Intravascular stent

• US 5,653,727 A
• Filed: 01/18/1996
• Issued: 08/05/1997
• Est. Priority Date: 10/19/1987
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Medtronic Incorporated (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Medtronic Incorporated (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Wiktor, Dominik M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Buiz, Michael
• Assistant Examiner(s): MULCARE, NANCY C
• Application Number:
  US08/588,496
• Time in Patent Office: 565 Days
• Field of Search: 604/96, 604/104-105, 606/191-192, 606/194-195, 623/1, 623/11
• US Class Current: 623/1.15
• 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 2/90 characterised by a net-like or mesh-like structure
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/958 Inflatable balloons for placing stents or stent-grafts
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/825 having longitudinal struts
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2310/00017 Iron- or Fe-based alloys, e.g. stainless steel
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2310/00023 Titanium or titanium-based alloys, e.g. Ti-Ni alloys
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2310/00077 Copper or Cu-based alloys
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2310/00155 Gold or Au-based alloys
• CPC Class Codes: B21F 45/008 of medical instruments, e.g. stents, corneal rings medical science A61

Abstract

A medical device for use in the interior of a body lumen including a catheter and a radially expandable stent mounted on the catheter. The radially expandable stent is in the form of a hollow cylinder defined by a sequence of spaced apart wire elements with each of the wire elements extending 360 degrees around the cylinder and the wire elements having extendible, sinusoidal zig-zags lying flat with respect to the cylinder. The zig-zags are shaped in a generally longitudinal direction along the cylinder at one point and then reverse their direction so that the zig-zags may open as the wire element is expanded. The adjacent wire elements are flexibly connected together in an end-to-end fashion by helical winding.

Claims

1. A medical device for use in the interior of a body lumen comprising:

(a) a catheter;

(b) a radially expandable stent mounted on the catheter, the stent comprising;

(1) a plurality of wire elements forming a hollow cylinder, the wire elements spaced apart along the cylinder, each of the wire elements extending 360 degrees around the cylinder, and each of the wire elements having a plurality of extendible portions provided by zig-zags in the wire elements, the zig-zags made from a low memory metal, the zig-zags lying flat with respect to the cylinder which permit the wire elements to be expanded from a first diameter covering 360 degrees of the cylinder to a second, expanded diameter covering 360 degrees of the expanded cylinder; and

(2) means for connecting adjacent wire elements together.

2. A medical device according to claim 1 wherein the zig-zags are generally sinusoidal in shape.

3. A medical device according to claim 1 wherein the second diameter is about three times the first diameter.

4. A medical device according to claim 1 wherein the wire elements are evenly spaced around the cylinder.

5. A medical device according to claim 1 wherein the zig-zags are evenly spaced around the cylinder.

6. A medical device according to claim 1 wherein the mean for connecting adjacent wire elements together includes means for providing flexibility to the stent.

7. A medical device according to claim 6 wherein the means for connecting adjacent wire elements together is an end-to-end helical winding of the wire elements.

8. A medical device according to claim 1 also comprising means on the catheter for radially expanding the stent.

9. A medical device according to claim 8 wherein the means on the catheter for radially expanding the stent is a balloon.

10. A medical device according to claim 9 wherein the stent has an end formed in a loop to prevent balloon puncture.

11. A medical device for use in the interior of a body lumen comprising:

(a) a catheter;

(b) a radially expandable stent mounted on the catheter, the stent comprising;

(1) a plurality of elements forming a hollow cylinder, the elements arranged sequentially along the cylinder, each of the elements extending around the cylinder, and each of the elements having zig-zags therein, the zig-zags made from a low memory metal, the zig-zags being generally sinusoidal in shape with the zig-zags taking a generally longitudinal direction along the cylinder and then reversing their direction and lying flat with respect to the cylinder such that the zig-zags open as the stent is expanded from a first diameter to a second, expanded diameter; and

(2) means for connecting adjacent elements together.

12. A medical device according to claim 11 wherein the elements extend 360 degrees around the cylinder.

13. A medical device according to claim 11 wherein the elements are wire elements.

14. A medical device according to claim 11 wherein the second diameter is about three times the first diameter.

15. A medical device according to claim 11 wherein the elements are evenly spaced along the cylinder.

16. A medical device according to claim 11 wherein the zig-zags are evenly spaced around the cylinder.

17. A medical device according to claim 11 wherein the means for connecting adjacent elements together includes means for providing flexibility to the stent.

18. A medical device according to claim 17 wherein the means for connecting adjacent elements together is an end-to-end helical winding of the elements.

19. A medical device according to claim 11 also comprising means on the catheter for radially expanding the stent.

20. A medical device according to claim 19 wherein the means on the catheter for radially expanding the stent is a balloon.

21. A medical device according to claim 20 wherein the stent has an end formed in a loop to prevent balloon puncture.

22. A medical device for use in the interior of a body lumen comprising:

(a) a catheter;

(b) a radially expandable stent mounted on the catheter, the stent comprising;

(1) a plurality of elements forming o hollow cylinder, the elements spaced apart along the length of the cylinder, each of the elements extending 360 degrees around the cylinder, and each of the elements having a plurality of extendible portions made from a low memory material lying flat with respect to the cylinder which permit the elements to deform and be expanded from a first diameter covering 360 degrees of the cylinder to a second, expanded diameter covering 360 degrees of the expanded cylinder; and

(2) means for connecting adjacent elements together including means for providing flexibility to the stent.

23. A medical device according to claim 22 wherein the plurality of extendible portions are provided by zig-zags in the element.

24. A medical device according to claim 23 wherein the zig-zags are generally sinusoidal in shape.

25. A medical device according to claim 23 wherein the elements are wire elements.

26. A medical device according to claim 22 wherein the second diameter is about three times the first diameter.

27. A medical device according to claim 22 wherein the elements are evenly spaced along the cylinder.

28. A medical device according to claim 22 wherein the zig-zags are evenly spaced around the cylinder.

29. A medical device according to claim 22 wherein the means for connecting adjacent elements together is an end-to-end helical winding of the elements.

30. A medical device according to claim 22 also comprising means on the catheter for radially expanding the stent.

31. A medical device according to claim 30 wherein the means on the catheter for radially expanding the stent is a balloon.

32. A medical device according to claim 31 wherein the stent has an end formed in a loop to prevent balloon puncture.

33. A medical device for use in the interior of a body lumen comprising:

(a) a catheter;

(b) a radially expandable stent mounted on the catheter, the stent comprising;

(1) a plurality of elements forming a hollow cylinder, the elements spaced apart along the length of the cylinder, each of the elements extending 360 degrees around the cylinder, and each of the elements having a plurality of extendible portions lying flat with respect to the cylinder which permit the elements to be expanded from a first diameter covering 360 degrees of the cylinder to a second, expanded diameter covering 360 degrees of the expanded cylinder; and

(2) means for flexible, helical connection of adjacent elements.

34. A medical device according to claim 33 wherein the plurality of extendible portions are provided by zig-zags in the element.

35. A medical device according to claim 34 wherein the zig-zags are generally sinusoidal in shape.

36. A medical device according to claim 33 wherein the elements are wire elements.

37. A medical device according to claim 33 wherein the second diameter is about three times the first diameter.

38. A medical device according to claim 33 wherein the elements are evenly spaced along the cylinder.

39. A medical device according to claim 34 wherein the zig-zags are evenly spaced around the cylinder.

40. A medical device according to claim 33 also comprising means on the catheter for radially expanding the stent.

41. A medical device according to claim 40 wherein the means on the catheter for radially expanding the stent is a balloon.

42. A medical device according to claim 41 wherein the stent has an end formed in a loop to prevent balloon puncture.