Medical stents, apparatus and method for making same
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A medical device comprising:
- a catheter and a stent mounted on the catheter, the stent comprising a first radial ring, a second radial ring, and a third radial ring, each of said radial rings capable of expansion from a constricted diameter to an expanded diameter;
a first plurality of interconnecting links extending between said first radial ring and said second radial ring; and
a second plurality of interconnecting links extending between said second radial ring and said third radial ring, at least one of each of said pluralities of interconnecting links having an initially curved configuration which straightens as said first, second and third radial rings are expanded from said constricted diameter to said expanded diameter, and wherein at least one of the first plurality of interconnecting links forms a common junction on the second radial ring with at least one of the second plurality of interconnecting links.
0 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A medical device comprising a catheter and a balloon-expandable stent having a small initial diameter, flexibility along its longitudinal axis prior to expansion, a large expanded diameter, and rigidity after expansion. Local strain on the stent material is minimized, as and after the balloon is inflated. More particularly, the sent has rotation joints having minimal strain during stent expansion. The stent is substantially the same length before and after expansion and, being flexible longitudinally when constrained, is easy to deliver.
181 Citations
5 Claims
-
1. A medical device comprising:
-
a catheter and a stent mounted on the catheter, the stent comprising a first radial ring, a second radial ring, and a third radial ring, each of said radial rings capable of expansion from a constricted diameter to an expanded diameter;
a first plurality of interconnecting links extending between said first radial ring and said second radial ring; and
a second plurality of interconnecting links extending between said second radial ring and said third radial ring, at least one of each of said pluralities of interconnecting links having an initially curved configuration which straightens as said first, second and third radial rings are expanded from said constricted diameter to said expanded diameter, and wherein at least one of the first plurality of interconnecting links forms a common junction on the second radial ring with at least one of the second plurality of interconnecting links. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3)
-
-
4. A medical device comprising:
-
a catheter and a stent mounted on the catheter, the stent comprising a first radial ring and a second radial ring, the first and second radial rings capable of expansion from a constricted diameter to an expanded diameter; and
a plurality of interconnecting links extending between said first radial ring and said second radial ring and connected to said radial rings at rotatable joints, at least one of said plurality of interconnecting links having an initially curved configuration which straightens as said first and second radial rings are expanded from said constricted diameter to said expanded diameter.
-
-
5. A medical device comprising:
-
a catheter and a stent mounted on the catheter, the stent comprising a first radial ring, a second radial ring, and a third radial ring, each of said radial rings comprising a series of alternating peaks and valleys and capable of expansion from a constricted diameter to an expanded diameter, said radial rings arranged such that their peaks and valleys are in phase with one another;
a plurality of first interconnecting links extending between said first radial ring and said second radial ring; and
at least one second interconnecting link extending between said second radial ring and said third radial ring, wherein at least one of the first plurality of interconnecting links forms a common junction on the second radial ring with the second interconnecting link.
-
Specification