Expandable stents and method for making same

• US 6,485,511 B2
• Filed: 06/25/2001
• Issued: 11/26/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 10/28/1991
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Advanced Cardiovascular Systems Incorporated (Abbott Laboratories)
• Original Assignee: Advanced Cardiovascular Systems Incorporated (Abbott Laboratories)
• Inventors: Lau, Lilip, Frantzen, John J., Hartigan, William M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Willse, David H.
• Assistant Examiner(s): GHERBI, SUZETTE JAIME J
• Application Number:
  US09/891,834
• Publication Number:
  US 20010037147A1
• Time in Patent Office: 519 Days
• Field of Search: 623/1-5-
• US Class Current: 623/1.16
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/848 having means for fixation to the vessel wall, e.g. barbs
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/86 Stents in a form characterised by the wire-like elements; Stents in the form characterised by a net-like or mesh-like structure
• 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 2/89 the wire-like elements comprising two or more adjacent rings flexibly connected by separate members
• 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 2/958 Inflatable balloons for placing stents or stent-grafts
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/91533 characterised by the phase between adjacent bands
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/9155 Adjacent bands being connected to each other
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/91558 connected peak to peak
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/91575 connected peak to trough
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2210/0019 operated at only one temperature whilst inside or touching the human body, e.g. constrained in a non-operative shape during surgery, another temperature only occurring before the operation
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2025/1081 having sheaths or the like for covering the balloon but not forming a permanent part of the balloon, e.g. retractable, dissolvable or tearable sheaths
• CPC Class Codes: C23F 1/02 Local etching
• CPC Class Codes: C23F 1/04 Chemical milling
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 623/901 Method of manufacturing prosthetic device
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 623/903 Blood vessel
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 623/921 Blood vessel
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49995 Shaping one-piece blank by removing material

Abstract

The invention is directed to an expandable stent for implantation in a body lumen, such as an artery, and a method for making it from a single length of tubing. The stent consists of a plurality of radially expandable cylindrical elements generally aligned on a common axis and interconnected by one or more interconnective elements. The individual radially expandable cylindrical elements consist of ribbon-like material disposed in an undulating pattern. Portions of the expanded stent project outwardly into engagement with the vessel wall to more securely attach the stent.

Claims

1. A longitudinally flexible stent for implanting in a body lumen, comprising:

a plurality of cylindrical rings having an undulating pattern in the form of peaks and valleys and being aligned on a common longitudinal axis, wherein at least some of the peaks have apexes with a first connection point and at least some of the valleys have depressions with a second connection point; and

one or more interconnecting elements between respective adjacent first connection points and second connection points to connect adjacent cylindrical rings.

2. The stent of claim 1, wherein the respective first connection points and the longitudinal axis are coplanar, so that the interconnecting element extends between two adjacent first connection points.

3. The stent of claim 2, wherein:

the shortest distance between the respective adjacent first connection points defines a first length;

the interconnecting element has a first end and a second end defining a second length therebetween along the interconnecting element; and

the first length is substantially equal to the second length.

4. The stent of claim 2, wherein:

the shortest distance between the respective adjacent first connection points defines a first length;

the interconnecting element has a first end and a second end defining a second length therebetween along the interconnecting element; and

the first length is less than the second length.

5. The stent of claim 1, wherein the first connection point, the second connection point, and the longitudinal axis are coplanar, so that the interconnecting element extends between a first connection point and an adjacent second connection point.

6. The stent of claim 5, wherein:

the shortest distance between the first connection point and the respective adjacent second connection point defines a first length;

the interconnecting element has a first end and a second end defining a second length therebetween along the interconnecting element; and

the first length is less than the second length.

7. The stent of claim 1, herein:

the shortest distance between the first connection point and the respective adjacent second connection point defines a first length;

the interconnecting element has a first end and a second end defining a second length therebetween along the interconnecting element; and

the first length is substantially equal to the second length.

8. The stent of claim 1, wherein the cylindrical rings and the interconnecting elements are formed in a unitary structure.

9. The stent of claim 8, wherein the unitary structure is formed from a tubular element.

10. The stent of claim 1, wherein the cylindrical rings and the interconnecting elements are formed separately and are connected using a second connection means.

11. The stent of claim 10, wherein the second connection means includes a weld to attach the interconnecting elements to the connecting points.

12. The stent of claim 10, wherein the second connection means includes mechanically attaching the interconnecting elements to the connecting points.

13. A longitudinally flexible stent for implanting in a body lumen, comprising:

a plurality of cylindrical rings having an undulating pattern in the form of peaks and valleys and being aligned on a common longitudinal axis;

each peak having a first centerline bisecting the peak;

each valley having a second centerline bisecting the valley; and

an interconnecting element between adjacent peaks and valleys so that there is at least one interconnecting element between adjacent cylindrical rings.

14. The stent of claim 13, wherein the first centerline and the longitudinal axis are coplanar.

15. The stent of claim 14, wherein the interconnecting element is substantially colinear with the respective first centerline.

16. The stent of claim 14, wherein the interconnecting element intersects the respective first centerline, but is not colinear therewith.

17. The stent of claim 13, wherein the first centerline, the second centerline, and the longitudinal axis are coplanar.

18. The stent of claim 17, wherein the interconnecting element, the respective first centerline, and the respective second centerline are substantially colinear.

19. The stent of claim 17, wherein the interconnecting element intersects the respective first centerline and the respective second centerline, but is not colinear therewith.

20. The stent of claim 13, wherein the cylindrical rings and the interconnecting elements are formed in a unitary structure.

21. The stent of claim 20, wherein the unitary structure is formed from a tubular element.

22. The stent of claim 13, wherein the cylindrical rings and the interconnecting elements are formed separately and are connected using a secondary connecting element.

23. The stent of claim 22, wherein the secondary connecting element is a weld.

24. A longitudinally flexible stent for implanting in a body lumen, comprising:

a plurality of cylindrical rings having an undulating pattern in the form of peaks and valleys and being aligned on a common longitudinal axis;

at least some of the peaks having apexes with a first connection point;

at least some of the valleys having depressions with a second connection point; and

at least one interconnecting element disposed between the first connection point and an adjacent second connection point to connect adjacent cylindrical rings.

25. The stent of claim 24, wherein:

the shortest distance between the first connection point and the adjacent second connection point defines a first length;

the interconnecting element has a first end and a second end defining a second length therebetween along the interconnecting element; and

the first length being substantially equal to the second length.

26. The stent of claim 24, wherein:

the shortest distance between the first connection point and the adjacent second connection point defines a first length;

the interconnecting element has a first end and a second end defining a second length therebetween along the interconnecting element; and

the first length being less than the second length.

27. The stent of claim 24, wherein the cylindrical rings and the interconnecting elements are formed in a unitary structure.

28. The stent of claims 27, wherein the unitary structure is formed from a tubular element.

29. The stent of claim 24, wherein the cylindrical rings and the interconnecting elements are formed separately and are connected using a second connecting element.

30. The stent of claim 29, wherein the second connecting element is a weld.

31. A longitudinally flexible stent for implanting in a body lumen, comprising:

a first cylindrical ring and a second cylindrical ring, each ring having an undulating pattern in the form of first and second peaks respectively and being aligned on a common longitudinal axis;

the first peaks having apexes with respective first connection points;

the second peaks having apexes with respective second connection points; and

at least one interconnecting element connecting the first cylindrical ring to the second cylindrical ring by being disposed between adjacent respective first and second connection points.

32. The stent of claim 31, wherein the cylindrical rings and the interconnecting elements are formed in a unitary structure.

33. The stent of claim 32, wherein the unitary structure is formed from a tubular element.

34. The stent of claim 31, wherein the cylindrical rings and the interconnecting elements are formed separately.

35. The stent of claim 34, wherein the interconnecting elements are formed by welds.

36. A longitudinally flexible stent for implanting in a body lumen, comprising:

a plurality of cylindrical rings having an undulating pattern in the form of peaks and valleys and being aligned on a common longitudinal axis;

the peaks having apexes with respective first connection points at their respective apexes;

the valleys having depressions with respective second connection points at their respective depressions; and

at least one interconnecting element disposed between adjacent respective first connection points for connecting adjacent cylindrical rings.

37. The stent of claim 36, wherein the cylindrical rings and the interconnecting elements are formed in a unitary structure.

38. The stent of claim 37, wherein the unitary structure is formed from a tubular element.

39. The stent of claim 36, wherein the cylindrical rings and the interconnecting elements are formed separately and are connected using a second connecting element.

40. The stent of claim 39, wherein the second connecting element is a weld.