Self-expanding stent with enhanced delivery precision and stent delivery system
First Claim
1. A self-expanding stent having longitudinal flexibility for implanting in a body lumen and being expandable from a compressed condition to an expanded condition, comprising:
- a plurality of adjacent cylindrical elements made from a self expanding material, each cylindrical element having a circumference extending around a longitudinal stent axis and being substantially independently expandable in the radial direction, wherein the plurality of adjacent cylindrical elements are arranged in alignment along the longitudinal stent axis and form a generally tubular member, each cylindrical element including alternating valley portions and peak portions which form a space between adjacent valley portions that allows a peak portion of an adjacent cylindrical element to nest with the formed space without the same peak portion nesting directly into an adjacent peak portion when placed in a collapsed position, the cylindrical elements at each end of the stent being formed in a generally serpentine wave pattern having a plurality of double curved portions which form the outermost edge of the stent; and
a plurality of interconnecting members extending between the adjacent cylindrical elements and connecting the adjacent cylindrical elements to one another, wherein some of the interconnecting members are aligned collinearly with respect to each other to form a continuous spine which extends along the length of the stent.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A self-expanding stent for implantation into a body lumen, such as an artery, includes a plurality of radially expandable cylindrical elements generally aligned on a common longitudinal stent axis and interconnected by a plurality of interconnecting members placed on the stent in a collinear arrangement to create at least one continuous spine which extends along the length of the stent. The cylindrical elements are nested when placed in a collapsed position. The cylindrical elements may include a W-shared portion to which the interconnecting members attach.
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Citations
22 Claims
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1. A self-expanding stent having longitudinal flexibility for implanting in a body lumen and being expandable from a compressed condition to an expanded condition, comprising:
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a plurality of adjacent cylindrical elements made from a self expanding material, each cylindrical element having a circumference extending around a longitudinal stent axis and being substantially independently expandable in the radial direction, wherein the plurality of adjacent cylindrical elements are arranged in alignment along the longitudinal stent axis and form a generally tubular member, each cylindrical element including alternating valley portions and peak portions which form a space between adjacent valley portions that allows a peak portion of an adjacent cylindrical element to nest with the formed space without the same peak portion nesting directly into an adjacent peak portion when placed in a collapsed position, the cylindrical elements at each end of the stent being formed in a generally serpentine wave pattern having a plurality of double curved portions which form the outermost edge of the stent; and
a plurality of interconnecting members extending between the adjacent cylindrical elements and connecting the adjacent cylindrical elements to one another, wherein some of the interconnecting members are aligned collinearly with respect to each other to form a continuous spine which extends along the length of the stent. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A stent for implanting in a body lumen, comprising:
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a plurality of adjacent cylindrical elements each having a circumference extending around a longitudinal stent axis and being substantially independently expandable in the radial direction, wherein the plurality of adjacent cylindrical elements are arranged in alignment along the longitudinal stent axis and form a generally tubular member, the cylindrical elements being formed in a generally serpentine wave pattern transverse to the longitudinal stent axis and including alternating valley portions and peak portions disposed relative to each other to form a space large enough between adjacent valley portions to allow a peak portion of an adjacent cylindrical element to nest with this formed space without the same peak portion nesting directly into the peak portion when placed in a collapsed position, each adjacent valley portion and peak portion being connected by a shoulder portion, the shoulder portion forming a recess that allows the nesting of a peak or valley portion from an adjacent cylindrical element; and
a plurality of interconnecting members extending between and connecting adjacent cylindrical elements to one another, some of the interconnecting members aligned collinearly with respect to each other to form a continuous spine which extends along the length of the stent. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
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Specification