Expandable stents
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A longitudinally flexible stent for implanting in a body lumen, comprising:
- a plurality of cylindrical elements which are independently expandable in the radial direction and which are interconnected so as to be generally aligned on a common longitudinal axis;
a plurality of connecting elements for interconnecting said cylindrical elements, said connecting elements configured to interconnect only said cylindrical elements that are adjacent to each other; and
an outer wall surface on said cylindrical elements, said outer wall surface being smooth prior to expansion of said stent and forming a plurality of outwardly projecting edges which form as said stent is expanded radially outwardly from a first diameter to a second, enlarged diameter.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Reexaminations
Accused Products
Abstract
The invention is directed to an expandable stent for implantation in a body lumen, such as an artery, and a method for making it from a single length of tubing. The stent consists of a plurality of radially expandable cylindrical elements generally aligned on a common axis and interconnected by one or more interconnective elements. The individual radially expandable cylindrical elements consist of ribbon-like material disposed in an undulating pattern. Portions of the expanded stent project outwardly into engagement with the vessel wall to more securely attach the stent.
-
Citations
23 Claims
-
1. A longitudinally flexible stent for implanting in a body lumen, comprising:
-
a plurality of cylindrical elements which are independently expandable in the radial direction and which are interconnected so as to be generally aligned on a common longitudinal axis; a plurality of connecting elements for interconnecting said cylindrical elements, said connecting elements configured to interconnect only said cylindrical elements that are adjacent to each other; and an outer wall surface on said cylindrical elements, said outer wall surface being smooth prior to expansion of said stent and forming a plurality of outwardly projecting edges which form as said stent is expanded radially outwardly from a first diameter to a second, enlarged diameter. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
-
-
12. A longitudinally flexible stent, comprising:
-
a plurality of cylindrical elements which are independently expandable in the radial direction and which are interconnected so as to be concentrically aligned on a common longitudinal axis; and a plurality of generally parallel connecting elements for interconnecting said cylindrical elements, said connecting elements configured to interconnect only said cylindrical elements that are adjacent to each other, so that said stent, when expanded radially outwardly, retains its overall length without appreciable shortening. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
-
-
23. A longitudinally flexible stent for implanting in a body lumen, comprising:
-
a plurality of cylindrical elements which are independently expandable in the radial direction and which are interconnected so as to be generally aligned on a common longitudinal axis; a plurality of connecting elements for interconnecting said cylindrical elements, said connecting elements configured to interconnect only said cylindrical elements that are adjacent to each other; an outer wall surface on said cylindrical elements, said outer wall surface having a plurality of outwardly projecting edges which form as said stent is expanded radially outwardly from a first diameter to a second, enlarged diameter, whereby said stent does not substantially shorten upon expansion from said first diameter to said second, larger diameter.
-
Specification