Enhanced hybrid cell stent
First Claim
1. A half open, half closed hybrid cell stent in the form of a thin-walled, multi-cellular, tubular structure having a multiplicity of circumferential sets of strut members, each set of strut members being longitudinally separated each from the other, each set of strut members being connected to adjacent sets of strut members by longitudinal connecting links having at least one curved strut therein and each set of strut members forming a closed, ring-like cylindrical portion of the stent, each set of strut members consisting of a multiplicity of connected curved sections and diagonal sections, each curved section having two ends and a center situated there between, at least one set of strut members having at least half of the curved sections within the set of strut members having a tapered shape wherein the width at the center of a curved section with a tapered shape is greater than the width at the ends of a curved section with tapered shape, and no greater than half of the curved sections of each set of strut members connected to the longitudinal connecting links, andwherein said longitudinal connecting links comprise further comprising a multiplicity of sets of flexible links with each set of flexible links connecting two of the multiplicity of sets of strut members, each set of flexible links consisting of a multiplicity of individual flexible links, each individual flexible link being a single undulating structure that extends generally in the longitudinal direction that is parallel to the stent'"'"'s longitudinal axis and each individual flexible link having two ends, each one of the two ends being fixedly attached to one curved section of the multiplicity of sets of strut elements at an attachment point situated between the center and the end of that curved section.
3 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Disclosed is an open cell stent that has adjacent sets of circumferential struts connected by means of highly flexible, undulating, connecting struts. To decrease outward flaring of the circumferential struts when the pre-deployed stent is advance through highly curved vessels, each unconnected strut of the sets of circumferential struts has a decreased longitudinal length as compared to the longitudinal length of the circumferential struts that are connected by the flexible connecting struts. To decrease the propensity for outward flaring of the end set of circumferential struts, the longitudinal length of the end set of circumferential struts is shorter than the longitudinal length of the interior set of circumferential struts. Enhanced features of the circumferential sets of strut members of the stent are also disclosed. Specifically, variable strut width for the curved sections and the diagonal sections of the circumferential sets of strut members can be employed to enhance the stents radial rigidity and to provide enhanced radiopacity of the end sets of strut members compared to the radiopacity of the interior sets of strut members.
316 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A half open, half closed hybrid cell stent in the form of a thin-walled, multi-cellular, tubular structure having a multiplicity of circumferential sets of strut members, each set of strut members being longitudinally separated each from the other, each set of strut members being connected to adjacent sets of strut members by longitudinal connecting links having at least one curved strut therein and each set of strut members forming a closed, ring-like cylindrical portion of the stent, each set of strut members consisting of a multiplicity of connected curved sections and diagonal sections, each curved section having two ends and a center situated there between, at least one set of strut members having at least half of the curved sections within the set of strut members having a tapered shape wherein the width at the center of a curved section with a tapered shape is greater than the width at the ends of a curved section with tapered shape, and no greater than half of the curved sections of each set of strut members connected to the longitudinal connecting links, and
wherein said longitudinal connecting links comprise further comprising a multiplicity of sets of flexible links with each set of flexible links connecting two of the multiplicity of sets of strut members, each set of flexible links consisting of a multiplicity of individual flexible links, each individual flexible link being a single undulating structure that extends generally in the longitudinal direction that is parallel to the stent'"'"'s longitudinal axis and each individual flexible link having two ends, each one of the two ends being fixedly attached to one curved section of the multiplicity of sets of strut elements at an attachment point situated between the center and the end of that curved section.
Specification