Stent with reduced profile
First Claim
Patent Images
1. An expandable stent comprising:
- a plurality of serpentine ring structures, wherein at least one of said ring structures comprises a first key-hole shaped bend disposed at a first longitudinal end of said ring structure and a second key-hole shaped bend disposed at said same first longitudinal end of said ring structure, said first and second key-hole shaped bends being disposed circumferentially adjacent to one another at said same end of said same ring structure and being longitudinally staggered with respect to one another, said first and second key-hole shaped bends thereby avoiding abutment against one another when said stent is in an unexpanded state, and a plurality of strut members, wherein each of said first and second key-hole shaped bends has a first end connected to one of said strut members and a second end connected to another of said strut members, said strut members extending away from said first and second key-hole shaped bends in substantially the same direction; and
at least one connector member joining two of said ring structures, said at least one connector member having a first end joined to a peak of one of said bends of one of said two ring structures and a second end joined to a peak of one of said bends of the other of said two ring structures.
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Abstract
A stent is provided which can be crimped to a reduced profile with reduced stress in the stent, while maintaining the strength and flexibility of the stent so that it can be advanced through the narrow passageways present in a patient'"'"'s body and then expanded to dilate and/or circumferentially support the vessel wall. Also provided is a method of deploying such a stent.
52 Citations
41 Claims
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1. An expandable stent comprising:
- a plurality of serpentine ring structures, wherein at least one of said ring structures comprises a first key-hole shaped bend disposed at a first longitudinal end of said ring structure and a second key-hole shaped bend disposed at said same first longitudinal end of said ring structure, said first and second key-hole shaped bends being disposed circumferentially adjacent to one another at said same end of said same ring structure and being longitudinally staggered with respect to one another, said first and second key-hole shaped bends thereby avoiding abutment against one another when said stent is in an unexpanded state, and a plurality of strut members, wherein each of said first and second key-hole shaped bends has a first end connected to one of said strut members and a second end connected to another of said strut members, said strut members extending away from said first and second key-hole shaped bends in substantially the same direction; and
at least one connector member joining two of said ring structures, said at least one connector member having a first end joined to a peak of one of said bends of one of said two ring structures and a second end joined to a peak of one of said bends of the other of said two ring structures. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41)
- a plurality of serpentine ring structures, wherein at least one of said ring structures comprises a first key-hole shaped bend disposed at a first longitudinal end of said ring structure and a second key-hole shaped bend disposed at said same first longitudinal end of said ring structure, said first and second key-hole shaped bends being disposed circumferentially adjacent to one another at said same end of said same ring structure and being longitudinally staggered with respect to one another, said first and second key-hole shaped bends thereby avoiding abutment against one another when said stent is in an unexpanded state, and a plurality of strut members, wherein each of said first and second key-hole shaped bends has a first end connected to one of said strut members and a second end connected to another of said strut members, said strut members extending away from said first and second key-hole shaped bends in substantially the same direction; and
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16. An expandable stent comprising:
- a plurality of cylindrical, serpentine ring structures, wherein at least one of said ring structures comprises a plurality of strut members, a first key-hole shaped bend disposed at a first longitudinal end of said ring structure, and a second key-hole shaped bend disposed at said same first longitudinal end of said ring structure, wherein each of said first and second key-hole shaped bends has a first end connected to one of said strut members and a second end connected another of said strut members, said strut members extend away from said first and second key-hole shaped bends in substantially the same direction, said first and second key-hole shaped bends being disposed circumferentially adjacent to one another at said same end of said same ring structure and being longitudinally staggered with respect to one another, said first and second key-hole shaped bends thereby avoiding abutment against one another when the stent is in an unexpanded state, wherein at least two of said unit structures are adjacent and joined together by first and second tie-bars with said plurality of strut members and said plurality of bends of said at least two adjacent unit structures being disposed substantially between said first and second substantially straight tie-bars; and
at least one connector member having a curved portion joining two of said ring structures, wherein said at least one connector member has a first end joined to a peak of one of said bends of one of said two ring structures and a second end joined to a peak of one of said bends of the other of said two ring structures. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27)
- a plurality of cylindrical, serpentine ring structures, wherein at least one of said ring structures comprises a plurality of strut members, a first key-hole shaped bend disposed at a first longitudinal end of said ring structure, and a second key-hole shaped bend disposed at said same first longitudinal end of said ring structure, wherein each of said first and second key-hole shaped bends has a first end connected to one of said strut members and a second end connected another of said strut members, said strut members extend away from said first and second key-hole shaped bends in substantially the same direction, said first and second key-hole shaped bends being disposed circumferentially adjacent to one another at said same end of said same ring structure and being longitudinally staggered with respect to one another, said first and second key-hole shaped bends thereby avoiding abutment against one another when the stent is in an unexpanded state, wherein at least two of said unit structures are adjacent and joined together by first and second tie-bars with said plurality of strut members and said plurality of bends of said at least two adjacent unit structures being disposed substantially between said first and second substantially straight tie-bars; and
Specification