Stent having varied amounts of structural strength along its length

• US 6,027,526 A
• Filed: 10/03/1997
• Issued: 02/22/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 04/10/1996
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Advanced Cardiovascular Systems Incorporated (Abbott Laboratories)
• Original Assignee: Advanced Cardiovascular Systems Incorporated (Abbott Laboratories)
• Inventors: Turnlund, Todd H., Limon, Timothy A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Prebilic, Paul B.
• Application Number:
  US08/943,992
• Time in Patent Office: 872 Days
• Field of Search: 623/1, 623/11, 623/12, 623/66, 606/108, 606/191-195, 606/198
• US Class Current: 623/1.15
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/885 comprising a coil including a plurality of spiral or helical sections with alternate directions around a central axis
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/90 characterised by a net-like or mesh-like structure
• 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 2002/30014 differing in elasticity, stiffness or compressibility
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30153 rectangular
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30324 differing in thickness
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/821 Ostial stents
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/91533 characterised by the phase between adjacent bands
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/91558 connected peak to peak
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/91575 connected peak to trough
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2230/0019 rectangular
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2250/0018 differing in elasticity, stiffness or compressibility
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2250/0036 differing in thickness

Abstract

The invention is directed to an expandable stent for implanting in a body lumen, such as a coronary artery. The stent has an open lattice structure and is constructed so that at least one end section has a thicker cross-section and corresponding greater radial strength than the remaining sections of the stent.

Claims

1. An intravascular stent for implanting in a body lumen, comprising;

a single walled tubular body of a biocompatible material having a first end section, a second end section, and a central section, each said section being defined by the thickness of the material making up the wall of the tubular body;

said tubular body further having an open lattice structure formed from a single piece of metal alloy and a dapted for radial expansion from a first compressed diameter, to an enlarged, second diameter; and

said first end section wall thickness being greater than said central section wall thickness and said second end section wall thickness, so that when said stent is expanded to said enlarged, second diameter, said first end section is radially stronger and more crush resistant than said central section or said second end section.

2. The stent of claim 1, wherein both said first end section and said second end section have a wall thickness greater than said central section wall thickness, making said first end section and said second end section substantially radially stronger than said central section.