Expandable stent and method for delivery of same
DCFirst Claim
1. An expandable stent comprising:
- a proximal end and a distal end in communication with one another, a tubular wall disposed between the proximal end and the distal end, the tubular wall having a longitudinal axis and a porous surface defined by a plurality of intersecting members comprising (i) a series of longitudinal struts disposed substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the stent, and (ii) a series of circumferential struts undulating in a circumferential direction, each of the longitudinal struts comprising arcuate flexure means for substantially complementary extension and compression of a diametrically opposed pair of the longitudinal struts upon flexure of the stent, the stent being expandable from a first, contracted position to a second, expanded position upon the application of a radially outward force on the stent, said flexure means being thinner than at least one adjacent circumferential strut when measured on the other surface of the tubular wall, said flexure means comprising a sinusoidal cycle disposed between a start point and an end point which are in substantial alignment with the longitudinal axis, the distance between the start point and the end point being less than a minimum distance between an adjacent pair of circumferential struts.
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Abstract
An expandable stent comprising a proximal end and a distal end in communication with one another and a tubular wall disposed between the proximal end and the distal end. The tubular wall has a longitudinal axis and a porous surface defined by a plurality of intersecting members comprising a series of longitudinal struts disposed substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the stent. Each longitudinal strut in the series comprises flexure means for substantially complementary extension and compression of a diametrically opposed pair of the longitudinal struts upon flexure of the stent. The stent is expandable from a first, contracted position to a second, expanded position upon the application of a radially outward force on the stent. The provision of such flexure means in the series of struts leads to a very desirable balance of lateral flexibility of the unexpanded stent and radial rigidity of the expanded stent.
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Citations
63 Claims
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1. An expandable stent comprising:
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a proximal end and a distal end in communication with one another, a tubular wall disposed between the proximal end and the distal end, the tubular wall having a longitudinal axis and a porous surface defined by a plurality of intersecting members comprising (i) a series of longitudinal struts disposed substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the stent, and (ii) a series of circumferential struts undulating in a circumferential direction, each of the longitudinal struts comprising arcuate flexure means for substantially complementary extension and compression of a diametrically opposed pair of the longitudinal struts upon flexure of the stent, the stent being expandable from a first, contracted position to a second, expanded position upon the application of a radially outward force on the stent, said flexure means being thinner than at least one adjacent circumferential strut when measured on the other surface of the tubular wall, said flexure means comprising a sinusoidal cycle disposed between a start point and an end point which are in substantial alignment with the longitudinal axis, the distance between the start point and the end point being less than a minimum distance between an adjacent pair of circumferential struts. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 57, 60)
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10. An expandable stent comprising:
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a proximal end and a distal end in communication with one another, a tubular wall disposed between the proximal end and the distal end, the tubular wall having a longitudinal axis and a porous surface defined by a plurality of intersecting members comprising (i) a series of longitudinal struts disposed substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the stent, and (ii) a series of circumferential struts undulating in a circumferential direction, each of the longitudinal struts comprising a curved flexure member for substantially complementary extension and compression of a diametrically opposed pair of the longitudinal struts upon flexure of the stent, the stent being expandable from a first, contracted position to a second, expanded position upon the application of a radially outward force on the stent, said flexure member being thinner than adjacent circumferential struts when measured on the outer surface of the tubular wall, said flexure member comprising a sinusoidal cycle disposed between a start point and an end point which are in substantial alignment with the longitudinal axis, the distance between the start point and the end point being less than a minimum distance between an adjacent pair of circumferential struts, wherein the plurality of intersecting members are arranged to define a first repeating pattern comprised of a polygon having a pair of side walls substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis and the flexure member is disposed in each of the side walls. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 22, 23, 58, 61)
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24. An unexpanded stent comprising:
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a tubular wall having a porous surface defined by a plurality of intersecting members comprising (i) a series of longitudinally extending struts disposed substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the stent, and (ii) a series of nonlinear circumferential struts undulating in a circumferential direction, a flexure member disposed in at least two of the longitudinally extending struts, each said flexure member comprising a curved undulating portion having a start point and an end point in substantial alignment with the longitudinal axis, said curved undulating portion being thinner than at least one adjacent circumferential strut when measured on the outer surface of the tubular wall, said flexure member comprising a sinusoidal cycle disposed between the start point and the end point, the distance between the start point and the end point being less than a minimum distance between an adjacent pair of circumferential struts. - View Dependent Claims (25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 59, 62)
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50. An unexpanded stent comprising:
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a tubular wall having a porous surface defined by a plurality of intersecting members comprising (i) a series of longitudinally extending struts disposed substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the stent, and (ii) a plurality of circumferential rows of struts undulating in a circumferential direction, each row of struts arranged to define alternating peaks and valleys, a flexure member disposed in at least two of the longitudinally extending struts, each said flexure member comprising a curved undulating portion having a start point and an end point in substantial alignment with the longitudinal axis, said curved undulating portion being thinner than at least one adjacent circumferential strut when measured on the outer surface of the tubular wall, said flexure member comprising a sinusoidal cycle disposed between the start point and the end point, the distance between the start point and the end point being less than a minimum distance between an adjacent pair of circumferential struts;
wherein the longitudinally extending struts interconnect adjacent pairs of circumferential rows of struts at a first connection point on a circumferential row of struts and a second connection point on an adjacent circumferential row of struts such that a line drawn through the first connection point and the second connection point is substantially non-parallel to the longitudinal axis. - View Dependent Claims (51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 63)
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Specification