Expandable stents and method for making same

• US 6,908,479 B2
• Filed: 05/01/2003
• Issued: 06/21/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 10/28/1991
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Advanced Cardiovascular Systems Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Advanced Cardiovascular Systems Incorporated
• Inventors: Lau, Lilip, Frantzen, John J., Hartigan, William M.
• Primary Examiner(s): McDermott, Corrine
• Assistant Examiner(s): GHERBI, SUZETTE JAIME J
• Application Number:
  US10/427,514
• Publication Number:
  US 20030195612A1
• Time in Patent Office: 782 Days
• Field of Search: 623 115- 118, 623/903, 633 115- 116
• US Class Current: 623/1.16
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/848 having means for fixation to the vessel wall, e.g. barbs
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/86 Stents in a form characterised by the wire-like elements; Stents in the form characterised by a net-like or mesh-like structure
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/88 the wire-like elements formed as helical or spiral coils forming a net-like or mesh-like structure A61F2/90
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/89 the wire-like elements comprising two or more adjacent rings flexibly connected by separate members
• 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 2/958 Inflatable balloons for placing stents or stent-grafts
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/91533 characterised by the phase between adjacent bands
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/9155 Adjacent bands being connected to each other
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/91558 connected peak to peak
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/91575 connected peak to trough
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2210/0019 operated at only one temperature whilst inside or touching the human body, e.g. constrained in a non-operative shape during surgery, another temperature only occurring before the operation
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2025/1081 having sheaths or the like for covering the balloon but not forming a permanent part of the balloon, e.g. retractable, dissolvable or tearable sheaths
• CPC Class Codes: C23F 1/02 Local etching
• CPC Class Codes: C23F 1/04 Chemical milling
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 623/901 Method of manufacturing prosthetic device
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 623/903 Blood vessel
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 623/921 Blood vessel
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49995 Shaping one-piece blank by removing material

Abstract

The invention is directed to an expandable stent for implantation in a body lumen, such as an artery, and a method for making it from a single length of tubing. The stent consists of a plurality of radially expandable cylindrical elements generally aligned on a common axis and interconnected by one or more interconnective elements. The individual radially expandable cylindrical elements consist of ribbon-like material disposed in an undulating pattern. Portions of the expanded stent project outwardly into engagement with the vessel wall to more securely attach the stent.

Claims

1. A longitudinally flexible stent, comprising:

a plurality of single serpentine patterns formed from a single piece of tubing, the single serpentine patterns being generally independently expandable in the radial direction and generally aligned on a common longitudinal axis such that, other than at an end of the stent, each single serpentine pattern has two adjacent single serpentine patterns in opposite axial directions; and

each single serpentine pattern being interconnected to one of the adjacent single serpentine patterns by at least one connecting element, the at least one connecting element being disposed at a location circumferentially displaced from one or more locations at which the single serpentine pattern is interconnected to the other adjacent single serpentine pattern.

2. The stent of claim 1, wherein each single serpentine pattern is formed of a structural member which, in cross-section, has an aspect ratio of less than two to one.

3. The stent of claim 2, wherein the structural member is formed of a biocompatible material selected from the group consisting of stainless steel, titanium, tungsten, tantalum, superelastic NiTi alloys and thermoplastic polymers.

4. The stent of claim 1, wherein at least a portion of the stent is coated with a biocompatible coating.

5. The stent of claim 1, wherein the single serpentine pattern includes U-shaped members in an in-phase configuration.

6. The stent of claim 1, wherein the single serpentine patterns include U-shaped members in an out-of-phase configuration.

7. The stent of claim 1, wherein adjacent single serpentine patterns are connected by at least two connecting elements.

8. The stent of claim 1, wherein adjacent single serpentine patterns are connected by at least three connecting elements.

9. The stent of claim 1, wherein adjacent single serpentine patterns are connected by at least four connecting elements.