Radiopaque stents
First Claim
Patent Images
1. An intravascular stent having a generally cylindrical shape and having a distal end and a proximal end, comprising:
- a plurality of ring elements of uniform configuration and dimension aligned along a longitudinal axis wherein linkages of uniform configuration and dimension link all adjacent ring elements and wherein ring elements near said distal end and ring elements near said proximal end are formed of radiopaque material while all other ring elements are formed of radiotransparent material.
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Abstract
A stent is formed from a series of linked, radially aligned expandable rings. The end rings are formed of a radiopaque material while the rings positioned between the end rings are formed of a radio-transparent material. Two very bright fluoroscopic images are created by the end rings, without any compromise in the strength of the stent, while the center of the stent remains transparent so as not to obscure the image of lesion area when the stent is being centered therein.
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Citations
13 Claims
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1. An intravascular stent having a generally cylindrical shape and having a distal end and a proximal end, comprising:
a plurality of ring elements of uniform configuration and dimension aligned along a longitudinal axis wherein linkages of uniform configuration and dimension link all adjacent ring elements and wherein ring elements near said distal end and ring elements near said proximal end are formed of radiopaque material while all other ring elements are formed of radiotransparent material. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. A method of making an intravascular stent, including:
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selecting an elongated center tube having two opposing ends and formed of radio-transparent material, a distal end tube formed of radiopaque material, and a proximal end tube formed of radiopaque material;
joining said distal end tube to one of said opposing ends, and said proximal end tube to the other of said opposing ends, whereby said tubes are aligned along a common longitudinal axis and cooperate to form a unitary cylindrical body;
cutting a predetermined, uniform stent pattern having a plurality of interconnected cylindrical ring elements on said cylindrical body to form said intravascular stent, said stent being unitarily constructed and having a radio-transparent center section, a radiopaque distal end section, and a radiopaque proximal end section. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10)
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11. A method of making an intravascular stent, including:
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providing an elongated center sheet having a first end and a second end and formed of radio-transparent material, a distal end sheet formed of radiopaque material, and a proximal end sheet formed of radiopaque material;
joining said distal end sheet to said first end and joining said proximal end sheet to said second end to form an elongated unitary planar body;
rolling said planar body about a longitudinal axis to form a hollow cylinder; and
cutting a predetermined stent pattern having a plurality of interconnected cylindrical ring elements on said cylinder to form said intravascular stent, said stent being unitarily constructed and having a radio-transparent center section, a radiopaque distal end section, and a radiopaque proximal end section. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13)
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Specification