Tubular stent consists of chevron-shape expansion struts and ipsilaterally attached M-frame connectors

• US 6,123,721 A
• Filed: 02/17/1999
• Issued: 09/26/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 02/17/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Boston Scientific Scimed (Boston Scientific Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Jang G. David
• Inventors: Jang, G. David
• Primary Examiner(s): Buiz, Michael
• Assistant Examiner(s): Bui, Vy Q.
• Application Number:
  US09/251,650
• Time in Patent Office: 587 Days
• Field of Search: 623/1, 623/11, 623/12, 606/191, 606/192, 606/194, 606/195, 606/198, 606/108
• US Class Current: 623/1.15
• 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 2002/91533 characterised by the phase between adjacent bands
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/91558 connected peak to peak
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/91583 by a bridge, whereby at least one of its ends is connected along the length of a strut between two consecutive apices within a band
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2230/0013 Horseshoe-shaped, e.g. crescent-shaped, C-shaped, U-shaped

Abstract

A stent in a non-expanded state has a first column expansion strut pair that includes a first expansion strut, a second expansion strut and a joining strut. A plurality of the first column expansion strut pair form a chevron shaped slot in a first expansion column. A second column expansion strut pair has a first expansion strut, a second expansion strut and a joining strut. A plurality of the second column expansion strut pair form a chevron shaped slot in a second expansion column. A plurality of first serial connecting struts form a first serial connecting strut column. The plurality of first serial connecting struts couple the first expansion column to the second expansion column. The first serial connecting strut ipsilaterally couples the second expansion strut of the first expansion column to the second expansion strut of the second expansion column.

Claims

1. A stent in a non-expanded state, comprising:

a first expansion column including a plurality of expansion strut pairs, a first expansion strut pair in the first column including a first expansion strut, a second expansion strut and a joining strut, the first expansion strut pair forming a chevron shaped slot in the first expansion column, the expansion struts in the first expansion strut column each having a chevron shape, and one of the expansion struts in the first expansion strut column having a stepped apex;

a second expansion column including a plurality of expansion strut pairs, a first expansion strut pair in the second expansion column including a first expansion strut, a second expansion strut and a joining strut, a first expansion strut pair in the second expansion column forming a chevron shaped slot in the second expansion column, at least one of the expansion struts in the second expansion column having a chevron shape; and

plurality of first serial connecting struts forming a first serial connecting strut column, the plurality of first serial connecting struts coupling the first expansion column to the second expansion column, a first serial connecting strut in the first serial connecting strut column coupling the second expansion strut of the first expansion column to the second expansion strut of the second expansion column.

2. The stent of claim 1, wherein the first serial connecting strut of the first serial connecting strut column has an "M"-shaped geometric configuration.

3. The stent of claim 1, wherein the first serial connecting strut of the first serial connecting strut column has a trapezoidal geometry loop configuration in a middle of the first serial connecting strut.

4. The stent of claim 1, wherein the first serial connecting strut of the first serial connecting strut column defines a first serial connecting strut first, second and third loops in a connecting space between the first and second expansion column.

5. The stent of claim 4, wherein the first serial connecting strut of the first serial connecting strut column divides the connecting space into three compartments.

6. The stent of claim 4, wherein the first and third loops in the connecting space extend in a first direction and the second loop extends in a second direction.

7. The stent of claim 3, wherein a trapezoidal geometry intermediate section of the first serial connecting strut in the first serial connecting strut column has a 180°

direction change, moving out of the connecting space and protruding into a center of a stent cell space.

8. The stent of claim 3, wherein an intermediate section of the first serial connecting strut in the first serial connecting strut column has a curvilinear geometry loop configuration that divides a connecting space into three compartments.

9. The stent of claim 3, wherein a trapezoid geometry intermediate section of the first serial connecting strut in the first serial connecting strut column has a curvilinear geometry loop configuration that protrudes into a center of a stent cell space.

10. The stent of claim 1, wherein the first expansion strut pair in the first column land the second expansion strut pair in the second column each define a quasi-chevron shaped slot.

11. The stent of claim 1, wherein the first and second expansion struts of the first and second expansion columns each have a first section and a second section.

12. The stent of claim 11, wherein the first and second sections of the first expansion strut of the first expansion strut pair in the first expansion strut column are coupled to form a stepped apex section, and the first and second sections of the first expansion strut of the first expansion strut pair in the second expansion column are coupled to form a stepped apex section.

13. The stent of claim 12, wherein the first and second sections of the second expansion strut of the first expansion strut pair in the first expansion strut column are coupled to form a simple apex, and the first and second sections of the second expansion strut of the first expansion strut pair in the second expansion column are coupled to form a simple apex.

14. The stent of claim 13, wherein the apeces of the first expansion column all extend in a same direction.

15. The stent of claim 13, wherein the apeces of the second expansion column all extend in a same direction.

16. The stent of claim 13, wherein the first section of the first expansion strut of the first expansion strut pair in the first expansion column and the first section of the second expansion strut of the first expansion strut pair in the first expansion column are separated by a first length, and the second section of the first expansion strut of the first expansion strut pair in the first expansion column and the second section of the second expansion strut of the first expansion strut pair in the first expansion column are separated by a second length, wherein the second length is greater than the first length.

17. The stent of claim 16, wherein the first section of the first expansion strut of the first expansion strut pair in the first expansion column has a longitudinal axis that is parallel to a longitudinal axis of the first section of the first expansion strut of the first expansion strut pair in the second expansion column.

18. The stent of claim 17, wherein the second section of the first expansion strut of the first expansion strut pair in the first expansion column has a longitudinal axis that is parallel to a longitudinal axis of the second section of the first expansion strut of the first expansion strut pair in the second expansion column.

19. The stent of claim 18, wherein the first sections of the first and second expansion strut of the first and second expansion columns are parallel to each other, and the second sections of the first and second expansion struts of the first and second expansion columns are parallel to each other.

20. The stent of claim 11, wherein each of a first and second section of a first and second expansion struts in the first and second expansion columns has a longitudinal axis that is non-parallel to a longitudinal axis of the stent.

21. The stent of claim 1, wherein each of the first serial connecting struts of the first serial connecting strut column has a proximal portion with a proximal stem, a distal portion with a distal stem and an intermediate portion that couples the proximal and distal portions.

22. The stent of claim 21, wherein the proximal stem of the first serial connecting strut is ipsilaterally coupled to a first side of the second section of the second expansion strut of the first expansion strut pair in the first expansion column, and the distal stem is ipsilaterally coupled to a first side of the first section of the second expansion strut of the first expansion strut pair in the second expansion column.

23. The stent of claim 22, wherein the proximal and distal stems of the first serial connecting strut each extend in a same direction.

24. The stent of claim 22, wherein the proximal stem of the first serial connecting strut is coupled to the side of the second section of the second expansion strut at a connect angle of 85°

or greater, wherein the connect angle is formed closest to the simple apex.

25. The stent of claim 22, wherein the proximal stem of the first serial connecting strut is coupled to the side of the second section of the second expansion strut at a connect angle of about 90°

or greater, wherein the connect angle is formed closest to the simple apex.

26. The stent of claim 22, wherein the distal stem of the first serial connecting strut is coupled to the side of the first section of the second expansion strut at a connect angle of 85°

or greater, wherein the connect angle is formed closest to the simple apex.

27. The stent of claim 22, wherein the distal stem of the first serial connecting strut is coupled to the side of the first section of the second expansion strut at a connect angle of about 90°

or greater, wherein the connect angle is formed closest to the simple apex.

28. The stent of claim 1, wherein the first and second expansion columns are each unbroken, continuous tubular structures.

29. A stent in a non-expanded state, comprising:

a first column expansion strut pair including a first expansion strut, a second expansion strut and a joining strut, a plurality of the first column expansion strut pairs forming a first expansion column, the expansion struts in the first expansion column each having a chevron shape, and one of the expansion struts in the first expansion column having a stepped apex;

a second column expansion strut pair including a first expansion strut, a second expansion strut and a joining strut, a plurality of the second column expansion strut pairs forming a second expansion column, the expansion struts in the second expansion column each having a chevron shape, and one of the expansion struts in the second expansion column having a stepped apex; and

a first serial connecting strut, a plurality of first serial connecting struts forming a first serial connecting strut column, the plurality of first serial connecting struts coupling the first expansion column to the second expansion column, the first serial connecting strut ipsilaterally coupling the second expansion strut of the first expansion column to the second expansion strut of the second column;

a third column expansion strut pair including a first expansion strut, a second expansion strut and joining strut, a plurality of the third column expansion strut pairs forming a third expansion column, the expansion struts in the third expansion column each having a chevron shape, and one of the expansion struts in the third expansion column having a stepped apex; and

a first serial connecting strut, a plurality of first serial connecting struts forming a second serial connecting strut column, the plurality of first serial connecting struts coupling the second expansion column to the third expansion column, the first serial connecting strut ipsilaterally coupling the second expansion strut of the second expansion column to the second expansion strut of the third expansion column.

30. The stent of claim 29, wherein the first serial connecting strut of the second serial connecting strut column has an "M"-shaped geometric configuration.

31. The stent of claim 29, wherein the first serial connecting strut of the second serial connecting strut column has a trapezoidal geometry loop configuration in a middle of the first serial connecting strut.

32. The stent of claim 29, wherein the first serial connecting strut of the second serial connecting strut column defines a first serial connecting strut first, second and third loops in a connecting space between the first and second expansion column.

33. The stent of claim 29, wherein the first serial connecting strut of the second serial connecting strut column divides the connecting space into three compartments.

34. The stent of claim 29, wherein the first and third loops in the connecting space extend in a first direction and the second loop extends in a second direction.

35. The stent of claim 29, wherein the first, second and third expansion column strut pairs each define a quasi-chevron shaped slot.

36. The stent of claim 29, wherein the first and second expansion struts of the second and third expansion columns each have a first section and a second section.

37. The stent of claim 36, wherein the first and second sections of the first expansion strut of the second expansion column strut pair are coupled to form a stepped apex section, and the first and second sections of the first expansion strut of the third expansion column strut pair are coupled to form a simple apex section.

38. The stent of claim 37, wherein the first and second sections of the second expansion strut of the second expansion column strut pair are coupled to form a simple apex, and the first and second sections of the second expansion strut of the third expansion column strut pair are coupled to form a stepped apex section.

39. The stent of claim 38, wherein the apeces of the second expansion column all extend in a same direction.

40. The stent of claim 38, wherein the apeces of the third expansion column all extend in a same direction.

41. The stent of claim 38, wherein the first sections of the first and second expansion struts of the third expansion column strut pair are separated by a first length, and the second sections of the first and second expansion struts of the third expansion column strut pair are separated by a second length, wherein the second length is greater than the first length.

42. The stent of claim 41, wherein the first section of the first expansion strut of the second expansion column strut pair has a longitudinal axis that is parallel to a longitudinal axis of the first section of the first expansion strut of the third expansion column strut pair.

43. The stent of claim 42, wherein the second section of the first expansion strut of the second expansion column strut pair has a longitudinal axis that is parallel to a longitudinal axis of the second section of the first expansion strut of the third expansion column strut pair.

44. The stent of claim 36, wherein each of a first and second section of a first and second expansion struts in the second and third expansion columns has a longitudinal axis that is non-parallel to a longitudinal axis of the stent.

45. The stent of claim 29, wherein each of the first serial connecting struts of the second serial connecting strut column has a proximal portion with a proximal stem, a distal portion with a distal stem and an intermediate portion that couples the proximal and distal portions.

46. The stent of claim 44, wherein in the second serial connecting strut column, the proximal stem of the first serial connecting strut is ipsilaterally coupled to a second side of the second section of the second expansion strut of the second expansion column, and the distal stem is ipsilaterally coupled to a second side of the first section of the second expansion strut of the third expansion column.

47. The stent of claim 46, wherein the proximal and distal stems of the first serial connecting strut of the second serial connecting strut column each extend in a same direction.

48. The stent of claim 46, wherein in the second serial connecting strut column, the proximal stem of the first serial connecting strut is coupled to the side of the second section of the second expansion strut at a connect angle of 85°

or greater, wherein the connect angle is formed closest to the simple apex.

49. The stent of claim 46, wherein in the second serial connecting strut column, the proximal stem of the first serial connecting strut is coupled to the side of the second section of the second expansion strut at a connect angle of about 90°

or greater, wherein the connect angle is formed closest to the simple apex.

50. The stent of claim 46, wherein in the second serial connecting strut column, the distal stem of the first serial connecting strut is coupled to the side of the first section of the second expansion strut at a connect angle of 85°

or greater, wherein the connect angle is formed closest to the stepped apex section.

51. The stent of claim 46, wherein the distal stem of the first serial connecting strut is coupled to the side of the first section of the second expansion strut at a connect angle of about 90°

or greater, wherein the connect angle is formed closest to the stepped apex section.

52. The stent of claim 29, wherein the first, second and third expansion columns are each unbroken, continuous tubular structures.