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

• Current Assignee: Advanced Cardiovascular Systems Incorporated (Abbott Laboratories)
• Original Assignee: Advanced Cardiovascular Systems Incorporated (Abbott Laboratories)
• Inventors: Stalker, Kent C. B., Ventura, Joe II, Cox, Daniel L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Prebilic, Paul B.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Pellegrino, Brian E.
• Application Number:
  US09/359,550
• Time in Patent Office: 1,405 Days
• Field of Search: 623/1.15, 623/1.18, 623/1.3, 623/1.31, 623/1.34
• 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 2002/91516 the meander having a change in frequency along the band
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/91525 within the whole structure different bands showing different meander characteristics, e.g. frequency or amplitude
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/91533 characterised by the phase between adjacent bands
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/91575 connected peak to trough
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2230/0013 Horseshoe-shaped, e.g. crescent-shaped, C-shaped, U-shaped
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2250/0039 differing in diameter

Abstract

A self-expanding, tapered profile stent for implantation in a body lumen, such as an artery, is disclosed. The stent is constructed of a plurality of radially expandable cylindrical elements generally aligned on a common longitudinal stent axis and interconnected by one or more interconnecting members placed so that the stent is flexible in the longitudinal direction. The lengths of the cylindrical elements increase from one end of the stent to the opposite end by increasing the lengths of the struts and the lengths of the interconnecting members. Each cylindrical element is formed from repeating patterns of upright V'"'"'s and inverted V'"'"'s connected by straight strut arms with shoulders to create an overall serpentine wave pattern around the circumference. A step, continuous, parabolic, or curved taper in the stent can be imparted by using an expansion mandrel and applying deforming forces to the stent. The stent is made from pseudoelastic and shape memory alloys.

Claims

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.

2. 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 the plurality adjacent cylindrical elements are arranged in alignment along the longitudinal stent axis and define a first end, a second end, and a center section;

wherein the center section is tapered when expanded such that the first end includes a small diameter and the second end includes a large diameter;

each cylindrical element formed from struts arranged in a serpentine wave pattern comprising a repeating strut pattern of upright V'"'"'s and inverted V'"'"'s with each upright V and inverted V including a shoulder;

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

wherein the struts and interconnecting members increase in length along the longitudinal stent axis.