Stent with enhanced crossability
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A stent in the form of a thin-walled, multi-cellular, tubular structure having a longitudinal axis, the stent comprising:
- a multiplicity of sets of strut members, each set of strut members being longitudinally separated each from the other and each set of strut members forming a closed, ring-like cylindrical section of the stent,each set of strut members consisting of a multiplicity of strut elements, each strut element consisting of one curved end strut that is joined at a junction point to one diagonal strut;
a multiplicity of sets of flexible links with each set of flexible links connecting two of the multiplicity of sets of strut members,each set of flexible links consisting of a multiplicity of individual flexible links, each individual flexible link being a single undulating structure that extends generally in the longitudinal direction that is parallel to the stent'"'"'s longitudinal axis the shape of at least some of the individual flexible links being in the shape of a letter “
Z”
, wherein each of said links has at least two generally curved segments, connected to at least three longitudinal axis of each of the straight segments wherein the longitudinal axis of each of the straight segments of each of the individual flexible links lies generally aligned with the longitudinal axis of the stent.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A stent design is disclosed which has a flexible connector which has flexible arcs and flexible struts aligned similarly to the radial arcs and radial struts, such that the alignment of the flexible connector within the stent decreases the likelihood of the stent'"'"'s catching on a non-smooth surface.
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Citations
7 Claims
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1. A stent in the form of a thin-walled, multi-cellular, tubular structure having a longitudinal axis, the stent comprising:
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a multiplicity of sets of strut members, each set of strut members being longitudinally separated each from the other and each set of strut members forming a closed, ring-like cylindrical section of the stent, each set of strut members consisting of a multiplicity of strut elements, each strut element consisting of one curved end strut that is joined at a junction point to one diagonal strut; a multiplicity of sets of flexible links with each set of flexible links connecting two of the multiplicity of sets of strut members, each set of flexible links consisting of a multiplicity of individual flexible links, each individual flexible link being a single undulating structure that extends generally in the longitudinal direction that is parallel to the stent'"'"'s longitudinal axis the shape of at least some of the individual flexible links being in the shape of a letter “
Z”
, wherein each of said links has at least two generally curved segments, connected to at least three longitudinal axis of each of the straight segments wherein the longitudinal axis of each of the straight segments of each of the individual flexible links lies generally aligned with the longitudinal axis of the stent. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4)
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5. A stent of approximately cylindrical shape comprising a longitudinal axis and a radial axis, wherein the cross-section approximately perpendicular to the longitudinal axis defines a circumference, the stent comprising:
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a plurality of sets of circumferential members, wherein each set of members forming a closed, ring-like configuration about the circumference and each set of members is longitudinally separated each from the other, wherein each set of members consists of a multiplicity of elements, each element consisting of one curved end; a plurality of flexible links, each individual flexible link being a single undulating structure that extends generally along a circumference and each individual flexible link has two ends, each one of the two ends being fixedly attached to the multiplicity of strut elements at an attachment point thereon; and wherein the strut elements of the individual flexible links lie aligned with the stent longitudinal axis so that the flexible links when viewed in elevation are formed in the shape of the letter “
Z”
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6. A stent in the form of a thin-walled, multi-cellular, tubular structure having a longitudinal axis, the stent comprising a multiplicity of circumferential sets of strut members, each set of strut members being longitudinally separated each from the other, each set of strut members being connected to adjacent sets of strut members by longitudinal connecting links, each individual connecting link being a single undulating structure with at least a portion of said connecting links generally extending along a circumference, wherein each single undulating structure is in the shape of a letter “
- Z”
with at least two straight segments aligned with the strut longitudinal axis;wherein each of said links has at least two generally curved segments placed generally opposite each other in the longitudinal direction. - View Dependent Claims (7)
- Z”
Specification