STENT WITH REINFORCED JOINTS

• US 20140172074A1
• Filed: 12/13/2012
• Published: 06/19/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 12/13/2012
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: 480 Biomedical, Inc.
• Original Assignee: 480 Biomedical, Inc.
• Inventors: Concagh, Danny, Palasis, Maria, Webber, Stephanie, Ho, Kicherl, Naimark, Wendy, Kuang, Yina
• Application Number:
  US13/713,302
• Publication Number:
  US 20140172074A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 623/1.19
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/90 characterised by a net-like or mesh-like structure
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2210/0004 bioabsorbable
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2210/0023 operated at different temperatures whilst inside or touching the human body, heated or cooled by external energy source or cold supply
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2220/0041 using additional screws, bolts, dowels or rivets, e.g. connecting screws
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2220/0075 sutured, ligatured or stitched, retained or tied with a rope, string, thread, wire or cable
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2220/0091 connected by a hinged linkage mechanism, e.g. of the single-bar or multi-bar linkage type
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2250/0042 differing in shape-memory transition temperatures, e.g. in martensitic transition temperature, in austenitic transition temperature

Abstract

The present invention relates generally to stents for insertion into bodily lumens that include at least one strand that forms a self-expanding tubular structure. Specifically, these strands form a plurality of intersections at which one portion of the strand is in proximity to another portion of the same or different strand. More specifically, at least some of those intersections include a plurality of reinforcement members.

Claims

1. A stent for insertion into a bodily lumen, comprising:

at least one strand forming a self-expanding tubular structure, the at least one strand forming a plurality of intersections in which, at each intersection, a first portion of said at least one strand is in proximity to a second portion of said at least one strand; and

a plurality of reinforcement members, each of said plurality of reinforcement members being located at a respective one of said intersections.

2. The stent of claim 1, wherein said reinforcement members comprise a quantity of polymer material that coat said first and second portions of said at least one strand.

3. The stent of claim 2, wherein said polymer material is an elastomer.

4. The stent of claim 2, wherein said polymer material coats said at least one strand only at said first and second portions of said at least one strand.

5. The stent of claim 4, wherein said polymer material of said reinforcement members and the at least one strand both comprise at least one biodegradable material.

6. The stent of claim 1, wherein said reinforcement members comprise rivets that extend through said first and second portions of said at least one strand.

7. The stent of claim 6, wherein said rivets each comprise a rod having a length that is greater than a width of said first portion plus a width of said second portion of said at least one strand.

8. The stent of claim 6, wherein said rivets each comprise a rod having a length that is less than a width of said first portion plus a width of said second portion of said at least one strand.

9. The stent of claim 6, wherein said rivets and the at least one strand both comprise at least one biodegradable material.

10. The stent of claim 6, wherein said rivets comprise a roughened surface.

11. The stent of claim 1, wherein said reinforcement members comprise fibers that are wrapped around the at least one strand at said plurality of intersections.

12. The stent of claim 11, wherein said fibers comprise an elastomeric material.

13. The stent of claim 1, wherein said reinforcement members comprise a shape memory material having a shape transition temperature less than 37°

C.

14. The stent of claim 1, wherein said reinforcement members comprise a material having a glass transition temperature less than 37°

C.

15. The stent of claim 1, wherein said at least one strand and said plurality of reinforcement members both comprise biostable materials.

16. The stent of claim 1, wherein said at least one strand and said plurality of reinforcement members both comprise biodegradable materials.

17. A stent for insertion into a bodily lumen, comprising:

at least one strand forming a self-expanding tubular structure, the at least one strand forming a plurality of intersections in which, at each intersection, a first portion of said at least one strand is in proximity to a second portion of said at least one strand; and

a plurality of reinforcement members, each of said plurality of reinforcement members being located at a respective one of said intersections;

wherein said reinforcement members comprise a quantity of polymer material that coat said first and second portions of said at least one strand only at said first and second portions of said at least one strand.

18. A stent for insertion into a bodily lumen, comprising:

at least one strand forming a self-expanding tubular structure, the at least one strand forming a plurality of intersections in which, at each intersection, a first portion of said at least one strand is in proximity to a second portion of said at least one strand; and

a plurality of reinforcement members, each of said plurality of reinforcement members being located at a respective one of said intersections;

wherein said reinforcement members comprise rivets that extend through said first and second portions of said at least one strand, wherein said rivets each comprise a rod having a length that is greater than a width of said first portion plus a width of said second portion of said at least one strand.