Stent having variable properties and method of its use

• US 7,060,091 B2
• Filed: 11/07/2003
• Issued: 06/13/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 03/04/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Boston Scientific Scimed, Inc. (Boston Scientific Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Boston Scientific Scimed, Inc. (Boston Scientific Corporation)
• Inventors: Killion, Douglas P., Lininger, James R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Gherbi, Suzette J-J
• Application Number:
  US10/703,642
• Publication Number:
  US 20040102838A1
• Time in Patent Office: 949 Days
• Field of Search: 623 111- 131
• US Class Current: 623/1.15
• 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 2002/91525 within the whole structure different bands showing different meander characteristics, e.g. frequency or amplitude
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/91533 characterised by the phase between adjacent bands
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/91558 connected peak to peak
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2250/0018 differing in elasticity, stiffness or compressibility
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2250/0029 differing in bending or flexure capacity
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2250/0039 differing in diameter
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2250/0048 differing in mechanical expandability, e.g. in mechanical, self- or balloon expandability

Abstract

A stent and method of its use, the stent in its expanded configuration, exhibiting varying outward radial force along its length. In use, the expanded stent is of a tapered configuration which provides greater force in vessel regions requiring greater force and less force in regions requiring less. In particular the stent is useful in the ostium regions and at areas of bifurcation in vessels. Varying force over the length of the stent is achieved by varying the number of elements, the density of elements, the thickness of the elements making up the stent body, and maintaining a substantially metal to artery ratio in the expanded stent over its length.

Claims

1. A stent comprising a plurality of serpentine bands including a first serpentine band and a second serpentine band, each serpentine band having peaks and valleys, the first serpentine band and the second serpentine band having an equal number of peaks and an equal number of valleys, the first serpentine band spanning a greater length in a stent axial direction than the second serpentine band, serpentine bands which are adjacent to another connected one to the other via a plurality of connections, the stent having a first end region, a second end region and a middle region disposed therebetween, wherein the length of the connections between adjacent serpentine bands decreases from the first end region to the middle region.

2. The stent of claim 1 wherein the length of the connections between adjacent serpentine bands decreases from the second end region to the middle region.

3. The stent of claim 1 wherein the number of connections between adjacent serpentine bands increases from the first end region to the middle region.

4. The stem of claim 3 wherein the number of connections between adjacent serpentine bands increases from the second end region to the middle region.

5. The stent of claim 1 sized for implantation in a carotid vessel.

6. The stent of claim 1 having an unexpanded configuration and an expanded configuration, the stent in the expanded configuration being tapered.

7. The stent of claim 1 made of a balloon expandable material.

8. The stent of claim 1 in an expanded state having a tapered configuration.

9. The stent of claim 1 made of a self-expanding material.

11. A method of heating a carotid vessel comprising the steps of:

providing a stent as in claim 1,

delivering the stent to a desired location in a carotid vessel,

implanting the stent in the carotid vessel.

10. A method of treating a carotid vessel comprising the steps of:

providing a stent comprising a plurality of serpentine bands, serpentine bands which are adjacent to one another connected via a plurality of connections, the stent having a first end region, a second end region and a middle region disposed therebetween, the middle region comprising at least four serpentine bands, wherein the number of connections between adjacent serpentine bands increases from the first end region to the middle region;

wherein the number of connections between each two adjacent serpentine bands of the middle region is greater than the number of connections between each two adjacent serpentine bands of the first end region,

delivering the stent to a desired location in a carotid vessel,

implanting the stent in the carotid vessel.

12. A stent comprising a plurality of serpentine bands including a first serpentine band adjacent to a second serpentine band, a third serpentine band adjacent to the second serpentine band and a fourth serpentine band adjacent to the third serpentine band, serpentine bands which are adjacent to one another connected via a plurality of connections, the number of connections between the first serpentine band and the second serpentine band being less than the number of connections between the second serpentine band and the third serpentine band;

the number of connections between the second serpentine band and the third serpentine band being less than the number of connections between the third serpentine band and the fourth serpentine band;

the stent having a first end region, a second end region and a middle region disposed therebetween, wherein the number of connections between adjacent serpentine bands increases from the first end region to the middle region.

13. A stent having a first end region, a second end region and a middle region, the middle region extending from the first end region to the second end region, each of the first end, second end and middle regions having a plurality of serpentine bands connected to one another via a plurality of connections, the number of connections between adjacent serpentine bands in the middle region being constant, the number of connections between adjacent serpentine bands in the first end region continuously increasing toward the middle region, the number of connections between adjacent serpentine bands in the second end region continuously increasing toward the middle region.