STENT WITH FLEXIBLE HINGE

• US 20160113789A1
• Filed: 10/21/2015
• Published: 04/28/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 10/22/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Boston Scientific Scimed (Boston Scientific Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Boston Scientific Scimed (Boston Scientific Corporation)
• Inventors: Fleury, Sean P., Seddon, Dane T., Weiner, Jason
• Granted Patent: US 10,130,498 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/848 having means for fixation to the vessel wall, e.g. barbs
• 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 2/89 the wire-like elements comprising two or more adjacent rings flexibly connected by separate members
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/915 with bands having a meander structure, adjacent bands being connected to each other
• 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 2002/91566 connected trough to trough
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2230/0069 cylindrical
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2250/0039 differing in diameter

Abstract

An endoprosthesis may include an expandable tubular framework expandable from a compressed state to an expanded state and include a plurality of strut rows, wherein adjacent strut rows define interstices spacing the adjacent strut rows apart, and a plurality of connectors extending across the interstices and interconnecting adjacent strut rows, at least some of the plurality of connectors defining a flexible hinge portion. The lengths of the interstices between adjacent strut rows may vary along the length of the expandable tubular framework. The plurality of connectors extend radially outward beyond an outer diameter of the plurality of strut rows in the expanded state. The plurality of connectors are configured to engage a wall of a body lumen in the expanded state to inhibit migration of the endoprosthesis subsequent implanting the endoprosthesis in the body lumen.

Claims

1. An endoprosthesis, comprising:

an expandable tubular framework having a first end and a second end defining a length therebetween, and a lumen extending therethrough along a central longitudinal axis, the expandable tubular framework being expandable from a compressed state to an expanded state and including;

a plurality of strut rows, wherein adjacent strut rows define interstices therebetween, each interstice having a length along the central longitudinal axis and spacing the adjacent strut rows apart; and

a plurality of connectors extending across the interstices between adjacent strut rows and interconnecting adjacent strut rows, at least some of the plurality of connectors defining a flexible hinge portion;

wherein the lengths of the interstices between adjacent strut rows vary along the length of the expandable tubular framework;

wherein the plurality of connectors extends radially outward beyond an outer diameter of the plurality of strut rows in the expanded state; and

wherein the plurality of connectors is configured to engage a wall of a body lumen in the expanded state to inhibit migration of the endoprosthesis subsequent implanting the endoprosthesis in the body lumen.

2. The endoprosthesis of claim 1, wherein the flexible hinge portion is bounded by two end portions of the expandable tubular framework, the two end portions having a greater stiffness than the flexible hinge portion.

3. The endoprosthesis of claim 1, wherein the flexible hinge portion is adapted to maintain at least 60% patency of the lumen when the expandable tubular framework is bent at the flexible hinge portion.

4. The endoprosthesis of claim 1, wherein the plurality of connectors each includes an angled segment arranged at a non-parallel angle relative to the central longitudinal axis.

5. The endoprosthesis of claim 1, wherein the plurality of strut rows of the expandable tubular framework includes a first strut row, a second strut row, a third strut row, and a fourth strut row;

wherein the plurality of connectors includes a first plurality of connectors interconnecting the first strut row and the second strut row, a second plurality of connectors interconnecting the second strut row and the third strut row, and a third plurality of connectors interconnecting the third strut row and the fourth strut row.

6. The endoprosthesis of claim 5, wherein the first plurality of connectors extends across a first interstice between the first strut row and the second strut row, the second plurality of connectors extends across a second interstice between the second strut row and the third strut row, and the third plurality of connectors extends across a third interstice between the third strut row and the fourth strut row;

wherein a length of the first interstice is different from a length of the second interstice.

7. The endoprosthesis of claim 6, wherein a length of the third interstice is different from the length of the second interstice.

8. The endoprosthesis of claim 6:

wherein the plurality of strut rows of the expandable tubular framework includes a fifth strut row;

wherein the plurality of connectors includes a fourth plurality of connectors extending across a fourth interstice between the fourth strut row and the fifth strut row and interconnecting the fourth strut row and the fifth strut row; and

wherein the length of the first interstice is less than the length of the second interstice, the length of the second interstice and a length of the third interstice are approximately equal, and a length of the fourth interstice is less than the length of the third interstice.

9. The endoprosthesis of claim 5, wherein the first plurality of connectors extends in a first helical direction and the second plurality of connectors extends in a second helical direction, opposite the first helical direction;

wherein the third plurality of connectors extends in the first helical direction.

10. The endoprosthesis of claim 1, further comprising a polymeric cover covering the plurality of strut rows and spanning the interstices between adjacent strut rows.

11. The endoprosthesis of claim 10, wherein spaces between the plurality of connectors and the plurality of strut rows to which the plurality of connectors is interconnected with is devoid of the polymeric cover to permit tissue ingrowth around the plurality of connectors.

12. The endoprosthesis of claim 1, further comprising a second expandable tubular framework configured to be positioned through a side of the expandable tubular framework within an enlarged opening in the flexible hinge portion;

wherein when the second expandable tubular framework is positioned through the side of the expandable tubular framework, a first end portion of the second expandable tubular framework is positioned within the lumen of the expandable tubular framework and an opposing second end portion is positioned outside of the expandable tubular framework.

13. An endoprosthesis, comprising:

an expandable tubular framework having a first end and a second end defining a length therebetween, and a lumen extending therethrough along a central longitudinal axis, the expandable tubular framework being expandable from a compressed state to an expanded state and including;

a plurality of strut rows including at least a first strut row, a second strut row, a third strut row, and a fourth strut row;

a first plurality of connectors extending across a first gap between the first strut row and the second strut row and interconnecting the first strut row and the second strut row, the first gap having a first length;

a second plurality of connectors extending across a second gap between the third strut row and the fourth strut row and interconnecting the third strut row and the fourth strut row, the second gap having a second length; and

a third plurality of connectors extending across a third gap and interconnecting adjacent strut rows intermediate the first plurality of connectors and the second plurality of connectors, the third gap having a third length;

wherein the plurality of strut rows defines an outer diameter in the expanded state;

wherein at least one of the first plurality of connectors, the second plurality of connectors, and the third plurality of connectors extends radially outward beyond the outer diameter in the expanded state;

wherein the third length is greater than the first length and the second length.

14. The endoprosthesis of claim 13, wherein the third plurality of connectors interconnect the second strut row and the third strut row.

15. The endoprosthesis of claim 14, wherein the first plurality of connectors extends in a first helical direction, the third plurality of connectors extends in a second helical direction opposite the first helical direction, and the second plurality of connectors extends in the first helical direction.

16. The endoprosthesis of claim 13, further comprising a fourth plurality of connectors extending across a fourth gap and interconnecting adjacent strut rows intermediate the first plurality of connectors and the second plurality of connectors, the fourth gap having a fourth length;

wherein the fourth length is greater than the first length and the second length.

17. The endoprosthesis of claim 13, further comprising a polymeric cover covering the plurality of strut rows and spanning the first, second, and third gaps;

wherein spaces between the first plurality of connectors and the first strut row and the second strut row are devoid of the polymeric cover and open to permit tissue ingrowth therethrough;

wherein spaces between the second plurality of connectors and the third strut row and the fourth strut row are devoid of the polymeric cover and open to permit tissue ingrowth therethrough; and

wherein spaces between the third plurality of connectors and the adjacent strut rows interconnected thereto are devoid of the polymeric cover and open to permit tissue ingrowth therethrough.

18. An endoprosthesis, comprising:

an expandable tubular framework having a first end and a second end defining a length therebetween, and a lumen extending therethrough along a central longitudinal axis, the expandable tubular framework being expandable from a compressed state to an expanded state and including;

a plurality of strut rows including at least a first strut row, a second strut row, a third strut row, and a fourth strut row, each strut row including alternating peaks and valleys;

a first plurality of connectors extending across a first gap between peaks of the first strut row and peaks of the second strut row and interconnecting the first strut row and the second strut row, the first gap having a first length;

a second plurality of connectors extending across a second gap between peaks of the third strut row and peaks of the fourth strut row and interconnecting the third strut row and the fourth strut row, the second gap having a second length; and

a third plurality of connectors extending across a third gap and interconnecting peaks of adjacent strut rows intermediate the first plurality of connectors and the second plurality of connectors, the third gap having a third length, wherein the third length is greater than the first length and the second length such that the third plurality of connectors define a flexible hinge portion.

19. The endoprosthesis of claim 18, wherein the flexible hinge portion is between first and second end portions of the expandable tubular framework, the first end portion including the first and second strut rows and the first plurality of connectors therebetween, the second end portion including the third and fourth strut rows and the second plurality of connectors therebetween.

20. The endoprosthesis of claim 18, further comprising a polymeric cover covering the plurality of strut rows and spanning the first, second, and third gaps;

wherein spaces between the first plurality of connectors and the first strut row and the second strut row are devoid of the polymeric cover and open to permit tissue ingrowth therethrough;

wherein spaces between the second plurality of connectors and the third strut row and the fourth strut row are devoid of the polymeric cover and open to permit tissue ingrowth therethrough; and

wherein spaces between the third plurality of connectors and the adjacent strut rows interconnected thereto are devoid of the polymeric cover and open to permit tissue ingrowth therethrough.