Recapturable stent with minimum crossing profile
First Claim
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1. A method comprising:
- stretching a self-expanding stent along a longitudinal axis of said self-expanding stent by pulling an end of said self-expanding stent along said longitudinal axis, wherein prior to said stretching, said self-expanding stent comprises;
a plurality of segments having an alternating repeating pattern;
each of said segments having connected crowns and unconnected crowns, wherein each cell of said self-expanding stent comprises two opposing unconnected crowns between adjacent connected crowns, said unconnected crowns comprising smooth curves;
connectors extending between and connecting adjacent connected crowns of adjacent segments;
said stretching comprising straightening said unconnected crowns such that said segments include straight sections between said adjacent connected crowns, said method further comprising allowing said unconnected crowns to return to said smooth curves such that said plurality of segments return to said alternating repeating pattern subsequent to said stretching.
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Abstract
A self-expanding stent includes a plurality of segments having an alternating repeating pattern; each of the segments having connected crowns and unconnected crowns, wherein the unconnected crowns can be fully straightened without damage or permanent distortion to the unconnected crowns; and connectors extending between and connecting adjacent connected crowns of adjacent segments. The self-expanding stent catheter has a minimum crossing profile and the stent compressed for deployment therein is recapturable.
109 Citations
14 Claims
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1. A method comprising:
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stretching a self-expanding stent along a longitudinal axis of said self-expanding stent by pulling an end of said self-expanding stent along said longitudinal axis, wherein prior to said stretching, said self-expanding stent comprises; a plurality of segments having an alternating repeating pattern; each of said segments having connected crowns and unconnected crowns, wherein each cell of said self-expanding stent comprises two opposing unconnected crowns between adjacent connected crowns, said unconnected crowns comprising smooth curves; connectors extending between and connecting adjacent connected crowns of adjacent segments; said stretching comprising straightening said unconnected crowns such that said segments include straight sections between said adjacent connected crowns, said method further comprising allowing said unconnected crowns to return to said smooth curves such that said plurality of segments return to said alternating repeating pattern subsequent to said stretching. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A method comprising:
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inserting a stent delivery system into a vessel, said stent delivery system comprising; a nearly fully stretched self-expanding stent comprising; a plurality of segments; each of said segments comprising connected crowns and straight sections extending between adjacent ones of said connected crowns, said straight sections when relaxed comprising unconnected crowns that have been straightened; connectors extending between and connecting adjacent connected crowns of adjacent segments; wherein prior to said self-expanding stent being nearly fully stretched by pulling an end of said self-expanding stent along said longitudinal axis, said self-expanding stent comprises; said plurality of segments having an alternating repeating pattern; each of said segments having said connected crowns and said unconnected crowns, wherein each cell of said self-expanding stent comprises two opposing unconnected crowns between adjacent connected crowns, said unconnected crowns comprising smooth curves; a sheath radially constraining said nearly fully stretched self-expanding stent; and retracting said sheath to expose at least a first segment of said stent, said first segment of said stent self-curling and radially self-expanding to return to said alternating repeating pattern. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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Specification