/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: W. L. Gore & Associates (W.L. Gore & Associates)
• Original Assignee: W. L. Gore & Associates (W.L. Gore & Associates)
• Inventors: Zukowski, Stanislaw L.
• Granted Patent: US 9,629,735 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 623/1.16
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/07 Stent-grafts
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/852 Two or more distinct overlapping stents
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/89 the wire-like elements comprising two or more adjacent rings flexibly connected by separate members
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2250/0019 differing in hardness, e.g. Vickers, Shore, Brinell
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2250/0029 differing in bending or flexure capacity
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2250/0039 differing in diameter
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2250/0063 Nested prosthetic parts
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2250/0098 radio-opaque, e.g. radio-opaque markers
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/0054 with regions for increasing flexibility

Abstract

The present disclosure describes endoluminal devices, such as stents and stent grafts capable of being bent smoothly, with various benefits resulting therefrom.

Claims

1. An implantable device comprising:

a first ring having a first ring abluminal surface with a first ring outer diameter and a first ring luminal surface with a first ring inner diameter;

a second ring having a second ring abluminal surface with a second ring outer diameter and a second ring luminal surface with a second ring inner diameter, and

a polymeric interconnection coupling the first ring and the second ring,

wherein the first ring outer diameter is less than the second ring inner diameter thereby facilitating nesting of the first ring into the second ring.

2. The implantable device of claim 1, wherein the polymeric interconnection comprises a fluoropolymer.

3. The implantable device of claim 1, wherein the first or second ring is self-expandable.

4. The implantable device of claim 1, wherein the first or second ring is compressible.

5. The implantable device of claim 1, wherein the first or second ring is balloon expandable.

6. The implantable device of claim 1, wherein the interconnection is in contact with the first and second ring luminal surfaces.

7. The implantable device of claim 1, wherein the interconnection is in contact with the first and second ring abluminal surfaces.

8. The implantable device of claim 1, wherein the interconnection is in contact with the first ring abluminal surface and in contact with the second ring luminal surface.

9. The implantable device of claim 1, wherein the interconnection is in contact with the first ring luminal surface and in contact with the second ring abluminal surface.

10. The implantable device of claim 1, wherein the second ring luminal surface at least partially surrounds the first ring abluminal surface.

11. The implantable device of claim 1, wherein the first and second rings are concentric.

12. The implantable device of claim 1, wherein the first and second rings are nonconcentric.

13. An implantable device comprising:

a first ring having a first ring radial strength;

a second ring having a second ring radial strength, and

a polymeric interconnection coupling the first ring and the second ring,

wherein the first ring radial strength is less than the second ring radial strength thereby facilitating nesting of the first ring into the second ring.

14. The implantable device of claim 13, wherein the polymeric interconnection comprises a fluoropolymer.

15. The implantable device of claim 14, wherein the first ring is partially taped with the interconnection.

16. The implantable device of claim 14, wherein the second ring is fully taped with the interconnection.

17. A flexible catheter comprising:

a first ring having a first ring outer diameter and a first ring inner diameter;

a second ring having a second ring outer diameter and a second ring inner diameter, and

a polymeric interconnection capable of covering all or a substantial portion of a longitudinal surface of the flexible catheter, thereby coupling the first ring and the second ring,

wherein the first ring outer diameter is less than the second ring inner diameter thereby facilitating nesting of the first ring into the second ring.

18. The catheter of claim 17, wherein the polymeric interconnection comprises a fluoropolymer.

19. An implantable device comprising:

a first ring having a first ring abluminal surface with a first ring outer diameter and a first ring luminal surface with a first ring inner diameter;

a second ring having a second ring abluminal surface with a second ring outer diameter and a second ring luminal surface with a second ring inner diameter;

an interconnection coupling the first ring and the second ring,

the first ring outer diameter is less than the second ring inner diameter;

a third ring having a third ring abluminal surface with a third ring outer diameter and a third ring luminal surface with a third ring inner diameter;

a fourth ring having a fourth ring abluminal surface with a forth ring outer diameter and a fourth ring luminal surface with a fourth ring inner diameter;

an interconnection coupling the second, third ring and the fourth ring, and

the third ring outer diameter being less than the fourth ring inner diameter.