×

Tapered self-expanding stent

  • US 6,569,193 B1
  • Filed: 07/22/1999
  • Issued: 05/27/2003
  • Est. Priority Date: 07/22/1999
  • Status: Expired due to Term
First Claim
Patent Images

1. A longitudinally flexible stent for implanting in a body lumen and expandable from a contracted state to an expanded state, comprising:

  • a plurality of adjacent cylindrical elements, each cylindrical element having a circumference extending around a longitudinal stent axis and being substantially independently expandable in the radial direction, wherein each cylindrical element is formed from struts arranged in a serpentine pattern;

    wherein the serpentine pattern is a repeating strut pattern of upright V'"'"'s and inverted V'"'"'s which are in phase with the strut pattern of upright V'"'"'s and inverted V'"'"'s of an adjacent cylindrical element; and

    wherein the strut pattern of upright V'"'"'s and inverted V'"'"'s of one cylindrical element nest into the upright V'"'"'s and inverted V'"'"'s of the adjacent cylindrical element;

    wherein the plurality of adjacent cylindrical elements are arranged in alignment along the longitudinal stent axis, and wherein a plurality of cylindrical elements include sequentially increasing diameters to create a tapered profile;

    a plurality of interconnecting members extending between the adjacent cylindrical elements and connecting the adjacent cylindrical elements to one another; and

    wherein the plurality of struts and interconnecting members at the tapered profile increase in length along the longitudinal stent axis.

View all claims
  • 1 Assignment
Timeline View
Assignment View
    ×
    ×