Expandable intraluminal stents
First Claim
1. An expandable, generally tubular, intraluminal stent comprising:
- a) a plurality of end supports disposed in a first ring at a first end of the tubular stent and in a second ring at a second end of the stent;
b) a plurality of struts for connecting the end supports in the first ring with the end supports in the second ring to inhibit relative longitudinal displacement between end supports at opposite ends of the stent; and
c) a plurality of connecting links linking adjacent end supports in the first ring and adjacent end supports in the second ring so that the stent may be radially expanded from a first smaller diameter to a second larger diameter.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
An expandable, intraluminal stent is provided which can be inserted into a body passage, and is capable of supporting an intact vascular graft. The stent is a thin-walled, generally tubular member having a plurality of rigid support tabs spaced uniformly around the perimeter of the two ends of the stent. A plurality of spacer bars span longitudinally between the rigid support tabs at one end of the stent and corresponding rigid support tabs at the other end. The spacer bars serve as struts to prevent longitudinal expansion or contraction of the stent so that the length of the stent is maintained. Plastically deformable connecting links interconnect adjacent rigid support tabs around each end of the stent to enable the stent to be expanded to an enlarged diameter. The stent can be expanded with a delivery system which applies a radially, outwardly extending force from the exterior of the stent. Alternatively, the stent can be expanded using an angioplasty balloon.
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Citations
47 Claims
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1. An expandable, generally tubular, intraluminal stent comprising:
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a) a plurality of end supports disposed in a first ring at a first end of the tubular stent and in a second ring at a second end of the stent;
b) a plurality of struts for connecting the end supports in the first ring with the end supports in the second ring to inhibit relative longitudinal displacement between end supports at opposite ends of the stent; and
c) a plurality of connecting links linking adjacent end supports in the first ring and adjacent end supports in the second ring so that the stent may be radially expanded from a first smaller diameter to a second larger diameter. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26)
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27. An expandable, generally tubular, intraluminal stent comprising:
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a) a plurality of end supports disposed in a ring at each end of the tubular stent, the end supports in each ring being generally uniformly spaced apart around each respective ring;
b) a plurality of struts for connecting the ring of end supports at one end of the stent with the ring of end supports at the other end of the stent, each strut extending generally from a respective one of the end supports at one end of the stent to a corresponding end support at the other end of the stent to inhibit relative longitudinal displacement between corresponding end supports at opposite ends of the stent; and
c) a plurality of connecting links linking adjacent end supports in each respective ring so that the stent may be radially expanded from a first smaller diameter enabling delivery of the stent into a selected body passageway having a lumen into a second enlarged diameter for positioning the stent in the lumen of the body passageway. - View Dependent Claims (28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47)
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Specification