Stent with smooth ends

• US 6,379,379 B1
• Filed: 08/13/1999
• Issued: 04/30/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 05/05/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Scimed Life Systems Incorporated (Boston Scientific Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Scimed Life Systems Incorporated (Boston Scientific Corporation)
• Inventors: Wang, Lixiao
• Primary Examiner(s): Willse, David H.
• Assistant Examiner(s): GHERBI, SUZETTE JAIME J
• Application Number:
  US09/374,425
• Time in Patent Office: 991 Days
• Field of Search: 623/1.46, 623/1.42, 623/1.31, 427/2--, 427/1.15
• US Class Current: 623/1.15
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/82 Devices providing patency to, or preventing collapsing of, tubular structures of the body, e.g. stents stent-grafts for tubular structures of the body other than blood vessels A61F2/04; stent-grafts for blood vessels A61F2/07; instruments specially adapted for placement or removal of stents or stent-grafts A61F2/95; for closing wounds, or holding wounds closed A61B17/04 - A61B17/115; dilators A61M29/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/88 the wire-like elements formed as helical or spiral coils forming a net-like or mesh-like structure A61F2/90
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/90 characterised by a net-like or mesh-like structure
• 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 2/92 Stents in the form of a rolled-up sheet expanding after insertion into the vessel , e.g. with a spiral shape in cross-section
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/91541 Adjacent bands are arranged out of phase
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/91558 connected peak to peak
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2220/005 using adhesives
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2250/0018 differing in elasticity, stiffness or compressibility
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 9/0024 Solid, semi-solid or solidifying implants, which are implanted or injected in body tissue compositions for intravenous administration, normal injectable solutions or dispersions for, e.g. subcutaneous administration A61K9/0019; brain implants A61K9/0085; (coated) prostheses, catheters or stents A61L
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2300/25 Peptides having up to 20 amino acids in a defined sequence
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2300/416 Anti-neoplastic or anti-proliferative or anti-restenosis or anti-angiogenic agents, e.g. paclitaxel, sirolimus
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2300/606 Coatings
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2300/608 having two or more layers
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2420/08 Coatings comprising two or more layers
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 31/10 Macromolecular materials
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 31/16 Biologically active materials, e.g. therapeutic substances A61L31/047 takes precedence

Abstract

A stent having at least one smooth end is disclosed. The stent may include a coating or coatings on one or both end portions to provide a smooth finish to reduce possible damage to body passages when the stent is deployed and delivered. The stent may also contain drugs or surgical adhesives or a combination thereof in or on the coated portion of the stent. The stent may also be of the type where the materials of the stent may be treated to have a smooth flexible end or ends. The stent may also be of a configuration such that at least one end is more flexible than the middle portion of the stent.

Claims

1. A stent comprising a main body portion having a first end portion, a second end portion, a middle portion and a flow passage defined therethrough, at least a portion of the first end portion and at least a portion of the second end portion having a biocompatible coating, the biocompatible coating comprising a polymer or a drug, wherein the biocompatible coating on the first end portion differs from the biocompatible coating on the second end portion the middle portion free of the biocompatible coating.

2. The stent of claim 1 wherein the first end portion comprises an inner surface, an outer surface, an end and an edge, the coating covering the first end and at least a portion of the edge of the first end portion.

3. The stent of claim 2 wherein the first end portion is more flexible than the middle portion.

4. The stent of claim 1 wherein the biocompatible coating comprises a polymer and a drug.

5. A stent comprising a main body portion having a first end portion, a second end portion, a middle portion and a flow passage defined therethrough, wherein the first end portion is made of a first metal and the middle portion is made of a second metal different from the first metal, at least a portion of the first end portion having a biocompatible coating, the biocompatible coating comprising a polymer or a drug, the middle portion free of the biocompatible coating.

6. The stent of claim 5 wherein the first end portion is made of Nitinol and the middle portion is made of stainless steel.

7. The stent of claim 6 wherein the second end portion is made of Nitinol.

8. A stent comprising a main body portion having a first end portion, a second end portion, a middle portion and a flow passage defined therethrough, at least a portion of the first end portion having a biocompatible coating, wherein the coating comprises a plurality of layers the biocompatible coating comprising a polymer or a drug, the middle portion free of the biocompatible coating.

9. The stent of claim 8 wherein the plurality of layers is comprised of the same coating material.

10. The stent of claim 8 wherein the plurality of layers is comprised of different coating materials.

11. A stent comprising a main body portion having a first end portion, a second end portion, a middle portion and a flow passage defined therethrough, and a sleeve of biocompatible material connected to the first end portion, the sleeve including at least one layer of a material selected from the group consisting of bioadhesives and drugs, the middle portion of the stent free of the at least one layer of material.

12. The stent of claim 11 wherein the stent comprises a looser mesh first end portion than the middle portion.

13. The stent of claim 11 wherein the first end portion is made of a first metal and the middle portion is made of a second metal different from the first metal.

14. A stent comprising a plurality of portions including axially spaced first and second portions, the first portion made of a first metal and the second portion made of a second metal different from the first metal, wherein the first metal is Nitinol and the second metal is stainless steel.

15. The stent of claim 14 wherein the stent has a first end, a middle and a second end, the first metal forming the first end, the second metal forming the middle, the stent further including a third portion displaced along the length of the stent from the first and second portions, the third portion made of the first metal.

16. The stent of claim 15 wherein the first and second ends are made of Nitinol, and the middle is made of stainless steel.

17. The stent of claim 14 wherein the stent has a first end, a middle and a second end and the first end is polished to provide a smooth first end relative to the middle.

18. The stent of claim 17 wherein the second end is polished to provide a smooth second end relative to the middle.