Multi-anchor stent

• US 5,800,526 A
• Filed: 07/24/1997
• Issued: 09/01/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 03/17/1995
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Endotex Interventional Systems Incorporated (Boston Scientific Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Endotex Interventional Systems Incorporated (Boston Scientific Corporation)
• Inventors: Orth, Geoffrey A., Brown, Peter S., Anderson, Scott C.
• Primary Examiner(s): SHAY, RANDY CITRIN
• Application Number:
  US08/901,226
• Time in Patent Office: 404 Days
• Field of Search: 623/1, 623/11, 623/12, 606/108, 606/191, 606/194, 606/195, 606/198, 138/108, 138/112, 411/61, 411/71, 411/74
• US Class Current: 623/1.16
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/07 Stent-grafts
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/848 having means for fixation to the vessel wall, e.g. barbs
• 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 2002/075 the stent being loosely attached to the graft material, e.g. by stitching
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/8483 Barbs
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/91508 the meander having a difference in amplitude along the band
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/91516 the meander having a change in frequency along the band
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/91525 within the whole structure different bands showing different meander characteristics, e.g. frequency or amplitude
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/91533 characterised by the phase between adjacent bands
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/91575 connected peak to trough
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2220/0008 Fixation appliances for connecting prostheses to the body
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2220/0016 with sharp anchoring protrusions, e.g. barbs, pins, spikes
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2220/005 using adhesives
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2220/0058 soldered or brazed or welded
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2220/0066 stapled
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2220/0075 sutured, ligatured or stitched, retained or tied with a rope, string, thread, wire or cable
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2230/0013 Horseshoe-shaped, e.g. crescent-shaped, C-shaped, U-shaped

Abstract

The intravascular multi-anchor stent includes a plurality of cylindrical elements that are independently expandable in the radial direction and that are interconnected so as to be generally aligned on a common longitudinal axis, and a plurality of barbs along the entire circumference of the stent that face outwardly when the stent is in an expanded condition. A plurality of connecting elements are provided for interconnecting only the cylindrical elements that are adjacent to each other so that the stent, when expanded in the radial direction, retains its overall length without appreciable shortening.

Claims

1. An intravascular multi-anchor stent for implanting in a body lumen, comprising:

a first cylindrical element which is substantially independently expandable in the radial direction, the first cylindrical element having a W-shaped portion interposed between two U-shaped portions, the W-shaped portion connected to the U-shaped portions by bulbous arched portions;

a pair of second cylindrical elements which are substantially independently expandable in the radial direction, each one of the pair of second cylindrical elements having a U-shaped portion interposed between two W-shaped portions, the U-shaped portion connected to the W-shaped portions by bulbous arched portions, the first cylindrical element interposed between the pair of second cylindrical elements so as to be generally aligned on a common longitudinal axis;

a barb disposed on at least some of the bulbous arched portions of the first and second cylindrical elements, the barb facing partially radially outwardly when the multi-anchor stent is in an expanded configuration to attach the stent to the body lumen;

a first interconnecting element interconnecting the W-shaped portions of the first cylindrical element to the U-shaped portions of a first one of the pair of the second cylindrical element; and

a pair of second interconnecting elements interconnecting the two W-shaped portions of a second one of pair of second cylindrical elements to the U-shaped portions of the first cylindrical element.

2. The intravascular multi-anchor stent of claim 1, wherein each of the first and second cylindrical elements has a plurality of barbs that face radially outwardly when the multi-anchor stent is in an expanded configuration for attaching the stent to the body lumen.

3. The intravascular multi-anchor stent of claim 2, further comprising means for connecting the first and second cylindrical elements so that, when said stent is expanded in the radial direction, said stent retains its overall length without appreciable shortening.

4. The intravascular multi-anchor stent of claim 1, wherein each of the barbs faces parallel to the common longitudinal axis when the multi-anchor stent is in an unexpanded configuration.

5. The intravascular multi-anchor stent of claim 1, wherein each one of the first and second cylindrical elements has a plurality of barbs disposed on at least some of the bulbous arched portions of the first and second cylindrical elements.

6. The intravascular multi-anchor stent of claim 5, each one of the plurality of barbs faces substantially in the same direction when said stent is in said expanded configuration, to provide a directional gripping action.

7. The intravascular multi-anchor stent of claim 5, wherein said barbs of said first and second cylindrical elements at one longitudinal end of said stent face in a first direction, and said barbs of said first and second cylindrical elements at an opposing longitudinal end of said stent face in an opposing direction when said stent is in said expanded configuration.

8. The intravascular multi-anchor stent of claim 7, wherein said barbs at said one longitudinal end and at said opposing longitudinal end are pointed toward a longitudinal middle portion of said stent when said stent is in said expanded configuration.

9. The intravascular multi-anchor stent of claim 1 wherein plurality of barbs disposed on at least some of the bulbous arched portions of the first and second cylindrical elements comprise pointed bumps formed on an exterior surface portion of the first and second cylindrical elements.

10. The intravascular multi-anchor stent of claim 9, wherein each one of the pointed bumps faces substantially in the same direction when said stent is in said expanded configuration, to provide a directional gripping action.