Endovascular stent with radiopaque spine

• US 6,585,757 B1
• Filed: 09/15/1999
• Issued: 07/01/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 09/15/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Advanced Cardiovascular Systems Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Advanced Cardiovascular Systems Incorporated
• Inventors: Callol, Joseph R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Prebilic, Paul B.
• Application Number:
  US09/396,543
• Time in Patent Office: 1,385 Days
• Field of Search: 623/1.15, 623/1.16, 623/1.34, 623/23.7, 606/198
• US Class Current: 623/1.16
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/90 characterised by a net-like or mesh-like structure
• 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 2002/825 having longitudinal struts
• 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 2250/0098 radio-opaque, e.g. radio-opaque markers

Abstract

A stent is formed from a series of radially aligned expandable rings. The rings are formed of a radio-transparent material that are linked by a radiopaque spine. A thin but very bright fluoroscopic image is thereby created, without compromising the strength of the stent. The small cross-section of the illuminated spine also serves to minimize interference with the image of the lesion when the stent is being positioned thereover. In the event galvanic corrosion causes the radiopaque spine to become detached from the radio-transparent ring elements, their expanded state precludes their shifting within the lumen. While the sandwiched position of the spine against the lumen wall prevents it from shifting as well.

Claims

1. An intravascular stent having a generally cylindrical shape, comprising:

a series of rings formed only of radio-transparent material and configured so as to be expandable; and

a spine, longitudinally oriented and continuously extending along the entire length of said stent, the entire length of said spine formed of radiopaque material and said spine directly connected to at least two of said rings.

2. The stent of claim 1, wherein said spine of radiopaque material is directly connected to all of said rings.

3. The stent of claim 1, further comprising a second spine, longitudinally oriented along said stent, formed of radiopaque material and directly connected to at least two of said rings.

4. The stent of claim 3, wherein all said spines of radiopaque material are each directly connected to all of said rings.

5. The stent of claim 1, further comprising an additional spine, longitudinally oriented along said stent, formed of radio-transparent material and directly connected to each of said rings.

6. The stent of claim 1, wherein said radio-transparent material is selected from the group comprising stainless steel, titanium, and Nitinol and said radiopaque material is selected from the group comprising iridium-platinum, platinum, tantalum and gold.

7. The stent of claim 1, wherein each said ring comprises a wire structure.

8. The stent of claim 7, wherein said wire is of round cross-section.

9. The stent of claim 7, wherein said wire is of rectangular cross-section.

10. The stent of claim 1, wherein said radiopaque material and said radio-transparent materials are connected by welding.

11. An intravascular stent having a generally cylindrical shape, comprising:

a series of rings formed only of radio-transparent material and configured so as to be expandable;

a first spine, longitudinally oriented and continuously extending along the entire length of said stent, formed of radiopaque material and directly connected to at least two of said rings; and

a second spine, longitudinally oriented along said stent, formed of radio-transparent material and directly connected to each of said rings.