Radially expansible vessel scaffold having beams and expansion joints

• US 6,602,281 B1
• Filed: 11/12/1997
• Issued: 08/05/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 06/05/1995
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Avantec Vascular Corporation, LocalMed, LLC (Dental Intelligence, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Avantec Vascular Corporation
• Inventors: Klein, Enrique J.
• Primary Examiner(s): McDermott, Corrine
• Assistant Examiner(s): STEWART, ALVIN J
• Application Number:
  US08/968,319
• Time in Patent Office: 2,092 Days
• Field of Search: 623/1, 623/11, 623/12, 623/1.11, 623/1.15, 623/1.16, 623/1.17, 623/1.18, 623/1.2, 623/1.3, 606/194, 606/195, 606/108, 606/192
• US Class Current: 623/1.15
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/0095 Packages or dispensers for prostheses or other implants for intraocular lenses A61F2/1691; for dental surgery A61C19/02
• 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 2/91 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 2002/825 having longitudinal struts
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/8486 provided on at least one of the ends
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/91508 the meander having a difference in amplitude along the band
• 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 2002/91541 Adjacent bands are arranged out of phase
• 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 2002/91566 connected trough to trough
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2250/0018 differing in elasticity, stiffness or compressibility
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2250/0039 differing in diameter
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2250/0098 radio-opaque, e.g. radio-opaque markers

Abstract

The present invention provides improved prostheses and methods for their endolumenal placement within body lumens, particularly blood vessels. In one embodiment, the prosthesis of the present invention having a plurality of radially expansible rings having, a plurality of beams connecting axially remote points on adjacent rings, and a plurality of expansion joints connecting axially proximate points on adjacent rings. The beams maintain the remote points at a fixed distance when the prosthesis is radially expanded and the expansion joints allow for relative movement of the proximate points during delivery of the prosthesis. The combination of the beams and expansion joints minimizes the risk of injury to the body lumen during delivery of the prosthesis to a target site and provides improved tracking capabilities.

Claims

1. A radially expansible luminal prosthesis comprising:

a plurality of radially expansible unit segments consisting of serpentine rings having bend points and struts, wherein the bend points are disposed between the struts; and

S-shaped expansion joints free from kinks along their lengths connecting at least some of the bend points between each adjacent pair of serpentine unit segments along the length of the prosthesis, wherein at least some of the expansion joints have a curve after expansion of the prosthesis.

2. A radially expansible luminal prosthesis as in claim 1, wherein fewer than all of the bend points between each adjacent pair of unit segments are connected by the S-shaped expansion joints.

3. A radially expansible luminal prosthesis as in claim 1, wherein at least two but fewer than all of the bend points between each adjacent pair of unit segments are connected by the S-shaped expansion joints.

4. A radially expansible luminal prosthesis as in claim 1, wherein the bend points connected by S-shaped expansion joints are axially aligned.

5. A radially expansible luminal prosthesis as in claim 4, wherein the S-shaped expansion joints emerge laterally from the bend points.

6. A radially expansible luminal prosthesis as in claim 1, wherein the S-shaped expansion joints comprise at least two S-shaped sections in series.

7. A radially expansible luminal prosthesis comprising:

a cylindrical midsection having a distal and, a proximal end, and a radial stiffness; and

a cylindrical end segment attached to one of said ends of the midsection by both a single beam and at least one expansion joint,

said cylindrical end segment having a radial stiffness greater than the radial stiffness of said midsection.

8. A prosthesis as in claim 7 wherein

the midsection and end segment comprise a plurality of serpentine rings having a plurality of longitudinal struts connected by a plurality of hinges;

a plurality of expansion joints interconnecting said serpentine rings,

wherein said joints have a first width, the serpentine rings have struts of a second width, such that the first width is less than the second width.

9. A prosthesis as in claim 7 wherein said midsection has a first unit segment having serpentine structures with struts shorter than the struts of a second unit segment having serpentine structures.