Helical stent design

• US 7,740,654 B2
• Filed: 05/25/2005
• Issued: 06/22/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 10/23/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Boston Scientific Scimed (Boston Scientific Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Boston Scientific Scimed (Boston Scientific Corporation)
• Inventors: Judnitch, Robert T., Doran, Burns P., Kveen, Graig L.
• Primary Examiner(s): TRUONG, KEVIN THAO
• Application Number:
  US11/137,461
• Publication Number:
  US 20050216076A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,854 Days
• Field of Search: 623/1.15, 623/1.16, 623/1.12, 623/1.17, 623/1.2, 606/191, 606/195, 606/198
• US Class Current: 623/1.15
• 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 2/91 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 2002/91508 the meander having a difference in amplitude along the band
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/91516 the meander having a change in frequency along the band
• 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

Abstract

An expandable tubular reinforcing member used for body lumens such as blood vessels, the reinforcing member being formed of a continuous elongated helical element comprised of spaced undulating portions forming end loop portions and including a plurality of curvilinear connector elements extending between and interconnecting at least some of the adjacent undulating portions of the helical element over its length.

Claims

1. A tubular stent, the tubular stent having a length, the tubular stent comprising:

at least one continuous elongated helical band element extending substantially over the length of the tubular stent, the helical band element having a plurality of interconnected loop portions, and a curvilinear midline, the midline extending midway between loop portions of the elongated helical band element.

2. The stent of claim 1 wherein a plurality of curvilinear elements extends between and interconnects loops of adjacent turns of the helical element.

3. The stent of claim 2 in which adjacent curvilinear elements have different orientations relative to the longitudinal axis of the stent.

4. The stent of claim 2 in which the curvilinear elements include at least two bends.

5. The stent of claim 4 in which the bends open in substantially opposite directions.

6. The stent of claim 2 in which the curvilinear elements have spiral configurations.

7. The stent of claim 1 in which the interconnected loop portions are in a sinusoidal pattern.

8. A stent having a longitudinal axis, the stent comprising a helical band element which extends for a plurality of turns about the longitudinal axis, the stent having a plurality of undulating portions forming alternating peaks and troughs, peaks from one turn of the helical band element connected to troughs of an adjacent turn of the helical band element via curvilinear elements, the helical band element undulating about a curvilinear midline.

9. The stent of claim 8 wherein one or more of the undulating portions are disposed at different oblique angles, relative to one another, relating to the longitudinal axis throughout the helical band.

10. The stent of claim 8 in which the undulating portions are in a sinusoidal pattern.

11. The stent of claim 8 in which the curvilinear elements include at least two bends.

12. The stent of claim 8 in which the curvilinear elements have spiral configurations.

13. In combination, a delivery catheter comprising a balloon with a tubular stent disposed thereabout, the stent having a length and comprising:

at least one continuous elongated helical band element extending substantially over the length of the tubular stent, the helical band element having a plurality of interconnected loop portions, and a curvilinear midline, the midline extending midway between loop portions of the elongated helical band element.

14. The combination of claim 13 wherein a plurality of curvilinear elements extends between and interconnects loops of adjacent turns of the helical element.

15. The combination of claim 14 in which adjacent curvilinear elements have different orientations relative to the longitudinal axis of the stent.

16. The combination of claim 14 in which the curvilinear elements include at least two bends.

17. The combination of claim 16 in which the bends open in substantially opposite directions.

18. The combination of claim 14 in which the curvilinear elements have spiral configurations.

19. The combination of claim 13 in which the interconnected loop portions are in a sinusoidal pattern.

20. A tubular stent, the tubular stent having a length and a longitudinal axis, the tubular stent comprising a continuous elongated band element spiraling about the longitudinal axis of the stent and extending substantially over the length of the tubular stent, the band element having a width, the width defined by a first curvilinear spiral line and a second curvilinear spiral line, the band element comprising a first plurality of loop end portions and a second plurality of loop end portions, a tip of each of the first plurality of loop end portions being positioned on the first curvilinear spiral line and a tip of each of the second plurality of loop end portions being positioned on the second curvilinear spiral line.

21. A tubular stent, the tubular stent having a length, the tubular stent comprising:

at least one continuous elongated helical band element extending substantially over the length of the tubular stent and connectors connecting adjacent turns of the helical band element,

the helical band element having a plurality of interconnected loop portions which define an envelope,

the envelope of the helical band like element having a non-constant pitch, and

the connectors having an elongated portion at either end and an elongated middle portion, each of the elongated end portions connected to the elongated middle portion via a bent portion.