Intravascular stent and method

• US 5,782,903 A
• Filed: 11/04/1994
• Issued: 07/21/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 10/19/1987
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Medtronic Incorporated (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Medtronic Incorporated (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Wiktor, Dominik M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Buiz, Michael
• Assistant Examiner(s): TRUONG, KEVIN THAO
• Application Number:
  US08/334,832
• Time in Patent Office: 1,355 Days
• Field of Search: 606/195, 606/191, 606/192, 606/194, 606/198, 623/1, 623/12
• US Class Current: 623/1.22
• 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: B21F 45/008 of medical instruments, e.g. stents, corneal rings medical science A61

Abstract

A stent for providing support to a body lumen comprises a wire wound in a continuous winding into a generally cylindrical shape with the cylindrical shape terminating at one end in a closed loop of the wire and a line of elongated flexible material extending through the closed loop and looped back on itself at the closed loop such that the line is secured to the winding at the closed loop and is freely slideable through the closed loop. If necessary, this stent can be readily removed from the body lumen after implantation or left in the body lumen as a permanent implant.

Claims

1. A stent for providing support to a body lumen comprising:

(a) a wire wound in a continuous winding into a generally cylindrical shape, the cylindrical shape terminating at one end in a closed loop of the wire; and

(b) a line of elongated flexible material, the line extending through the closed loop and looped back on itself at the closed loop such that the line is secured to the winding at the closed loop and is freely slideable through the closed loop.

2. The stent of claim 1 wherein the continuous winding has a generally helical configuration.

3. The stent of claim 2 wherein the closed loop is provided by attaching an end of the wire to an adjacent turn of the helix.

4. The stent of claim 1 wherein the closed loop is provided at a proximal end of the winding.

5. The stent of claim 1 wherein the closed loop includes means for improving the slideability of the line through the closed loop.

6. The stent of claim 1 wherein the line includes means for improving the slideability of the line through the closed loop.

7. The stent of claim 1 wherein the line has a first end and a second end secured together at a point remote from the closed loop.

8. The stent of claim 1 wherein the flexible line material is a biostable polymeric material.

9. The stent of claim 1 wherein the flexible line material is a bioabsorbable polymeric material.

10. A device for providing support to a body lumen comprising:

(a) a wire wound in a continuous winding into a generally cylindrical shape, the cylindrical shape terminating at one end in a closed loop of the wire;

(b) a line of elongated flexible material, the line extending through the closed loop and looped back on itself at the closed loop such that the line is secured to the winding at the closed loop and is freely slideable through the closed loop; and

(c) a catheter having a lumen extending from a distal end of the catheter, said line of elongated, flexible material extending through the catheter lumen, said line entering at distal end of the lumen and emerging at a proximal end of the lumen.

11. The device of claim 10 wherein the continuous winding has a generally helical configuration.

12. The device of claim 11 wherein the closed loop is provided by attaching an end of the wire to an adjacent turn of the helix.

13. The device of claim 10 wherein the closed loop is provided at a proximal end of the winding.

14. The device of claim 10 wherein the closed loop includes means for improving the slideability of the line through the closed loop.

15. The device of claim 10 wherein the line includes means for improving the slideability of the line through the closed loop and through the catheter.

16. The device of claim 10 wherein the line has a first end and a second end secured together at a point remote from the closed loop.

17. The device of claim 10 wherein the flexible line material is a biostable polymeric material.

18. The device of claim 10 wherein the flexible line material is a bioabsorbable polymeric material.

19. The device of claim 10 wherein the catheter also includes means for securing the line to the catheter and means for remotely releasing the secured line from the catheter.

20. A device for providing support to a body lumen comprising:

(a) a catheter having a lumen extending from a distal end to a proximal end of the catheter and a balloon at the distal end;

(b) a wire wound in a continuous winding into a generally cylindrical shape around the balloon, the cylindrical shape terminating at one end in a closed loop of the wire; and

(c) a line of elongated flexible material, the line extending through the closed loop and looped back on itself at the closed loop such that the line is secured to the winding at the closed loop and is freely slideable though the closed loop and such that the line extends through the lumen of the catheter from the distal end to the proximal end.

21. The device of claim 20 wherein the line includes means for improving the slideability of the line through the closed loop and through the catheter.

22. The device of claim 20 wherein the line has a first end and a second end secured together at a point remote from the closed loop.

23. The device of claim 20 wherein the catheter also includes means for securing the line to the catheter and means for remotely releasing the secured line from the catheter.

24. A method for temporary implantation of a stent in a body lumen comprising:

(a) providing a catheter;

(b) providing a continuous winding mounted on the catheter in a generally cylindrical shape terminating at one end in a closed loop;

(c) providing a line of elongated flexible material extending through the closed loop and looped back on itself at the closed loop such that the line is secured to the winding at the closed loop and is freely slideable through the closed loop;

(d) placing the catheter, continuous winding and line into the body lumen with the continuous winding positioned at the portion of the body lumen to be supported;

(e) expanding the positioned continuous winding into supporting contact with the body lumen and releasing the winding from the catheter;

(f) maintaining the support of the body vessel with the expanded continuous winding for a desired period of time; and

(g) withdrawing the line at the expiration of the desired period of time at a point remote from the winding such that the winding is uncoiled and removed from the lumen in an opened condition.

25. The method of claim 24 wherein the line looped back on itself forms first and second legs extending in a proximal direction from the winding.

26. The method of claim 25 wherein the line is withdrawn by moving the first and second legs simultaneously.

27. The method of claim 25 wherein the line is withdrawn by moving the first leg and keeping the second leg in a fixed position.

28. The method of claim 24 wherein the line is withdrawn through a lumen of the catheter.

29. The method of claim 28 wherein the winding is withdrawn through the catheter lumen.

30. A method for implantation of a stent in a body lumen comprising:

(a) providing a catheter;

(b) providing a continuous winding on the catheter in a generally cylindrical shape terminating at one end in a closed loop;

(c) providing a line of elongated flexible material extending through the closed loop and looped back on itself at the closed loop such that the line is secured to the winding at the closed loop and is freely slideable through the closed loop;

(d) placing the catheter, continuous winding and line into the body lumen with the continuous winding positioned at the portion of the body lumen to be supported;

(e) expanding the positioned continuous winding into supporting contact with the body lumen;

(f) withdrawing the line at a point remote from the winding such that the line is removed from the closed loop of the expanded winding and the winding remains in supporting contact with the body lumen.

31. The method of claim 30 wherein the line looped back on itself forms first and second legs extending in a proximal direction from the winding.

32. The method of claim 31 wherein the line is withdrawn by severing the first leg and withdrawing the second leg.

33. The method of claim 30 wherein the line is withdrawn through a lumen of the catheter.

34. The method of claim 33 wherein the winding is withdrawn through the catheter lumen.

35. A method for removing a stent implanted in a body lumen comprising:

(a) providing a continuous winding in supporting contact with the body lumen, said continuous winding in a generally cylindrical shape terminating at one end in a closed loop;

(b) providing a line of elongated flexible material extending through the closed loop and looped back on itself at the closed loop such that the line is secured to the winding at the closed loop and is freely slideable through the closed loop;

(c) providing a catheter having a lumen at a distal end thereof;

(d) placing the line through the lumen of the catheter and advancing the catheter into the body lumen to a desired position in proximity with the stent; and

(e) withdrawing the line at a point remote from the continuous winding to effect the uncoiling of the winding and removal of the winding into the catheter lumen in an opened condition.

36. The method of claim 35 wherein the line looped back on itself forms first and second legs extending in a proximal direction from the winding.

37. The method of claim 36 wherein the line is withdrawn by severing the first leg and withdrawing the second leg.