Articulated expandable intraluminal stent

• US 6,238,409 B1
• Filed: 04/21/1999
• Issued: 05/29/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 03/10/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Johnson & Johnson Interventional Systems Company (Johnson & Johnson)
• Original Assignee: Johnson & Johnson Interventional Systems Company (Johnson & Johnson)
• Inventors: Hojeibane, Hikmat
• Primary Examiner(s): TRUONG, KEVIN THAO
• Application Number:
  US09/296,060
• Time in Patent Office: 769 Days
• Field of Search: 606/194, 606/198, 606/191, 606/192, 606/195, 623/1, 623/12, 623/1.16, 623/1.22, 623/1.12
• US Class Current: 606/194
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/07 Stent-grafts
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/89 the wire-like elements comprising two or more adjacent rings flexibly connected by separate members
• 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 2002/30143 hexagonal
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30153 rectangular
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30154 square
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30156 triangular
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/825 having longitudinal struts
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/828 Means for connecting a plurality of stents allowing flexibility of the whole structure
• 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 2002/91541 Adjacent bands are arranged out of phase
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/9155 Adjacent bands being connected to each other
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/91558 connected peak to peak
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2220/005 using adhesives
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2220/0058 soldered or brazed or welded
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2230/0013 Horseshoe-shaped, e.g. crescent-shaped, C-shaped, U-shaped
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2230/0017 Angular shapes
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2230/0019 rectangular
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2230/0021 : square
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2230/0023 : triangular

Abstract

The present invention includes: an expandable, tubular shaped prosthesis having first and second ends and a wall surface disposed between the first and second ends, the wall surface being formed by a plurality of intersecting elongate members; and a catheter, having an expandable, inflatable portion associated therewith and including means for mounting and retaining the expandable tubular shaped prosthesis on the expandable, inflatable portion, whereby upon inflation of the expandable, inflatable portion of the catheter, the prosthesis is formed radially outwardly into contact with the body passageway. The articulation in the form of a rounded wire frame loop connects similar stent bodies. Also, rounded open connectors and shortened cells in the stent allow for greater flexibility.

Claims

1. A stent comprising:

at least two generally tubular segments, said segments formed from a plurality of interconnected struts each of said segments having a generally tubular shape with a circumference and a length; and

a helical connector, said connector wound in the shape of a helix comprising at least one complete circumferential revolution about a circumference the size of a circumference of one of said segments, and said helical connector placed between said tubular segments.

2. The stent of claim 1 wherein said segments form a slotted tube.

3. The stent of claim 1 wherein said helix is made of wire.

4. The stent of claim 1 wherein said stent comprises a plurality of struts of generally curvilinear shape.

5. The stent of claim 1 sized to be useful in the coronary arteries.

6. The stent of claim 1 wherein said stent is balloon expandable.

7. The stent of claim 1 wherein said spiral connector is of a wave form.

8. The connector of stent of claim 7 wherein said spiral connector is generally linear in shape.

9. A pair of stents connected by a connecting member, said stents each having a generally tubular shape with a circumference and a length, said connecting member forming a spiral connector comprising at least one revolution about a circumference the size of a circumference of one of said stents, such that said spiral can be expanded both radially and circumferentially.

10. The stent of claim 9 wherein said stents is self-expanding.

11. The stent of claim 9 wherein said spiral connector is of a wave form.

12. The connector of stent of claim 11 wherein said spiral connector is generally linear in shape.

13. The stent of claim 9 wherein said stents form a slotted tube.

14. The stent of claim 9 wherein said spiral is made of wire.

15. The stent of claim 9 wherein one of said stents comprises a plurality of struts of generally curvilinear shape.

16. The stent of claim 9 sized to be useful in the coronary arteries.

17. The stent of claim 9 wherein one of said stents is balloon expandable.

18. The stent of claim 9 wherein one of said stents is self-expanding.