Expandable stents

• US 5,728,158 A
• Filed: 01/14/1997
• Issued: 03/17/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 10/28/1991
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Advanced Cardiovascular Systems Incorporated (Abbott Laboratories)
• Original Assignee: Advanced Cardiovascular Systems Incorporated (Abbott Laboratories)
• Inventors: Lau, Lilip, Frantzen, John J., Hartigan, William M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Bennett, Christopher A.
• Application Number:
  US08/783,033
• Time in Patent Office: 427 Days
• Field of Search: 606/191, 606/192, 606/193, 606/194, 606/195, 606/196, 606/197, 606/198, 606/108, 604/93, 604/94, 604/97, 604/280, 604/282, 604/283, 623/1, 623/11, 623/12
• US Class Current: 623/23.7
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/848 having means for fixation to the vessel wall, e.g. barbs
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/86 Stents in a form characterised by the wire-like elements; Stents in the form characterised by a net-like or mesh-like structure
• 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 2/91 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 2/958 Inflatable balloons for placing stents or stent-grafts
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/91533 characterised by the phase between adjacent bands
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/9155 Adjacent bands being connected to each other
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/91558 connected peak to peak
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/91575 connected peak to trough
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2210/0019 operated at only one temperature whilst inside or touching the human body, e.g. constrained in a non-operative shape during surgery, another temperature only occurring before the operation
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2025/1081 having sheaths or the like for covering the balloon but not forming a permanent part of the balloon, e.g. retractable, dissolvable or tearable sheaths
• CPC Class Codes: C23F 1/02 Local etching
• CPC Class Codes: C23F 1/04 Chemical milling
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 623/901 Method of manufacturing prosthetic device
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 623/903 Blood vessel
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 623/921 Blood vessel
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49995 Shaping one-piece blank by removing material

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.

Claims

1. A longitudinally flexible stent for expanding and implanting in a body lumen, comprising:

a plurality of cylindrical elements which are expandable in the radial direction and which are interconnected so as to be generally aligned on a common longitudinal axis, each cylindrical element in the form of a generally serpentine pattern;

a plurality of connecting elements formed in a unitary structure with and interconnecting said cylindrical elements, said connecting elements configured to interconnect only said cylindrical elements that are adjacent to each other; and

the cylindrical elements comprising a smooth outer wall surface prior to expanding the stent and the cylindrical elements forming projecting edges as the stent is expanded from a delivery diameter to an implanted diameter.

2. The stent of claim 1, wherein said connecting elements are generally parallel to each other.

3. The stent of claim 2, wherein said connecting elements are generally straight.

4. The stent of claim 3, wherein said connecting elements are generally parallel to the common longitudinal axis of said cylindrical elements.

5. The stent of claim 1, wherein the serpentine patterns of said cylindrical elements each have a phase, and the serpentine patterns of adjacent cylindrical elements are out of phase with each other.

6. The stent of claim 5, wherein the serpentine patterns of said cylindrical elements define a series of first curves and second curves, and the connecting elements secure second curves of cylindrical elements to first curves of adjacent cylindrical elements.

7. The stent of claim 1, wherein the serpentine patterns of said cylindrical elements each have a phase, and the serpentine patterns of adjacent cylindrical elements are in phase with each other.

8. The stent of claim 7, wherein the serpentine patterns of said cylindrical elements define a series of first curves and second curves, and the connecting elements secure first curves of cylindrical elements to first curves of adjacent cylindrical elements.

9. The stent of claim 1, wherein the serpentine patterns of said cylindrical elements define a series of first curves and second curves, and the connecting elements secure second curves of cylindrical elements to first curves of adjacent cylindrical elements.

10. The stent of claim 1, wherein the serpentine patterns of said cylindrical elements define a series of first curves and second curves, and the connecting elements secure first curves of cylindrical elements to first curves of adjacent cylindrical elements.

11. The stent of claim 1, wherein the cylindrical elements and connecting elements are integrally formed from biocompatible material.

12. The stent of claim 11, wherein the stent is formed using a chemical etching process.

13. The stent of claim 1, wherein said cylindrical elements each have a diameter and a longitudinal length, and the length of at least one cylindrical element is less than its diameter.

14. A longitudinally flexible stent for expanding and implanting in a body lumen, comprising:

a plurality of cylindrical elements which are expandable in the radial direction and which are interconnected so as to be generally aligned on a common longitudinal axis, each cylindrical element in the form of a serpentine pattern;

a plurality of connecting elements having a width, said connecting elements formed in a unitary structure with and interconnecting said cylindrical elements, said connecting elements configured to interconnect only said cylindrical elements that are adjacent to each other and to longitudinally space adjacent cylindrical elements a distance of at least one connecting element width; and

the cylindrical elements comprising a smooth outer wall surface prior to expanding the stent and the cylindrical elements forming projecting edges as the stent is expanded from a delivery diameter to an implanted diameter.

15. The stent of claim 14, wherein the serpentine patterns of said cylindrical elements each have a phase, and the serpentine patterns of adjacent cylindrical elements are out of phase with each other.

16. The stent of claim 15, wherein the serpentine patterns of said cylindrical elements define a series of first curves and second curves, and the connecting elements secure second curves of cylindrical elements to first curves of adjacent cylindrical elements.

17. The stent of claim 14, wherein the serpentine patterns of said cylindrical elements each have a phase, and the serpentine patterns of adjacent cylindrical elements are in phase with each other.

18. The stent of claim 14, wherein the serpentine patterns of said cylindrical elements define a series of first curves and second curves, and the connecting elements secure first curves of cylindrical elements to first curves of adjacent cylindrical elements.

19. The stent of claim 14, wherein said cylindrical elements each have a diameter and a longitudinal length, and the cylindrical element length is less than the cylindrical element diameter.

20. The stent of claim 14, wherein the stent is formed using a chemical etching process.

21. A longitudinally flexible stent for expanding and implanting in a body lumen, comprising:

a plurality of cylindrical elements which are expandable in the radial direction and which are interconnected so as to be generally aligned on a common longitudinal axis, each cylindrical element in the form of a pattern of substantially parallel struts, with adjacent struts interconnected by a U-shaped member, each U-shaped member defining a radius;

a plurality of connecting elements formed as a unitary structure with and interconnecting said cylindrical elements, said connecting elements configured to interconnect only said cylindrical elements that are adjacent to each other and

the cylindrical elements comprising a smooth outer wall surface prior to expanding the stent and the cylindrical elements forming projecting edges as the stent is expanded from a delivery diameter to an implanted diameter.

22. The stent of claim 21, wherein the radius of each U-shaped member is the same as the radius of other U-shaped members.

23. The stent of claim 21, wherein the radius of at least one U-shaped member is less than the radius of other U-shaped members.

24. The stent of claim 21, wherein said cylindrical elements each have a diameter and a longitudinal length, and the cylindrical element length is less than the cylindrical element diameter.

25. The stent of claim 21, wherein the stent is formed using a chemical etching process.