Stent

• US 6,478,816 B2
• Filed: 07/13/2001
• Issued: 11/12/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 07/08/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Boston Scientific Scimed, Inc. (Boston Scientific Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Scimed Life Systems Incorporated (Boston Scientific Corporation)
• Inventors: Ehr, Timothy G. J., Kveen, Graig L., Brown, Brian J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Willse, David H.
• Assistant Examiner(s): GHERBI, SUZETTE JAIME J
• Application Number:
  US09/904,635
• Publication Number:
  US 20010044653A1
• Time in Patent Office: 487 Days
• Field of Search: 623/1.15, 623/1.16
• US Class Current: 623/1.15
• 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 2002/91533 characterised by the phase between adjacent bands
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/91541 Adjacent bands are arranged out of phase
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/91583 by a bridge, whereby at least one of its ends is connected along the length of a strut between two consecutive apices within a band

Abstract

A radially expandable stent comprising a plurality of spaced band-like elements and intersecting links is disclosed. The band-like elements have a generally serpentine configuration to provide continuous waves of generally sinusoidal character to each band-like element. The waves are characterized by a plurality of peaks and troughs taking a generally longitudinal direction along the cylinder such that the waves in the band-like elements open as the stent is expanded from a first diameter to a second diameter. The intersecting links are substantially U-shaped and terminate in first and second shanks. The first shank of a link emanates from a region between a peak and trough on a band-like element and the second shank of the link emanates from a region between a peak and trough on an adjacent band-like element.

Claims

1. A stent comprising a plurality of serpentine tubular segments having alternating peaks and troughs, serpentine tubular segments which are adjacent one another connected by a plurality of connectors, each connector having a first end which extends from a position substantially midway between a peak and a trough on one serpentine tubular segment, a second end which extends from a position substantially midway between a peak and a trough on an adjacent serpentine tubular segment, and a central loop portion between the first and second ends, at least a portion of each loop portion disposed between one of the peaks on one tubular segment and one of the troughs on an adjacent tubular segment.

2. The stent of claim 1 wherein each of the central loop portions opens in the same circumferential direction.

3. The stent of claim 1 wherein some of the central loop portions open in a first circuferential direction and some of the central loop portions open in a second circumferential direction opposite the first circumferential direction.

4. The stent of claim 1 wherein the serpentine tubular segments which are adjacent one another are in phase with one another.

5. The stent of claim 1 wherein the serpentine tubular segments which are adjacent one another are out of phase with one another.

6. The stent of claim 5 wherein the serpentine tubular segments which are adjacent one another are 180 degrees out of phase with one another.