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 laser cut from a tubular starting material and 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 undulating S-shaped circumferential struts, each of the longitudinal struts comprising 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, at least one flexure means comprising an S-shaped portion having a start point and an end point in substantial alignment with the longitudinal axis of the corresponding longitudinal strut, said S-shaped portion being separated from adjacent circumferential struts by first and second connecting struts, and wherein (i) the S-shaped portion of each longitudinal strut and (ii) the S-shape of each circumferential strut are both configured to remain S-shaped in both (i) the contracted position of the stent and (ii) in the expanded position of the stent against a vessel wall.
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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.
190 Citations
41 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 laser cut from a tubular starting material and 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 undulating S-shaped circumferential struts, each of the longitudinal struts comprising 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, at least one flexure means comprising an S-shaped portion having a start point and an end point in substantial alignment with the longitudinal axis of the corresponding longitudinal strut, said S-shaped portion being separated from adjacent circumferential struts by first and second connecting struts, and wherein (i) the S-shaped portion of each longitudinal strut and (ii) the S-shape of each circumferential strut are both configured to remain S-shaped in both (i) the contracted position of the stent and (ii) in the expanded position of the stent against a vessel wall. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 17, 18, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28)
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12. An expandable stent comprising:
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a proximal end and a distal end in communication with one another, a non-wire 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 undulating S-shaped circumferential struts integrally connected to the longitudinal struts;
each of the longitudinal struts comprising 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, 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 means is disposed in each of the side walls, at least one flexure means comprising an S-shaped portion having a start point and an end point in substantial alignment with the longitudinal axis of the corresponding longitudinal strut, said S-shaped portion being coupled to adjacent circumferential struts at first and second connections, the distance between the first and second connections being greater than the distance between the S-shaped portion start point and the S-shaped portion end point, a first connecting strut being disposed between the first connection and the S-shaped portion start point, and a second connecting strut being disposed between the second connection and the S-shaped portion end point, wherein both the S-shaped portion of each longitudinal strut and the S-shape of each circumferential strut are configured to remain S-shaped in both the contracted position of the stent and in the expanded position of the stent against a vessel wall. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 19, 20, 21, 22, 29, 30)
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31. 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 longitudinal struts disposed substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the stent, and (ii) a series of nonlinear, S-shaped circumferential struts, a flexure member disposed in at least two of the longitudinal struts, each said flexure member comprising an S-shaped portion having a start point and an end point in substantial alignment with the longitudinal axis of the corresponding longitudinal strut, said S-shaped portion being coupled to the adjacent circumferential struts with respective first and second connecting struts, said longitudinal struts and said circumferential struts defining two differently oriented, interlocking, repeating polygonal patterns. - View Dependent Claims (32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41)
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Specification