Medical stents, apparatus and method for making same
First Claim
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1. A medical device comprising:
- a catheter and a stent mounted on the catheter, the stent comprisinga first radial ring and a second radial ring, the first and second radial rings each comprising a series of alternating peaks and valleys and capable of expansion from a constricted diameter to an expanded diameter; and
a plurality of interconnecting links extending between said first radial ring and said second radial ring, at least one of said plurality of interconnecting links having an initially curved configuration which straightens as said first and second radial rings are expanded from said constricted diameter to said expanded diameter and being connected at its first end to an intermediate point on said first radial ring between a peak and an adjacent valley and on its second end to an intermediate point on said second radial ring between a peak and an adjacent valley.
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Abstract
A medical device comprising a catheter and a balloon-expandable stent having a small initial diameter, flexibility along its longitudinal axis prior to expansion, a large expanded diameter, and rigidity after expansion. Local strain on the stent material is minimized, as and after the balloon is inflated. More particularly, the sent has rotation joints having minimal strain during stent expansion. The stent is substantially the same length before and after expansion and, being flexible longitudinally when constrained, is easy to deliver.
351 Citations
18 Claims
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1. A medical device comprising:
a catheter and a stent mounted on the catheter, the stent comprising a first radial ring and a second radial ring, the first and second radial rings each comprising a series of alternating peaks and valleys and capable of expansion from a constricted diameter to an expanded diameter; and a plurality of interconnecting links extending between said first radial ring and said second radial ring, at least one of said plurality of interconnecting links having an initially curved configuration which straightens as said first and second radial rings are expanded from said constricted diameter to said expanded diameter and being connected at its first end to an intermediate point on said first radial ring between a peak and an adjacent valley and on its second end to an intermediate point on said second radial ring between a peak and an adjacent valley. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
Specification