Stent

• US 6,616,688 B2
• Filed: 07/23/2001
• Issued: 09/09/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 08/31/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Abbott Laboratories Limited (Abbott Laboratories Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Jomed Implantate GmbH
• Inventors: Von Oepen, Randolph
• Primary Examiner(s): Willse, David H.
• Assistant Examiner(s): GHERBI, SUZETTE JAIME J
• Application Number:
  US09/909,754
• Publication Number:
  US 20010041929A1
• Time in Patent Office: 778 Days
• Field of Search: 623/1.15, 623/1.3, 623/1.31, 623/1.35, 623/1.37, 623/1, 623/903
• US Class Current: 623/1.15
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/82 Devices providing patency to, or preventing collapsing of, tubular structures of the body, e.g. stents stent-grafts for tubular structures of the body other than blood vessels A61F2/04; stent-grafts for blood vessels A61F2/07; instruments specially adapted for placement or removal of stents or stent-grafts A61F2/95; for closing wounds, or holding wounds closed A61B17/04 - A61B17/115; dilators A61M29/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/94 Stents retaining their form, i.e. not being deformable, after placement in the predetermined place
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 623/903 Blood vessel

Abstract

A stent is a device that is adapted to be implanted into narrowed portions of hollow vessels of a body. The stent (1) comprises a stent body (2) that has at least two different wall thicknesses (W_E, W_H). The different wall thicknesses result in different flexibility characteristics of the stent in the longitudinal direction. Thus the stent according to the invention prevents irritations of the wall of the vessel in the area of the implanted stent, whereby the risk of restenosis in said area can be reduced considerably.

Claims

1. A stent apparatus for stenting, comprising:

a stent body having a web structure with a plurality of neighboring cells, said neighboring cells including a plurality of first cells and at least one second cell,

said at least one second cell having a different wall thickness than said first cells, a transition being formed between said first cells and said at least one second cell, said transition being stepped, and

said stent having a constant inner diameter along its length.

2. The stent apparatus of claim 1, wherein

said stent comprises first and second end portions, and a main portion disposed between said first and second end portions, with said at least one second cell being disposed in said main portion.

3. The stent apparatus of claim 2, wherein

said neighboring cells in said first and second end portions comprise a plurality of first cells.

4. The stent apparatus of claim 2, wherein

said first and second end portions have substantially equal longitudinal lengths.

5. The stent apparatus of claim 2, wherein

said first end portion has a first longitudinal length and said second end portion has a second longitudinal length, said first longitudinal length being different than said second longitudinal length.

7. The stent apparatus of claim 2, wherein

said neighboring cells disposed in said main portion comprise a plurality of said second cells.

8. The stent apparatus of claim 7, wherein

said first cells are disposed in said first end portion.

9. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein

said neighboring cells disposed in said main portion comprise a plurality of said second cells.

10. The stent apparatus of claim 9, wherein

said first cells are disposed in said first end portion.

6. The stent apparatus of 2, wherein

said different wall thickness of said at least one second cell comprises a greater wall thickness than said first cells.

11. A method for stenting comprising:

providing a stent apparatus comprising a stent body having first and second end portions, and a main portion, said main portion having a greater wall thickness than said first end portion, said stent body having a constant inner diameter along its length;

percutaneously delivering said apparatus to a treatment site within a patient; and

expanding said stent apparatus into contact with said treatrent site.

12. The method of claim 11, further comprising

positioning said first end portion to contact a curved section of said treatment site.

13. The method of claim 11, further comprising

positioning said first end portion to contact a branch or ramification of said treatment site.

14. The method of claim 11, further comprising

positioning said stent apparatus in a branch or ramus extending from the aorta to a kidney, and positioning said first end portion closer to said kidney than said main portion.

15. The method of claim 11, further comprising

said main portion has a greater wall thickness than said second end portion, and positioning said first and second end portions to contact curved sections of said treatment site.

16. The method of claim 11, wherein

said providing of said stent apparatus further comprises

providing said stent body with a web structure having a plurality of neighboring cells, said cells including a plurality of first cells and at least one second cell with a greater wall thickness than said first cells, said at least one second cell is disposed in said main portion of said stent body.

17. The method of claim 16, further comprising

providing a transition formed between said first cells and said at least one second cell.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein

said providing of said transition further comprises

providing a stepped transition.

19. The method of claim 17, wherein

said providing of said transition further comprises

providing a continuously tapered transition.

20. The method of claim 17, wherein

said providing of said transition further comprises

providing a linearly tapered transition.

21. The method of claim 16, wherein

said neighboring cells in said first and second end portions comprise a plurality of first cells.

22. The method of claim 16, wherein

said neighboring cells disposed in said main portion comprise a plurality of said second cells.

23. The method of claim 22, wherein

said first cells are disposed in said first end portion.

24. The method of claim 22, wherein

said neighboring cells disposed in said second end portion comprise a plurality of said second cells.

25. The method of claim 24, wherein

said first cells are disposed in said first end portion.

26. The method of claim 11, wherein

said first and second end portions have substantially equal longitudinal lengths.

27. The method of claim 11, wherein

said first end portion has a first longitudinal length and said second end portion has a second longitudinal length, said first longitudinal length being different than said second longitudinal length.