Mesh stent with variable hoop strength

• US 6,183,503 B1
• Filed: 09/17/1999
• Issued: 02/06/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 09/17/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Applied Medical Resources Corporation (Applied Medical Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Applied Medical Resources Corporation (Applied Medical Corporation)
• Inventors: Hart, Charles C., Brustad, John, Hilal, Said
• Primary Examiner(s): Buiz, Michael
• Assistant Examiner(s): King, Anthony S.
• Application Number:
  US09/399,211
• Time in Patent Office: 508 Days
• Field of Search: 623/1.51, 623/1.49, 623/1.5, 623/1.15, 623/1.1, 623/1.11, 623/11, 623/12, 623/13, 606/198, 606/194, 606/192, 604/8
• US Class Current: 623/1.1
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/86 Stents in a form characterised by the wire-like elements; Stents in the form characterised by a net-like or mesh-like structure
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2250/0018 differing in elasticity, stiffness or compressibility
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2250/0029 differing in bending or flexure capacity

Abstract

A stent is adapted for disposition in a body conduit of a patient and comprises a mesh formed in the configuration of a tube and having an axis and axial convolutions, which facilitate movement between a low-profile state and a high-profile state. The tube in the low-profile state has an elongate configuration and a wall with a first thickness and first tube strength. The tube in the high-profile state has a compressed configuration and a wall with a second thickness greater than the first thickness and a second hoop strength greater than the first hoop strength. An associated method of use includes the steps of mounting the step on a catheter between first and second enlargement members, increasing the size of the enlargement members, and moving the enlargement members to axially compress the stent to the high-profile state. An associated method of manufacture includes the steps of corrugating the mesh on a mandrel by moving the ends of the mesh toward each other. The mesh can then be heat-set in the high-profile state.

Claims

1. A vascular stent adapted to be disposed in a blood vessel of patient, comprising:

a mesh having a multiplicity of interstices and being formed in the configuration of a tube having a wall, an axis, and characteristics for moving between a low-profile state and a high-profile state;

the interstices of the mesh being generally open in the low-profile state and being generally closed in the high-profile state;

the tube in the low-profile state having an elongate configuration, with the wall having a first thickness and a first hoop strength; and

the tube in the high-profile state having a compressed configuration, with the wall having a second thickness greater than the first thickness and a second hoop strength greater than the first hoop strength.

2. The vascular stent recited in claim 1 wherein:

the wall is formed with a plurality of convolutions disposed along the axis;

the convolutions in the low-profile state being generally spaced by a first distance; and

the convolutions in the high-profile state being generally spaced by a second distance less than the first distance.

3. The vascular stent recited in claim 2 wherein the mesh forming the tube is a woven mesh.

4. The vascular stent recited in claim 3 wherein the woven mesh has thickness, and the wall in the low-profile state is stretched along the axis and has a thickness generally equivalent to the thickness of the woven mesh.

5. The vascular stent recited in claim 1 wherein the mesh is heatset to bias the tube to the high-profile state.

6. The vascular stent recited in claim 5 wherein the mesh is formed of a thermal plastic.

7. A stent adapted to be placed in a body conduit, comprising:

a plurality of filaments forming a mesh with interstices and a first thickness, the mesh being formed in the configuration of a tube having an axis;

the tube having a wall and being axially corrugated to facilitate a movement between a low-profile state wherein the wall has a second thickness, and a high-profile state wherein the wall has a third thickness greater than the second thickness;

the interstices being generally open when the tube is in the low-profile state, and being generally closed when the tube is in the high-profile state.

9. The stent recited in claim 11 wherein the filaments are formed of a thermoplastic.

10. The stent recited in claim 12 wherein the thermoplastic filaments are heat-set in the high-profile state.

8. The stent recited in claim 10 wherein the mesh is woven.