Stent

• US 6,796,998 B2
• Filed: 10/09/2001
• Issued: 09/28/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 10/10/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Biotronik Mess-Und Therapiegeraete GmbH & Company Ingenieurbuero Berlin (Biotronik SE & Company KG)
• Original Assignee: Biotronik Mess-Und Therapiegeraete GmbH & Company Ingenieurbuero Berlin (Biotronik SE & Company KG)
• Inventors: Koop, Karsten, Lootz, Daniel, Schaldach, Max, Kranz, Curt
• Primary Examiner(s): Ho, (Jackie)Tan-Uyen T.
• Application Number:
  US09/974,770
• Publication Number:
  US 20020049494A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,085 Days
• Field of Search: 623/1.15, 623/1.1, 623/1-6-, 623/23.7, 606/200
• 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 2002/91533 characterised by the phase between adjacent bands
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/91558 connected peak to peak
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2230/0054 V-shaped

Abstract

A stent, in particular a coronary stent, for expansion from a first condition into an expanded second condition in which it holds a vessel in an expanded state, comprising a tubular body whose peripheral surface (1) is formed by a number of annular support portions (2, 2.1, 2.2, 2.3) comprising bar elements (3, 3.1, 3.2, 3.3) which are connected in the longitudinal direction of the stent by way of connecting bars (4, 4.1, 4.2), wherein the bar elements (3.1) of at least a first support portion (2.1) and a second support portion (2.2) in adjacent relationship in a first direction (6.1) extend in a meander configuration in the peripheral direction of the stent and the connecting bars (4, 4.1, 4.2) to the second support portion (2.2) engage in the region of the turning points (5, 5.2, 5.3) of the first support portion (2.1), which turning points face in the first direction (6.1), wherein at least two adjacent connecting bars (4.1, 4.2) engage respectively in the region of a turning point (5.1) of the second support portion (2.2), which turning point projects in a second direction (6.2) in opposite relationship to the first direction (6.1).

Claims

1. A stent for expansion from a first condition into an expanded second condition in which it holds a vessel in an expanded state, comprising:

a tubular body having a peripheral surface that is formed by a plurality of annular support portions that each comprise;

a plurality of bar elements; and

a plurality of connecting bars that connect the bar elements in a longitudinal direction of the stent;

wherein the bar elements or at least a first annular support portion and a second annular support portion in adjacent relationship in a first direction extend in a meander configuration in a peripheral direction of the stent,

wherein each of the connecting bars projecting from the second annular support portion connects to a turning point of the first annular support portion, which faces in the first direction,

such that at least two connecting bars in adjacent relationship respectively and projecting from two different turning points of the first annular support portion connect to the second annular support portion at a turning point which faces in a second direction in opposite relationship to the first direction, and

such that the first annular support portion has first and second turning points that are in adjacent relationship in the peripheral direction of the stent that face in the first direction and each of the first and second, turning points engages with exactly one connecting bar wherein the exactly one connecting bars engaging the first and second turning points connect to different turning points of the second annular support portion and between which a third turning point is located, the third turning point facing in the second direction and the third turning point engages two connecting bars of an annular support portion in adjacent relationship in the second direction with the first annular support portion with bar elements that extend in a meander configuration in the peripheral direction of the stent.

2. The stent of claim 1, wherein

exactly two adjacent connecting bars engage in the region of the turning point which faces in the second direction.

3. The stent of claim 2, wherein

the bar elements of the first and second annular support portions extend substantially in phase with each other with respect to the peripheral direction of the stent.

4. The stent of claim 1, wherein

the bar elements of the first and second annular support portions extend substantially in phase with each other with respect to the peripheral direction of the stent.

5. The stent of claim 1, wherein

the bar elements are adapted to increase the flexibility of the stent.

6. The stent of claim 5, wherein

the connecting bars are adapted to increase the flexibility of the stent.

7. The stent of claim 6, wherein

at least one annular support portion is formed by a bar element whose direction of curvature changes in a central region thereof between the turning points.

8. The stent of claim 7, wherein

at least the connecting bars between the first and second annular support portions are of a curved configuration, wherein the direction of curvature changes in a central region between the two engagement points on the support portions.

9. The stent of claim 8, wherein

the bar elements are adapted to produce a stress distribution which is as uniform as possible upon deformation and in particular expansion of the stent.

10. The stent of claim 9, wherein the connecting bars are adapted to produce a stress distribution which is as uniform as possible upon deformation and in particular expansion of the stent.

11. The stent of claim 10, wherein

at least one annular support portion is formed by a bar element whose width decreases towards the center between two turning points.

12. The stent of claim 11, wherein

the width at least of the connecting bars between the first and second support portions decreases towards the center between the two engagement points on the annular support portions.

13. The stent of claim 1, wherein

the connecting bars are adapted to increase the flexibility of the stent.

14. The stent of claim 13, wherein

at least one annular support portion is formed by a bar element whose direction of curvature changes in a central region thereof between the turning points.

15. The stent of claim 14, wherein

at least the connecting bars between the first and second annular support portions are of a curved configuration, wherein the direction of curvature changes in a central region between the two engagement points on the support portions.

16. The stent of claim 15, wherein

the bar elements are adapted to produce a stress distribution which is as uniform as possible upon deformation and in particular expansion of the stent.

17. The stent of claim 16, wherein

the connecting bars are adapted to produce a stress distribution which is as uniform as possible upon deformation and in particular expansion of the stent.

18. The stent of claim 17, wherein

at least one annular support portion is formed by a bar element whose width decreases towards the center between two turning points.

19. The stent of claim 18, wherein

the width at least of the connecting bars between the first and second support portions decreases towards the center between the two engagement points on the annular support portions.

20. The stent of claim 1, wherein

at least one annular support portion is formed by a bar element whose direction of curvature changes in a central region thereof between the turning points.

21. The stent of claim 20, wherein

at least the connecting bars between the first and second annular support portions are of a curved configuration, wherein the direction of curvature changes in a central region between the two engagement points on the support portions.

22. The stent of claim 21, wherein

the bar elements are adapted to produce a stress distribution which is as uniform as possible upon deformation and in particular expansion of the stent.

26. The stent of claim 1, wherein

at least the connecting bars between the first and second annular support portions are of a curved configuration, wherein the direction of curvature changes in a central region between the two engagement points on the support portions.

27. The stent of claim 26, wherein

the bar elements are adapted to produce a stress distribution which is as uniform as possible upon deformation and in particular expansion of the stent.

28. The stent of claim 27, wherein

the connecting bars are adapted to produce a stress distribution which is as uniform as possible upon deformation and in particular expansion of the stent.

29. The stent of claim 28, wherein

at last one annular support portion is formed by a bar element whose width decreases towards the center between two turning points.

30. The stent of claim 29, wherein

the width at least of the connecting bars between the first and second support portions decreases towards the center between the two engagement points on the annular support portions.

31. The stent of claim 1, wherein

the bar elements are adapted to produce a stress distribution which is as uniform as possible upon deformation and in particular expansion of the stent.

32. The stent of claim 31, wherein

the connecting bars are adapted to produce a stress distribution which is as uniform as possible upon deformation and in particular expansion of the stent.

33. The stent of claim 1, wherein

the connecting bars are adapted to produce a stress distribution which is as uniform as possible upon deformation and in particular expansion of the stent.

34. The stent of claim 33, wherein

at least one annular support portion is formed by a bar element whose width decreases towards the center between two turning points.

35. The stent of claim 34, wherein

the width at least of the connecting bars between the first and second support portions decreases towards the center between the two engagement points on the annular support portions.

36. The stent of claim 1, wherein

at least one annular support portion is formed by a bar element whose width decreases towards the center between two turning points.

37. The stent of claim 36, wherein

the width at least of the connecting bars between the first and second support portions decreases towards the center between the two engagement points on the annular support portions.

38. The stent of claim 1, wherein

the width at least of the connecting bars between the first and second support portions decreases towards the center between the two engagement points on the annular support portions.

39. The stent of claim 1, wherein

at least one annular support portion is formed by a bar element comprising bar element portions, the bar element extending in a meander configuration in the peripheral direction of the stent,

wherein each two bar element portions that are in adjacent relationship in the peripheral direction of the stent and that extend between the turning points form the limbs of a V-shape.

40. The stent of claim 1, wherein

the configuration of the bar elements and/or the connecting bars is selected in such a way that the stresses which occur therein upon expansion or the stent are above the elastic deformation limit and below the rupture limit of the stent material.

41. The stent of claim 1, wherein

the width of the bar elements and/or the connecting bars varies over the length thereof, in such a way that the stresses which occur therein upon expansion of the stent are above the elastic deformation limit and below the rupture limit of the stent material.

42. A catheter for stent implantation comprising a stent as set forth in claim 1.

23. The stent of claim wherein

the connecting bars are adapted to produce a stress distribution which is as uniform as possible upon deformation and in particular expansion of the stent.

24. The stent of claim 23, wherein

at least one annular support portion is formed by a bar element whose width decreases towards the center between two turning points.

25. The stent of claim 24, wherein

the width at least of the connecting bars between the first and second support portions decreases towards the center between the two engagement points on the annular support portions.