Articulated stent

• US 5,449,373 A
• Filed: 03/17/1994
• Issued: 09/12/1995
• Est. Priority Date: 03/17/1994
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Medinol Limited (Medinol USA Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Medinol Limited (Medinol USA Incorporated)
• Inventors: Richter, Jacob, Pinchasik, Gregory
• Primary Examiner(s): Pellegrino, Stephen C.
• Assistant Examiner(s): LEWIS, WILLIAM W
• Application Number:
  US08/213,272
• Time in Patent Office: 544 Days
• Field of Search: 623/1, 623/11, 623/12, 606/108, 606/191-195, 606/198, 606/200, 604/8
• US Class Current: 606/198
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/856 Single tubular stent with a side portal passage
• 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 2/91 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 2002/91533 characterised by the phase between adjacent bands
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/91558 connected peak to peak
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2250/0029 differing in bending or flexure capacity

Abstract

An articulated stent for delivering through a bodily conduit, for example, a peripheral or coronary artery, which has one or more curved portions and for implantation therein. The articulated stent includes at least two substantially rigid segments and a flexible connector for connecting adjacent segments. The connector assumes a cylindrical configuration when relaxed and a differentially stretched and compressed curved configuration when flexed.

Claims

1. An articulated stent, comprising:

(a) at least two substantially rigid segments having a plurality of connected cells each having apices, wherein, upon expansion, each of said rigid segments presents a substantially cylindrical diamond mesh; and

(b) a flexible connector, comprising a plurality of flexible links

wherein each of said flexible links connects apices of adjacent cells on adjacent rigid segments;

each of said flexible links includes a plurality of portion with each pair of neighboring portions having an area of inflection therebetween, and during expansion of said stent, said area of inflection remains inflected.

2. The stent as in claim 1, wherein said plurality of links includes between 8-24 links.

3. The stent as in claim 1 made from bio-compatible material capable of a more plastic than elastic deformation.

4. The stent as in claim 3, wherein said material is stainless steel.

5. The stent as in claim 3, wherein said material is gold.

6. The stent as in claim 3, wherein said material is tantalum.